If you’ve recently been accused of a third offense DUI in Delaware, you probably already know that the stakes are much higher since you have previously been convicted and since the typical consequences associated with a third offense DUI are much more significant than you might otherwise expect. A third offense DUI requires experienced and competent legal counsel.
This is a class G felony in the state of Delaware and you are looking at up to three months of mandatory jail time on a third offense. Furthermore, you will have to go through an alcohol and drug abstinence program where you must show 90 consecutive days of sobriety.
This is in addition to participating in an outpatient or an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment program for a minimum of three months. You might have questions about whether or not your prior DUI can be counted as a second or third DUI. Any DUI in your lifetime is categorized as a prior DUI for the purposes of determining your potential consequences.
If you had two previous DUIs at any time on your record prior to the commission of the offense in question, this will be a third offense for the purposes of sentencing. If you are an in-state driver, your driver’s license will be suspended for 90 days on a Delaware third offense DUI. You could be eligible to receive an ignition interlock license and the time period that this must be installed in your vehicle depends on the blood alcohol content at the time you were arrested. If you are currently facing a third offense DUI in Delaware, it can be a big mistake to assume that you should just plead guilty and move on with your life. You need to schedule a time to speak with an experienced attorney who understands the steps that you must take to protect yourself. Gathering evidence and putting together a timeline of events is helpful.