What Are the Top Penalties for Driving While Intoxicated?

Roadways in Las Vegas are often congested. In 2019, 77.6 percent of workers in Las Vegas, NV, drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.83 percent) and those who worked at home (4.62 percent).

You can face some severe penalties if you are caught driving while intoxicated in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fines and jail time for a DUI conviction in Nevada can be pretty steep, and they will vary depending on your blood alcohol content (BAC) at the time of the arrest.

An expert Las Vegas DUI lawyer can help you understand the specific penalties that may apply to your case.

Here are some of the potential penalties for a DUI conviction in Nevada.

Things That Determine You are Drunk

Bodily Alcohol Content – The penalties for a DUI conviction in Nevada depend on your bodily alcohol content (BAC) at the time of the arrest. BAC measures the amount of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream.

Most people have a BAC between zero and 0.08 percent, which is the legal limit for driving in Nevada. If your BAC is 0.08 percent or higher, you can be charged with a DUI. Here’s how it is measured:

  • BAC of 0.08% to 0.14% = DUI in Nevada
  • BAC of 0.15 or higher = aggravated DUI in Nevada

Field Sobriety Tests – If you are pulled over on suspicion of a DUI, the police officer may ask you to take a field sobriety test. Field sobriety tests can determine whether a person is too impaired to drive. The most common field sobriety tests are:

  • HGN test (horizontal gaze nystagmus)
  • Walk-and-turn test
  • One-leg stand test

If you fail the drug tests, the police officer may arrest you for a DUI.

Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Exam – If you are arrested for a DUI, an officer may question you about your drug use. The officer may also ask you to take a blood test to determine any drugs in your system.

The Nevada Department of Public Safety employs Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) to investigate DUI cases that involve drugs.

How are Penalties Calculated?

There are two types of DUI penalties in Nevada: administrative and criminal. These are punishments administered by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Criminal penalties are punishments administered by the court system.

If you are caught in a DUI case in Nevada, you will face administrative penalties from the DMV. The DMV can suspend your driver’s license and fine you for driving while intoxicated.

The length of the suspension and the amount of the fine will vary depending on your BAC at the time of arrest:

  • BAC rate of 0.08 to 0.14 percent: 90-day license suspension, $400 fine.
  • BAC rate of 0.15 or higher: one-year license suspension, $750 fine.

How Can a Lawyer Help?

When you are arrested for a DUI in Las Vegas, Nevada, it is essential to contact an experienced attorney right away.

Your lawyer can help you understand the administrative and criminal penalties you may face. Your Las Vegas DUI lawyer can also help you contest the charges and protect your rights, and they have the proper knowledge to deal with such cases.

 


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