Unlike many other criminal offenses, driving under the influence (DUI) is a crime that is frequently committed by otherwise law-abiding citizens who simply had a momentary lapse in judgment. If that describes your situation, you are likely feeling confused on top of worried about the outcome of your case. Having to navigate the criminal justice system for the first time can be an intimidating experience. One thing you do not want to do is to underestimate the impact a DUI conviction will have on your life. While you may not spend additional time in jail if convicted of a first-time DUI, an Omaha DUI attorney warns about the long-term consequences of a conviction.
Judicial Consequences of a DUI Conviction
When most people think about the penalties of a criminal conviction, they are focusing on the judicially imposed penalties. As a first-time offender, you will face the following judicial consequences if convicted of DUI in the State of Nebraska:
- Charged as a Class W Misdemeanor
- Loss of driving privileges for up to 6 months
- Minimum of 7 and a maximum of 60 days in jail
- A fine of up to $500
If the court grants you a probationary sentence instead of jail time, you will face:
- 60 loss of driving privileges
- $500 fine
- Ignition interlock device installed
An ignition interlock device, or IID, is a device that is installed in your vehicle – at your expense – that will prevent you from operating the vehicle if you have been drinking. The device operates much like a mini-breath test machine. You will be required to blow into the device before starting the vehicle. If the device registers alcohol on your breath, the vehicle will not start.
Non-Judicial –Long-Term — Consequences of a DUI Conviction
Make no mistake, the short-term judicial penalties you face if convicted of a first-time DUI will be costly and inconvenient, to say the least. Even if you do manage to avoid additional jail time, the loss of your driving privileges and the costs and fines involved will likely make an impact on your life. For many people convicted of DUI, however, the non-judicial, long-term consequences of a conviction are even more disconcerting.
To begin with, you can count on your car insurance premiums going up – a lot! Exactly how much they will increase depends on several factors; however, studies suggest that they increase, on average, three times what they were prior to the conviction. Worse still, they will remain that high for up to five years, depending on your insurance provider. The overall cost of your increased premiums will be significant.
Another major concern if you are convicted is the impact that conviction will have on your career. If you hold a professional license, for example if you are a teacher, nurse, or even an attorney, you will probably have to report your conviction to the oversight board or agency. You could face professional discipline as a result. You will also have to answer “yes” to the question on most employment applications about criminal convictions from this point forward. You may automatically be disqualified for employment opportunities as a result. Sometimes, a prospective employer simply cannot afford the insurance for someone with a DUI conviction.
Yet another potential area of concern is custody or visitation with minor children. If you find yourself in a custody battle, or dealing with an ex who doesn’t want to agree to a visitation schedule, you might find your DUI conviction brought into the litigation. Despite the fact that your conviction was the result of a momentary lapse in judgment, it could have a negative impact on your parental rights for many years to come.
How Can an Omaha DUI Attorney Help?
Before you decide to just accept a guilty plea agreement to get the whole thing over with, consider all of the potential consequences of that decision. You owe it to yourself to consult with an experienced Omaha DUI attorney first to see if you can avoid that conviction.
Contact an Omaha DUI Attorney
If you have been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in the State of Nebraska, contact an Omaha DUI attorney at Petersen Law Office 24 hours a day at 402-513-2180 to discuss your case with an experienced DUI defense lawyer.
Attorney Petersen was invited to join the National Advocacy for DUI Defense (NAFDD) organization in 2013. NAFDD vets thousands of lawyers and only chooses those who have achieved stellar results in DUI defense cases. Attorney Petersen was named one of the Top 50 defense attorneys in Nebraska out of more than 5,000.
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