Getting a DUI charge can ruin anyone’s day and while all drivers should avoid finding themselves in this situation, college students in particular need to understand why drinking and driving never makes for a winning situation. Young drivers tend to get a bad rap because they’re often perceived as being the most dangerous behind the wheel, from accidents and inexperience to being more prone to taking risks while driving. However, being convicted of a DUI is a consequence that can make any student’s life even more difficult.
Aside from the obvious reason that driving while under the influence of alcohol puts everyone on the road at risk for injury or even death, getting caught and receiving a DUI can do a lot of damage to a student driver’s record and life. Depending on what state a student lives/attends school in, the penalties that come with a DUI conviction can be very. DUI penalties tend to be the toughest in larger cities with huge populations. For example, San Francisco is one of the busiest and most populated cities in California. Students enrolled at any college, university or community college like UCSF, CSU East Bay, UC Berkeley or Mission College, will want to make sure they make the right choice before deciding to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after a night of partying. A first offense for a DUI in California can cost a student driver anywhere from $1,400 to $,2600 in fines, a stay in jail that can last anywhere from 4 days to 6 months and having their license suspended from 30 days to 10 months—and that’s just for a first offense!
DUI penalties in other states may be a bit more or less but students in college towns all across the country will still want to take heed of the importance of driving safely. Florida college students don’t have to pay as much in fines and penalties as those in California but the consequences are still severe. Florida DUI penalties for first time offenders means paying fines between $500 and $1,000, having their license suspended for a minimum of 180 days or even being revoked for 1 year, as well as jail time for up to 6 months.
As if the cost of the DUI fines and penalties alone isn’t enough, those convicted of this offense may still have to shell out more money for things like a lawyer and any applicable court costs and fees. Whether you’re a student in California in need of a San Francisco lawyer that specializes in DUIs or a student in Florida seeking an OrlandoDUI lawyer, there are going to be fees involved for such services. While the exact cost varies, some factors that play into what a DUI lawyer could charge include case difficulty, qualifications of the lawyer and location.
Student drivers need to play it smart and understand that although getting in a car while intoxicated may not seem like a big deal, getting caught and facing the consequences is.
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