We know that navigating a DUI can be overwhelming. Understanding the requirements and process after an alcohol related driving offense in Utah is an important step to getting back on the road. We’ve put together some general information to help you get started.
The Beehive State doesn’t play with driving buzzed. According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, it’s the only state in the US where the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving is 0.05%, rather than the standard 0.08% common to other states. Utah is also a “per se” state, which means that if your tested BAC is at or above 0.05%, you can be charged with DUI simply for driving the vehicle, regardless of whether you’re visibly impaired.
Even a first-offense DUI in Utah can subject a driver to penalties that include:
- 48 hours in jail (which may be suspended in favor of community service or electronic monitoring)
- Fines that often exceed $1,300 including fees and surcharges
- Driver’s license suspension, often for 120 days or more
- Drug and alcohol assessments, classes, and/or treatment
- Installing an Ignition Interlock Device on the vehicle you drive
These penalties often increase for drivers with previous DUIs, or with aggravating circumstances such as a collision that injured another person.