Sentencing occurs after a person has been found guilty in their DUI case. This could be the result of a "guilty" plea during the arraignment, a jury verdict, or a plea bargain. During the sentencing phase the legal punishment for your DUI case will be determined. There are a range of legal punishments, including:
- Payment of fines
- Jail time (short duration)
- Prison time (long duration, usually when injury or death is cause by DUI)
- Probation
- Suspended driver's license
- Using an Ignition-interlock device in order to start a car
- Forfeiting or impounding of the vehicle
- Community service
- Drug and alcohol rehabilitation
The judge will consider a number of factors when decided on a punishment for your DUI offense, including:
- DUI record (including extremely high BAC's) and criminal history
- Impact of the DUI on victims and their families
- Defendants personal, social, and economic circumstances
- Defendants refusal to submit to chemical testing
- Regret and remorse shown by the defendant
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