You may have heard the term DUI penalty, but what does it really mean? Depending on the sentence it means many things. It could mean jail time, loss of your driver’s license, or a fine. Officially, DUI penalty is handed down to those who have been charged and convicted of driving under the influence.

If you have been charged and convicted of driving under the influence the DUI penalty you receive is dependent on a few factors, but even first offense DUI penalties have increased over the years. A contributing factor to the increases in DUI penalties is because of the efforts of groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Because of their effort there have been hundreds of new DUI laws passed since 1980.

Many states have passed legislation that requires mandatory jail time for repeat DUI offenders. The DUI penalty fines have increased in amount, and the length of suspended licenses has also increased.  And those who request and apply for a ‘hardship’ license in order to go back and forth to work are finding it more difficult to get approved.

Any DUI penalty a judge hands out are those imposed and mandated by state law. Even first time offenders, in some states are finding themselves with a lengthy license suspension and/or a weekend in jail.

Each state has different penalties when it comes to drinking and driving so if you have been charged with driving under the influence check your state laws to find out what DUI penalty you may be facing.