What Happens When You Get Arrested for DUI in Utah?
Getting arrested for a DUI in Utah can warrant serious penalties. The penalties issued are based upon the age of the driver, the number of prior offenses the driver has, and the severity of the circumstance. For example, if a DUI results in injuries to an innocent party, the penalty will increase. Outside of fines, those convicted of a DUI in Utah face jail or prison time, as well as the suspension of their driver's license.
Other People Are Reading
-
Getting Arrested
-
Driving under the influence could land you in jail. In order to get arrested for a DUI in Utah, a police official must stop you while driving under the influence. Those caught with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08 percent or more will be cited as driving under the influence. Anyone under the age of 21 cannot drive if their BAC is .02 percent or higher. However, it is also possible to be cited for driving under the influence with a BAC under the legal limit if the law enforcer believes you are intoxicated. Once you have been stopped by a law official in Utah, you are required to take a BAC test. Refusal to do so will warrant steeper penalties.
Driver's License
-
A DUI conviction in Utah will result in your driver's license being suspended. Once you are arrested for a DUI in Utah, the arresting officer has the right to confiscate your driver's license on the spot. If you are convicted of your first DUI offense, your driver's license will be suspended for 120 days. If you are arrested and convicted of your second or third DUI offense in Utah, your driver's license will be suspended for two years. Anyone in Utah may report what they feel to be impaired driving to the Driver's License Division.
-
Trial
-
Once someone is arrested for a DUI charge in Utah he has to go trial. If he pleads guilty to the charge, he may be able to avoid a criminal trial. If the case goes to a criminal trial, and the suspect is found guilty, the penalty is determined by the severity of the case. For example, if the DUI resulted in a serious accident the person may be charged with a felony. If the driver charged is under the age of 21, or had someone under the age of 21 in the car at the time of the DUI, penalties could be more severe.
Fines
-
The number of DUI offenses you have will determine the amount of the fine. Those arrested for their first DUI in Utah face a fine of at least $700. Anyone caught in Utah for their second DUI will have to pay a fine of at least $800. Those convicted of their third DUI may face a fine of $1,500 or more. Third time convictions are viewed as a felony in Utah and drivers will be required to have an ignition interlock system installed into their car once driving privileges are returned if the conviction takes place within 10 years of the previous conviction.
Imprisonment
-
A third DUI conviction in Utah could land you in prison for five years. A first time DUI conviction in Utah could yield either a 48-hour jail sentence, or an alternative punishment such as 48 hours of community service. Second time offenders face a sentence of 240 hours in jail, or community service. Third time DUI offenders in Utah can face up to five years in prison. In all cases, probation periods may be placed on the accused. House arrest can act as a substitution for jail time in some cases. Anyone convicted of a DUI charge may have to enter into a drug and/or alcohol treatment program, and she may be required to wear an electronic monitoring device.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Utah state contour with Capital City against blurred USA flag image by Stasys Eidiejus from Fotolia.com to drunk to drive image by Marjan Veljanoski from Fotolia.com driving 4 image by Andrzej Borowicz from Fotolia.com money image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com prison image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com
