Reply To: First DUI, Will I Go To Jail?

Hey Teddy, welcome to DUI Zone and thanks for being the first question! Without knowing the specifics of your case, it’s hard to say for sure, but if it was just getting pulled over and failing the sobriety test or breathalyzer, then definitely not. Hopefully you get a good lawyer that can find a reason to get it thrown out, but let’s say you wind up getting a conviction for DWI 1, no other circumstances around it like injuring someone in a wreck or trying to flee…or anything else, just a DWI 1, that’s typically a Class B Misdemeanor which will be a fine of $2,000 or around there depending on your state, plus they will say you get up to 180 days (again, depends on the state), but those 180 days will be a suspended sentence and probation given. In other words, whatever jail time they say, the judge almost always will give you probation instead of jail. The stats say 1.5 million people are given DUI’s in a given year, so if they gave everyone jail, our jails would be overflowing more than they already are.

I definitely wouldn’t worry about jail for your first. I know it’s scary, but they will send you to alcohol classes, impact panel, community service and other related things to try and make sure you think before you drink and drive next time.