In Montana, it is illegal to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. People who know they have had enough to feel impaired and those who are over the legal limit for their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) are at risk of arrest and prosecution.
The state can pursue driving under the influence (DUI) charges regardless of whether a driver displayed impaired ability or simply failed a chemical test. Many people accused of DUI offenses worry about the possibility of incarceration. They know that they could end up in jail. Drivers also have to consider the possibility of losing their driver’s licenses and the expenses that reality may inspire.
When is a driver’s license at risk?
Any driver accused of a DUI offense is likely subject to license suspension if they plead guilty or get convicted at trial. The circumstances leading to the arrest and the history of the accused driver influence the potential penalties. Assuming that the driver did not cause injury to others, the penalties they face largely depend on whether they have any recent DUI convictions on their record.
After a first DUI charge, the courts can suspend a driver’s license for up to six months. After a second conviction within 10 years of the first, a driver could lose their license for up to a year. The same penalty applies after a third DUI.
A fourth DUI charge is a felony offense that could lead to a variety of enhanced penalties, including multiple years of probation and lengthy license suspension. The state can also suspend the driver’s license of a motorist who refuses a chemical test after an officer arrests them for a DUI offense.
Losing a license is costly
People who need to arrange for alternate transportation can incur hundreds of dollars per month in rideshare or taxi expenses. Those who ride with other people or use public transportation have to consider the possibility that they may become chronically late for work and other obligations. In some scenarios, individuals who drive as a job responsibility could be at risk of termination or demotion because they cannot drive.
The most effective way to avoid a driver’s license suspension is to respond appropriately to pending DUI charges. Fighting back against DUI allegations can help drivers avoid jail time and also the licensing penalties that the courts can impose.
