Over 80 mg DUI Charge

If you’ve been charged with driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level (BAC) over 80 mg, a DUI lawyer should be your first call. Exercise your right to remain silent. You face serious minimum penalties that can affect your life and the lives of your family members. A criminal lawyer can help you minimize these penalties.

What Penalties You May Face for Over 80 mg DUI Charge

If you're convicted of operating a motor vehicle with a BAC over 80 mg for the first time, you will face:

  • Licence suspension for one year
  • Mandatory alcohol education or treatment program
  • $1,000 fine
  • Potential for jail time
  • Must drive a vehicle with an ignition interlock device for a minimum of one year

Penalties grow stricter if this is your second offence:

  • Licence suspension for three years
  • Mandatory alcohol education or treatment program
  • A fine amount determined by a judge
  • Minimum 30-day jail sentence
  • Must drive a vehicle with an ignition interlock device for a minimum of three years

Upon a third conviction (and any further convictions), you have the potential to lose your licence permanently:

  • Potential lifetime licence suspension (a criminal lawyer may be able to help you reduce this)
  • Mandatory alcohol education or treatment program
  • A fine amount determined by a judge
  • Minimum 120-day jail sentence
  • Must drive a vehicle with an ignition interlock device for life

It’s important to note that an 80 mg DUI charge can be laid against you while operating any motor vehicle. That includes cars, trucks, boats, off-road vehicles, and snowmobiles. It does not matter if you're operating a different vehicle for your second or third charge; you still face the second or third conviction penalties.

What to Do If You’re Charged with Over 80 mg DUI Charge

A DUI over 80 mg charge may be laid against you alongside other charges, especially impaired driving.

If you were not driving dangerously before you were pulled over, you might be facing only the 80 mg DUI charge. No accident needs to occur for this charge to be laid.

Once you’ve been charged, exercise your right to remain silent and to seek legal counsel. Do not make a statement or say anything to the police. If you did make a statement, What The Law may be able to have that statement excluded in court.

Our experienced legal counsel can help you avoid conviction or reduce the penalties you face. In some circumstances, your over 80 mg lawyer can have your licence restored early, which can allow you to continue to drive to work.

647-295-6499info@whatthelaw.com