DUI Checkpoints & Crime on the Road, Sobriety Checkpoints

 The Governor of Delaware has recently signed two new DUI bills into law.

The first bill, House Bill 152 increases the fines on a DUI conviction in the State of Delaware as follows:

First DUI Offense Fine – From $230-$1,150 to $500-$1,500

Second DUI Offense Fine – From $575-$2,300 to $750-$2,500

Third DUI Offense Fine – From $1,000-3,000 to $1,500-$5000

The penalty after a fourth DUI conviction is considered a class “E” felony with a fine between $3,000-$7,000 and “Imprisonment” from a minimum of 2 years up to a maximum of 5 years. The first six months of the sentence shall not be suspended, but shall be served at Level V and shall not be subject to any early release, furlough or reduction of any kind

The penalty after a fifth DUI conviction is also considered a class “E” felony with a fine between $3,500-$10,000 and “Imprisonment” from a minimum of 3 years up to a maximum of 5 years. The first six months of the sentence shall not be suspended, but shall be served at Level V and shall not be subject to any early release, furlough or reduction of any kind

The penalty after a sixth DUI conviction is also considered a class “D” felony with a fine between $5,000-$10,000 and “Imprisonment” from a minimum of 5 years up to a maximum of 8 years. The first six months of the sentence shall not be suspended, but shall be served at Level V and shall not be subject to any early release, furlough or reduction of any kind.

The penalty after a seventh DUI conviction is also considered a class “C” felony with a fine between $10,000-$15,000 and “Imprisonment” from a minimum of 10 years up to a maximum of 15 years. The first six months of the sentence shall not be suspended, but shall be served at Level V and shall not be subject to any early release, furlough or reduction of any kind.

The second bill, Senate Bill 177 adds to the penalties received by a driver that has a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or above. If a driver is convicted of DUI for the first time, the license revocation period increases from 3 months to 6 months and hard revocation from 30 days to no sooner than 45 days. In addition the mandate for the use of the ignition interlock device is 6 months.

A first time DUI offender that is under the ignition interlock program will be limited to certain driving locations such as work, home, school or alcohol treatment programs.

For more information on DUI laws for Delaware and other States please visit  DUI, Drunk Driving Laws, Penalties and Fines