This article is from an interview with Utah DUI defense attorney Jason Schatz. This portion describes the escalation of consequences for each new DUI conviction in Utah.
Interviewer: If someone’s convicted of a DUI, how much more serious will it be for them on the second offense and the third offense? How much do the penalties and problems escalate?
Attorney Schatz: Each successive conviction gets worse, of course.
First Offense
On a first offense DUI, it is a Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by 0 to 180 days of jail and a maximum fine, fee, and surcharge of $1,950. A first offense DUI in Utah carries a minimum mandatory fine, fee, and surcharge of approximately $1,400, plus there is a minimum mandatory two-day jail sentence. The only alternative or substitute for that is at the judge’s discretion. The judge can order 48 hours of community service in lieu of the 48 hours of jail time.
There are also minimum mandatory counseling requirements. There’s a minimum mandatory 18-month ignition interlock restriction and a two-year alcohol restriction. Also on a first offense, the standard driver’s license suspension period is 120 days.
Second Offense
On a second offense, that driver’s license suspension period jumps up to two years, the alcohol restriction jumps up to ten years, and the ignition interlock restriction jumps up to three years. There is a minimum mandatory ten-day jail sentence on a second offense. The only alternative to the 10 days in jail is a total of 240 hours of community service. It’s much less likely on a second offense, depending on how close together the two offenses are and what the circumstances are, that the judge is even going to opt for community service. You’re much more likely to actually serve time in jail on a second offense.
The fine jumps up to $800.00 minimum mandatory plus surcharges, bringing the total fine and fee up to about $1,600. The counseling requirements increase, and it requires mandatory supervised probation.
Third Offense
If there’s a third DUI offense within ten years, then it’s actually upgraded to a third-degree felony, meaning the person is actually subject to prison—an up to five years indeterminate sentence in prison. The minimum mandatory jail time goes up to 62.5 days, and there is no alternative for community service. Anybody convicted of a felony DUI must be ordered to serve a minimum of two months in jail.
The minimum mandatory fine goes up to about $2,500. Driver’s license suspension is, again, two years; ignition interlock restriction is three years; the alcohol restriction is then for life. Yes, they become an alcohol-restricted driver for the rest of their life. Plus, being a convicted felon, obviously you lose the right to bear firearms and you lose the right to vote. You permanently lose some privileges that come along with citizenship.