If you are arrested for drunk driving, you may wonder what’s going to happen next and what will you do. The penalties for drunken driving vary from one state to another. These are the things that will happen after you are charged with DUI.

Go to the court

If you take a breath test or a blood test that records your blood alcohol content at .08 or more, then you are convicted of DUI. So, you must go to the court. The court will confirm your conviction.

Fines, fees and revocation of license

If you are convicted of drunk driving in court, you will be ordered to pay a fine and the court costs. Your driver’s license will also be revoked for some time. In some states, the accused are sent to jail. You may also be on probation and have to do some community services.

Get your license back

You have to go through an educational program. You must pass this program to get your license back. Before attending the program, you will be interviewed by a trained counselor. This program is designed to find out if you have an alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency problem.

Evaluation and treatment

After evaluation, if it is found that you have a drinking problem, you will have to attend driving school class and learn about the dangers of impaired driving. You have to pass the tests and may have to seek treatment for your problems.

Ignition interlock devices

You may have to set up an ignition interlock device on your vehicle to have your driving privileges back. The device can detect alcohol on your breath. If detected, your car won’t start. The device can be expensive.

Increased insurance scheme

If you are convicted of drunk driving, you may have to pay for SR-22 insurance. The cost of this insurance is double or triple of your premium.

A drunk driving conviction can be severe if repeated. You may lose your job or your driving license for a long time. So, you should always stop yourself from driving when you are drunk.