Although a First DUI Offense carries the least amount of penalties, it is not to be taken lightly. Even the first time a motorist is arrested for driving under the influence, serious penalties can ensue. If you have been charged with your first DUI crime, you may have your license suspended, be ordered to pay expensive fines, be forced to undergo an alcohol evaluation course, and can even be sent to prison.

The level of the first-time DUI offender’s penalties will be related to the amount of alcohol in their system, their age, and whether any minors where in the vehicle at the time the motorist was pulled over.

If you are charged with your first DUI, don’t think you can weasel your way out of it with your good looks and charm alone. Even first-timers can be haunted for the rest of their lives over one drunken mistake. In addition to criminal penalties, motorists who are found guilty of just one DUI offense can lose their jobs or have trouble obtaining a new one.

While being charged with drunk driving for the first time can be scary, it is important to know that help is available to all motorists. Turn to a DUI attorney near you to file a case and contest your charges in court. By having an experienced legal representative on your side, you can expect your charges to be significantly reduced or possibly wiped out completely.