DUI Laws in Utah can be tricky. Call Arnold, Wadsworth & Coggins Attorneys today for a free consultation at (801) 475-0123.
What Happens if I Get Charged with a DUI in Utah?
Even before you are convicted, a first-time DUI charge causes problems in your life. Your license most likely is immediately confiscated by the arresting officer and will give you a ticket explaining what you have been charged with. On the 30th day after being arrested, the Utah Driver License Division may suspend your license for 120 days. You may appeal this suspension by submitting a Hearing Request Form, but the Driver License Division doesn’t have the same burden of proof as the court and is unlikely to second-guess the officer who thought you were impaired. If you do request a hearing with the DLD and you still possibly keep your license by appealing the DLD decision with the District Court, however this must be done within a certain amount of time.
If you are convicted of a DUI in Utah (remember, this can happen even if your BAC was shown to be less than 0.08%), the court will usually impose the following penalties:
- A 48-hour jail sentence
- Community service
- A series of fines starting at $700 plus court costs and a charge for the victim’s restitution fund
- The suspension of your driver license for an additional three-month period or longer
- Treatment for alcohol or drug abuse, whether you have a problem or not
- The court may also require the installation of an “interlock” device on your car that checks your breath for alcohol before the ignition will operate.
All of these penalties may be increased or decreased at the discretion of the court, depending on your previous record and the circumstances of your arrest. These are just some of the reasons why you should hire a DUI defense lawyer that understands the laws and the court system. Give us a call today at (801) 475-0123 for a free consultation.
