Drivers who have blood/alcohol content above 0.08% are violating the DUI laws, and can be charged and punished. Oftentimes, the courts will declare that the offender must pay a fine, or spend a few nights in jail. Normally, the authorities will also strip the offender of his or her driver's license and add marks to his or her driving record. Marks like this have a punishment all their own- they will cause your insurance rates to skyrocket and may affect your ability to get a job. They can also cause suspicion when someone does a background check on you.

Another common DUI punishment is a court mandate to attend a DUI rehab facility. These programs can help a struggling alcohol or drug addict to break free of their reliance on substances and learn how to drive safer on the roads. Rehabs are restricted for people with a chemical dependency. Also, teenagers who are issued a DUI will normally be sentenced to a rehab program, so that they can break their habits early on. Some states require all DUI criminals to attend a rehab program, regardless of their situation.

Sources say that 1/16 adults has a severe drinking problem, while millions of other Americans are engaged in what is known as "risky drinking." People who are addicted to alcohol or drugs have a strong need or dependency on the substances, despite the fact that they have negative consequences. Addicts also have a greater tolerance for the chemicals, which is why they can consume so much of them. Alcoholics normally experience a loss of control over how much they are drinking, and go through severe withdrawals when deprived of their drink.

If you have been convicted of a DUI, it may be wise to seek a rehab facility and enroll in a program voluntarily. If you do this before your trial, it may lessen your sentence. Also, by enrolling in a program before the court mandates it, you will be able to choose a rehab that works for you. Rehabilitation programs give DUI offenders a greater likelihood of success in recovery. By enrolling, you are demonstrating to the court and local authorities that you have a desire to change, and a vested interest in breaking your addictive habits. This may cause the courts to be lenient in their sentencing, especially if this is your first DUI offense. If you postpone your rehab enrollment then you will be obligated to attend rehab where the courts have commanded. This may be a program that is farther away from you, or at a more inconvenient time.

Attending rehab can have a lot of benefits on your DUI conviction. In some states, defendants can avoid a court hearing and a mark on their criminal record by successfully attending and completing a rehab program. Normally these benefits are restricted for first-time DUI offenders who did not harm anyone when driving under the influence. To avoid the court hearing, people who are given this privilege must attend and complete the entire rehab program. Skipping out may cause the courts to reinstate the original DUI charge.

In other cases, rehab may reduce your jail time or the amount of money you need to pay in fines. It can also allow you to get your driver's license back faster, and you may be given a hardship permit so that you can drive to and from your rehab. Speak with an attorney about voluntary rehab and what it would mean for your DUI case. You may be able to avoid many of the punishments of a DWI or DUI just by taking these helpful classes which will teach you how to break free of your addiction.