If a person is convicted of a DUI or DWI offense, there are a variety of penalties that they may face. These penalties depend on the number of offense that this was for the offender, as well as the severity and circumstances surrounding the offense. 

The following are some of the penalties you may face after a drunk driving arrest: 

• Jail time. In every state, a first offense for a DUI or DWI is considered to be a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months of jail time. Certain circumstances may call for increased jail time even on a first offense, such as cases in which the blood-alcohol content (BAC) of the offender was extremely high (above .16, for example). For felony DUI or DWI, which typically happens either when the driver kills someone or has had multiple offenses, it’s not out of the ordinary to see jail sentences of several years.
• Fines. Fines often accompany jail sentences, and could fall anywhere between $500 and $2,000 depending on the number of offense and the severity of the offense.
• License suspension or revocation. A DUI offender very well could face license suspension of a 90 day period for a first offense, a year for a second offense or three years for a third offense. In some cases, the state may permanently revoke the offender’s license, or suspend a license even simply for a refusal to submit blood or breath testing.
• Alternative punishments. In recent years, interlock ignition devices have come into popularity in some states as a form of DUI punishment. Offenders may also be forced to attend alcohol abuse seminars or perform community service, especially if the offender was a minor. 

For the information and guidance you need after an arrest for driving under the influence, consult a skilled southern Maryland DUI defense lawyer with Mudd, Mudd & Fitzgerald, P.A.