People often think that if something happens once, it can be chalked up to an accident or random chance, but if it happens again, there’s a pattern. Such is the case for DUI. In theory, you can see how it could be easy for someone who had a few too many drinks at the company holiday party or at the Gophers game could end up just over the legal limit and find themselves facing a DUI charge. It could happen to almost anyone, and it wouldn’t be all that surprising.
If that person got a second DUI charge, others might begin to think that there’s more than meets the eye with the situation. However, that’s not entirely true. A bunch of people who get a DUI end up getting a subsequent DUI charge within the next decade. In fact, Minnesota leads the nation when it comes to recidivism rates, which means we have the highest percentage of repeat DUI offenders in the nation. As we’ve mentioned on the blog in the past, about 1 in 7 Minnesotans has a DUI on their record, and data shows that 41 percent of individuals arrested for DUI in Minnesota have a previous drunk driving conviction on their record.
So if you ended up on this page because you got another DUI, you’re not alone. Here’s a closer look at what you’re facing, and how we can help.
Second DUI In 10 Years
If you are facing a second DUI charge within 10 years of your first offense, here’s some of the potential penalties you may face:
- Driver’s license revocation for one year (two years if BAC is above 0.16%).
- Plate impoundment for all vehicles solely or jointly registered in your name (whiskey plates needed if spouse of others want to drive one of these vehicles).
- Potential vehicle forfeiture.
- A standard second offense DUI is a gross misdemeanor, which has a maximum penalty of a year in jail and fines up to $3,000.
- You will face a minimum 30-day sentence, although this can be served in jail, as community service, or as a combination of the two, and it is decided by the judge.
- Chemical dependency treatment.
- Upgraded charges and penalties if any aggravating factors are present, like driving with minors in the vehicle at the time of your arrest, or a very high BAC.
- Increased car insurance rates.
- License and plate reinstatement fees.
- Potential Ignition interlock requirement and associated costs.
As you can see, a second DUI charge carries severe penalties, and the costs can be astronomical. You might think it’s easiest to just plead guilty and ask for leniency instead of shelling out money for a lawyer, but there is simply too much on the line to leave it up to the whim of a judge. Fight the charges by hiring a criminal defense attorney who can paint you in a good light and even work with the prosecution to try and get the charges reduced or dropped. We’ve done it for clients in the past, and we can do it for you. For more information on how we can help, or to set up a free strategy session to review your case, reach out to Appelman Law Firm today.
