Reader’s Question:

This could be the eeriest chapter in my Mom’s life. After partying with her friends she hasn’t seen for so long, she was caught drunk driving and was charged with DUI here in Palm Beach County, Florida. What are the consequences that she is facing now that are associated with her DUI charge?

Luisa

Palm Beach, FL

On a first DUI conviction as stated in the State Attorney’s Office in the 15th Judicial Circuit (Palm Beach County), your mom can be punished by up to 6 months of jail. The offer is normally 12 months of probation and she gets the privilege of paying for her own cost of supervision. She must attend the DUI School that she has to pay also. DUI School for first offense is typically 12 hours long. Her driver’s license will be suspended for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 12 months. She can obtain a business permit, though. She would to attend the Victim Impact Panel (VIP). This is run by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) which lectures on the horrors of drinking and driving. The VIP is two hours long. She would also also have to perform a minimum of 50 hours of community service at a non-profit agency. Vehicle immobilization is for 10 days. She would also have to pay fines and court costs of $500.

Your mom, of course, can reject it and proceed to trial. Most often, the judge would not greatly enhance a sentence for a first time DUI offender who took a chance on trial and lost, but not all judges are the same. Don’t expect the judges to sentence as lightly as the judges in Palm Beach County.