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The Law in DWI CasesDriving Privilege: Court Dates: Suppression Hearing: Trial: Sentencing: Summary of the Law All other DWI’s are misdemeanors. After a conviction of misdemeanor DWI, the judge must hold a separate sentencing hearing and determine the appropriate level of punishment. At that hearing, the judge determines if there are any grossly aggravating factors. These factors include prior DWI convictions, driving while license revoked for DWI or alcohol related offenses, serious injury to another person, or driving with a child under the age of 16 years old in the car. After any conviction of a DWI, the Judge must require an assessment for alcohol problems, and for you to complete all recommended treatment. Two or more grossly aggravating factors leads to a Level 1 sentence. One grossly aggravating factor makes you a Level 2 Conviction. If there are no grossly aggravating factors, the judge will weigh aggravating and mitigating factors to determine if you should be sentenced under Level 3, 4 or 5. If the aggravating factors outweigh the mitigating factors, Level 3 punishment is imposed. If the aggravating and mitigating factors are equal, Level 4 punishment is imposed. If the mitigating factors outweigh the aggravating factors, Level 5 punishment will be imposed. Level 1 offenders get 30 days minimum and 2 years maximum and usually get supervised probation, fines, and other tasks to complete. No privilege is available for the period DMV suspends your license (from 1 year to permanently). Level 2 offenders get 7 days in jail minimum and one year maximum, and will typically get order supervised probation, fines and other tasks to complete. No privilege is available for the period DMV suspends your license (from 1 year to permanently). Level 3 offenders choose one of the two following options: (1) 72 hours of community service ($200 fee, or (2) 72 hours in jail ($15 per day fee). Plus, if you are convicted and sentenced at Level 3, the judge will order you to pay a fine between $350- $1000 plus the cost of court. In addition, at Level 3 the judge can sentence you to an active sentence of up to 120 days in jail. Most judges do not sentence people to active terms on level three, four, or five. Under Level 4, the same conditions will apply as noted in the Level 3 paragraph above, except you will choose between 48 hours of community service, and 48 hours of jail. The fine ranges from $200-$1000 plus as the cost of court. The maximum jail term is 90 days. If you are convicted and sentenced at Level 5, the same conditions will apply as noted above in the Level 3 paragraph, except that you will be ordered to chose between 24 hours of community service, and 24 hours of jail. The fine ranges from $100-$1000 as the cost of court. The maximum jail term is 60 days. Under Level 3, 4, and 5 the judge will likely impose a suspended sentence and place you on unsupervised probation, though supervised probation is an option. Your license will be suspended for at least one year and you will generally be allowed a limited driving privilege, which allows you to drive to and from work and for other reasons- I work hard to get you a very good and flexible privilege. Now, I know all of this is probably confusing. And that’s because it actually is confusing. Sometimes the law is just that way. |
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