Bradford Ladner Handles Alabama DUI Charges
Alabama DUI charges bring serious consequences. A DUI conviction can result in a jail sentence, enormous fines, the loss of your drivers license, court referral programs and even the placement of devices on your automobile. The collateral consequences of a DUI conviction could include loss of insurance coverage, higher insurance premiums, the loss of a job or career, and a harder time getting a job in the future.
Handling Alabama DUI charges requires an experienced attorney who not only knows the law, but knows the scientific and medical aspects of DUI charges. The Alabama criminal defense attorneys at Bradford Ladner, LLP are experienced DUI defense attorneys with years of experience in handling Alabama DUI charges. We understand the law, the science, the medical issues, and the consequences of DUI. If you are facing Alabama DUI charges, we would be happy to meet with you and discuss your case.
In Alabama DUI charge can be brought against you for driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs or both. In any case, the key is whether the alcohol or drugs have impaired your ability to control your vehicle. The prosecution in a DUI case may try to show your lack of ability to control your vehicle by using breath tests, blood test, the officers observations of your driving, and your performance on field sobriety tests. At Bradford Ladner LLP our years of handling Alabama DUI charges have taught us that these types of evidence can be successfully challenged, and you can win your DUI case.
PUNISHMENT IN DUI CASES
Alabama DUI charges carry their own particular punishments depending on whether you have one or more previous convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. DUI also involves the additional punishment of having your drivers license suspended for a certain period of time and the requirement that you equip you vehicle with an ignition interlock for a period of time. Alabama DUI charges are now governed under a new harsh state statute. Punishments under the new Alabama DUI law are as follows:
FIRST OFFENSE UNDER ALABAMA DUI STATUTE:
You can be sentenced to jail for up to one (1) year. You can receive a fine from $600.00 to $2,100.00, plus court cost. Your Drivers License will be suspended for 90 days.
You will be required to undergo an assessment by a Court Referral Officer (CRO) and attend court referral classes and/or substance testing. Court Referral Programs
SECOND OFFENSE WITHIN FIVE (5) YEARS UNDER ALABAMA DUI STATUTE:
You can be sentenced to jail for up to one (1) year, and there is a mandatory sentence of 5 days in jail. The court can substitute 30 days community service for the 5 day jail sentence. You can receive a fine from $1,100.00 to $5,100.00, plus court cost. Your Drivers License will be suspended for 1 year.
You will be required to undergo an assessment by a Court Referral Officer (CRO) and attend court referral classes and/or substance testing. Court Referral Programs
You will also have to have an Ignition Interlock installed on your vehicle for two (2) years, starting after the one year drivers license revocation.
THIRD OFFENSE WITHIN FIVE (5) YEARS UNDER ALABAMA DUI STATUTE:
You can be sentenced to jail for up to one (1) year, and there is a mandatory sentence of 60 days in jail. There is no probation. You can receive a fine from $2,100.00 to $10,100.00, plus court cost. Your Drivers License will be suspended for 3 years.
You will be required to undergo an assessment by a Court Referral Officer (CRO) and attend court referral classes and/or substance testing. Court Referral Programs
You will also have to have an Ignition Interlock installed on your vehicle for three (3) years, starting after the drivers license revocation.
FOURTH OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE WITHIN FIVE (5) YEARS UNDER ALABAMA DUI STATUTE: (FELONY DUI)
You can be sentenced to jail for a period of 1 year to 10 years. You can receive a fine from $2,100.00 to $10,100.00, plus court cost. Your Drivers License will be suspended for 5 years.
You will be required to undergo an assessment by a Court Referral Officer (CRO) and attend court referral classes and/or substance testing. Court Referral Programs
You will also have to have an Ignition Interlock installed on your vehicle for five (5) years, starting after the drivers license revocation.
ENHANCED PUNISHMENT FOR BAC OF .15% OR HIGHER UNDER ALABAMA DUI STATUTE
Under the new Alabama DUI law, if you register .15% or higher on a DUI breath test the Court is required to impose harsher punishment. Jail time and fines are doubled and the drivers license is revoked for one year even on first offense.
ENHANCED PUNISHMENT FOR “AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES” UNDER ALABAMA DUI STATUTE
Under the Alabama DUI law, “Aggravating Circumstances” require the installation of an ignition interlock on first DUI offense for any of the following: (1) Refusing the breath test; (2) Breath alcohol test registering .15% or greater; (3) Presence of a child under 14 years of age in the vehicle at the time of the DUI offense; or (4) Where someone other than the offender was injured at the time of the offense.
ADDITIONAL FACTORS UNDER THE ALABAMA DUI STATUTE
An ignition interlock is a device that is placed on your vehicle that prevents it from cranking if you are intoxicated. A driver is required to blow into the device in order for the car to crank. If the driver is intoxicated, the car will not crank. The installation of an ignition interlock is very expenses and there are also monthly fees that you must pay in addition to all of your other fines and court costs.
The court costs for a DUI case are higher than typical court costs. Often just the court costs in a DUI case are $500.00 or more.
If you are facing a DUI charge, it is a serious matter with very serious consequences. You are advised to seek legal help immediately. At Bradford Ladner LLP we are experienced in handling Alabama DUI cases and would be more than happy to set up a consultation to discuss your case. Please contact us for a free consultation to review your case.
