Auburn Alabama DUI laws and statutes have created additional punishments and penalties for individuals that refuse to submit to a chemical test of their urine, breath, or blood when lawfully arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. This “Implied Consent” law requires that all motorists that operate a motor vehicle on public roadways in Alabama submit to this testing when directed by a law enforcement official. It does not matter whether the individual is a citizen of the state of Alabama or just a driver passing through. If you refuse to submit to this testing when requested, you will immediately receive a 90 day suspension of your driver’s license. This 90 day suspension is in addition to any suspension or revocation that may result from a conviction for driving under the influence.
Some of the more recent changes to DUI penalties include changes in fines, jail time, and the introduction of the ignition interlock device. If someone is convicted of a DUI and has a blood alcohol level of .15% or greater, the offender “shall be sentenced to at minimum, double the normal punishment that the person would have received if they had a blood alcohol level of less than .15%. In addition to this “double penalty” the Alabama law makers also created the “ignition interlock” act which requires the mandatory installation of the device when a person is convicted under any of the following conditions:
- a “blood alcohol concentration of 0.15% or greater” or
- “refusing to chemical testing” or
- “if a child under the age of 14 years was present in the vehicle at the time of the offense” or
- “if someone besides the offender was injured at the time of the offense”
We are still learning about the ignition interlock device. From what we have seen the cost to the offender is pretty significant. In many cases you lease the device but then you must also pay a monthly or quarterly monitoring fee. Clearly, the cheapest thing to do is not drink and drive.
If you have been arrested for a DUI offense, please contact us at the Walker Law Firm for a free case evaluation.
