Alabama’s New DUI Law – Ignition Interlock
DUI Penalties
First offense: A First DUI Offense is charged as a misdemeanor, and upon conviction a person may be sentenced as follows: up to 365 days in jail, a fine not to exceed $2,100.00, a driver’s license suspension of 90 to 365 days, required to attend a court ordered substance abuse program, probation, and ordered to have an ignition interlock installed on their primary vehicle.
Second offense: A Second DUI Offense is charged as a misdemeanor, but if the date of conviction is within 5 years of a prior DUI conviction the penalties are enhanced. If a person has a prior conviction within 5 years he/she will be sentenced as follows: a mandatory minimum of 5 days in jail up to 365 days, a fine not to exceed $5,100.00, a driver’s license suspension ranging from 365 days to 2 years, required to attend a court ordered substance abuse program, probation, and ordered to have an ignition interlock installed on their primary vehicle.
Third offense: A Third DUI Offense is charged as a misdemeanor, but if the date of conviction is within 5 years of two prior DUI convictions, the penalties are significantly increased. If a person has two prior convictions within 5 years of a third offense he/she will be sentenced as follows: a mandatory minimum of 60 days in jail up to 365 days, a fine not to exceed $10,100.00, a driver’s license suspension for a minimum of 3 years, a court ordered substance abuse program, probation, and ordered to have an ignition interlock installed on their primary vehicle.
Fourth offense: A Fourth DUI Offense within 5 years is charged as a felony offense. The sentence on a felony DUI conviction is as follows: imprisonment for no less than 1 year and 1 day up to 10 years, a fine not to exceed $10,100.00, a driver’s license suspension for a minimum of 5 years, a court ordered substance abuse program, probation, and ordered to have an ignition interlock installed on the primary vehicle of the person convicted when eligible for driver’s license reinstatement.