St. Patrick’s Day is known as a popular drinking holiday. But is it worth it to drink and drive tonight? Here are some consequences of getting a DWI on St. Patrick’s Day.
It’s not a given that you’ll spend time in jail if you are arrested for a DWI. However, you will be locked up if any of the following circumstances are present:
- You are being arrested for your fourth or more DWI in a 10-year period
- You have a prior felony DWI conviction
- You have a blood alcohol content at or above .16
- You have a kid in the car who is under the age of 16 and they are three or more years younger than you
- You refuse to take the test at the police station to determine your blood alcohol content
- Your license is cancelled as inimical to public safety
You may spend time in jail if:
- You had a prior DWI in the past 10 years
- You are driving a school or Head-Start bus
- You are under twenty-one years old
It’s also important to remember that if you do spend time in jail, you will likely have to wait until a judge is able to review your case before bail is set (this might mean waiting until Monday morning).
In addition to jail time, DWIs can be costly in a financial sense.
The maximum fines for a DWI ranges from $1,000 to $14,000 depending on the degree of DWI (but it is uncommon for someone to receive the maximum fine).
Getting your license back includes a $680 reinstatement fee, a $25 application for a new Class D license, roughly $150 per month if you go on Ignition Interlock, and a roughly $350 filing fee (plus attorney fees) if you plan on fighting the license revocation.
Other costs might include attorney fees; forfeiture of your vehicle; chemical dependency evaluation, classes, and treatment; and loss of your job.
While a DWI is against criminal law, there are also civil penalties that come with a DWI. For example, depending on the level of DWI, your license could be revoked for a period of 30 days to 6 years. Moreover, if you are charged with a First or Second Degree DWI, your vehicle will be forfeited to the state.
As with all areas of criminal law, there are many nuances when it comes to DWIs. If you are facing criminal charges or worried that charges may be forthcoming, reach out to one of our attorneys to discuss your options.