A DUI case should be taken very seriously as it can affect your way of living. Hence, anyone who is arrested with a DUI offense in Mississippi should immediately talk to a lawyer. If you are stopped while driving under the influence, you will be arrested immediately once the officer determines that your blood alcohol content is .08% or higher. In addition to the BAC result, the officer can also arrest you if you are showing any signs of intoxication upon arrest. This can be based on your physical behavior, appearance, as well as your driving pattern.
DUI Arrests in Mississippi
Mississippi drunk-driving arrest triggers both criminal court and administrative cases. The criminal court hearing will decide your penalties including monetary charges, jail time, and alcohol treatment requirements, among many others. On the other hand, if you want to protect your right to drive, you must promptly request an administrative hearing with the Mississippi DMV. Take note that you are only given 10 days to make this request hence you need to immediately consult a qualified DUI lawyer to represent your case.
Upon arrest, the arresting officer will ask you to submit to a BAC test. This chemical test will determine the amount of alcohol present in your bloodstream. The result will either prove your innocence or guilt. The Mississippi DUI law gives you the option to either take or refuse the BAC test. However, if you refuse to undergo blood examination, you will automatically lose your license without having the chance to fight for it. Even if your lawyer is able to prove your DUI innocence, your refusal for the BAC test will still require you to serve a 90-day license suspension.
Basic Consequences for First Time Offenders
Being arrested for a DUI offense in Mississippi may feel like your worst nightmare. Since it is against the law to operate a motor vehicle while intoxicated, you could face some serious consequences for doing so. For first time offenders, once can expect to face the following penalties:
The washout period for DUI offenses in Mississippi is five years. If you commit the same offense within the 5-year duration covering your previous DUI case, you can be charged with stricter consequences.
License Suspensions for Mississippi DUI
Most of us don’t seriously take into consideration what’s going to occur after a DUI arrest until it really happens. Aside from facing the aforementioned consequences, a Mississippi DUI conviction will also bring license suspension in the following manner:
After serving at least 30 days of your suspension time, you can apply for a hardship license to enable you to drive to and from work, school, or the doctor’s clinic.
Insurance Consequences
Your DUI conviction directly impacts your car insurance. Your insurance provider may either cancel or increase the rates of your policy. If your policy is cancelled, you will still be able to find insurance however it could be quite tougher now than it once was. If you want to purchase a new policy, the company may require a copy of your driving record wherein the DUI conviction will be noted. Because you are now classified as a high risk driver, your insurance rates will likely shoot up as well.