4 Things You Should Know About DUI Laws in Washington, D.C.

The penalties for DUIs are going to be significant pretty much wherever you go. You’ll have to pay fines, the state DMV will likely suspend or revoke your license, and you’ll spend a period of time in jail. First-time DUIs without any especially bad other circumstances around it should be misdemeanors, but each additional DUI will bring bigger penalties and very quickly the lenience will run out.

The specific laws around DUIs and their penalties, however, vary significantly among different states and territories. The stigma of the DUI and the criminal record that sticks with you long after the event may also have a big impact on your life as you try to move forward and make better choices after your DUI. Here are some of the features of DUI laws in Washington, D.C. that may be different than in other states.

There Are Three Different Common Charges You Might Get

In D.C. you can get a DWI simply for sitting in your driver’s seat and having an alcohol level at or above the legal level of .08, whether or not you fail a sobriety test or show any signs of intoxication. If you’re under 21, you can also be arrested automatically for operating your vehicle while having any alcohol in your body at all.

A DUI is a third charge in D.C. that doesn’t rely on tests of your blood alcohol concentration. If you have any alcohol in your body and you are driving erratically or acting intoxicated, you could be charged with a DUI.

Completing Probation Can Help You Get Lenience

You’ll likely be on probation after your DUI, but it could be supervised or unsupervised. While waiting for your case to be resolved, you can go ahead and begin some of the conditions of your probation, which generally include alcohol education and driving safety programs, among other things.

Doing this shows you’re dedicated to doing better and gives you a better chance of being assigned unsupervised probation. If you violate probation or get another DWI or DUI, however, you’ll be facing even worse problems. The penalties will be greater and you shouldn’t expect the judge to be quite as lenient.

There Are Mandatory Minimum Sentences

The laws in D.C. set certain requirements for penalties for DUIs that can’t be reduced by a judge. A first time DUI jail sentence may only be as low as five days, but each additional DUI or other aggravating factors such as a particularly high BAC or a child in the car will immediately increase the consequences the judge will be forced to give you.

Zero Tolerance Means Serious Consequences for Underage Drinking

Washington D.C. has made very tough laws against underage drinking and driving. If you’re not 21 and you drive with any alcohol in your blood, your license will be taken away and you may face significant mandatory minimums. Both minors and parents can be fined hundreds of dollars as well.

While it’s important to be informed about the possible consequences, it’s even more important to make an effort to avoid putting yourself in these situations. If you’re going to drink, put your safety and your freedom first and find another way home.