Getting arrested for driving under the influence in Oklahoma is no joke – the driver faces consequences that may include jail time, fines, license suspensions, and more.

Because the repercussions of an Oklahoma drunk driving arrest are so severe, it’s imperative to have a skilled local defense lawyer safeguarding the accused motorist’s rights. The experienced attorneys of 1.800.NOT.DRUNK and www.NotDrunk.com will work to minimize or even eliminate the consequences of an Oklahoma DUI arrest.

Oklahoma drunk driving arrests launch two distinct cases – in criminal court, and at the Department of Public Safety (DPS). The criminal court case carries the possibility of jail and fines, and the DPS case threatens the motorist’s driver’s license. Motorists accused of drinking and driving in Oklahoma have only 15 days from the date of arrest to request a DPS administrative hearing or risk having their licenses automatically suspended.

There are three basic alcohol related offenses in Oklahoma – DUI, or driving under the influence; APC, or actual physical control; and DWI, or driving while intoxicated. DWI is considered a lesser offense than both DUI and APC.

Oklahoma DUI charges are filed under one of two theories. The first allegation relates to driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, which focuses solely on whether the driver is unable to safely operate a vehicle because of consumption of alcohol and/or drugs.

The second allegation in an Oklahoma drunk driving case is violation of the state’s "per se" law, which means that the driver is accused of having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent or greater.

A first-offense Oklahoma DUI conviction is punishable by up to one year in jail, a fine, 480 hours of community service, the requirement of an ignition interlock device on all vehicles, and the possibility of mandatory in-patient alcohol or drug treatment.

Oklahoma DUI punishment for people with prior drunk driving convictions will increase substantially, both in terms of the court case and the driver’s license consequences from the DPS. It is not unheard of for Oklahoma DUI convictions to include fines of up to $5,000, jail terms of up to 10 years, and vehicle forfeiture.

APC, or actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, does not require that the vehicle be driven. Oklahoma APC only requires that the car could be driven. Oklahoma APC charges are typically brought where someone is parked while under the influence of alcohol, and could drive if he or she wanted to. The punishment associated with an APC conviction is identical to that of a DUI offense outlined above.

DWI, or driving while impaired by alcohol, is charged against a driver who has a BAC of .07 percent or less. Oklahoma DWI charges carry lesser punishment than Oklahoma DUI charges. However, the driver still faces fines, license suspension, and other punishment.

Oklahoma drivers accused of DUI / DWI face an administrative action from the Department of Public Safety in addition to criminal charges. Any motorist who fails or refuses a chemical test faces a driver’s license suspension of six months to three years. Any driving during this revocation period will result in additional charges of driving on a suspended license.

Because the consequences of an Oklahoma driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated can be so severe, it’s imperative to have expert legal representation. The skilled attorneys of 1.800.NOT.DRUNK and www.NotDrunk.com will provide a free consultation and outline a proven defense strategy designed to minimize or even eliminate the repercussions of an Oklahoma drunk driving arrest.

DISCLAIMER: No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.