If you’ve been stopped for DUI in Honolulu, it’s important to understand the consequences of the charges pending against you.
Blood Alcohol Content in Hawaii
Honolulu DUI lawyers know that there are different types of DUI penalties based on the defendant’s blood alcohol content (BAC) reading at the time of the arrest. Hawaii’s “per se” BAC level is in line with most of the United States at .08 percent. If the offender blows or records a reading greater than or equal to .15 percent, “enhanced penalties” come into play. Enhanced penalty consequences generally include increased jail time, higher fines, and increased driving privilege sanctions.- If you need legal assistance with a DUI Charge, click here for a Free Case Review with a DUI Lawyer near you.
Hawaiian law also sets a minimum BAC level of .02 percent for drivers beneath the legal drinking age. If someone under the age of 21 is stopped on suspicion of drunk driving and records a BAC over .02, he or she can be arrested under zero tolerance DUI law. A Honolulu DUI lawyer can explain more about the difference between a per se, zero tolerance, and enhanced penalty DUI charge and the consequences each type of charge carries.
Implied Consent
Hawaii also has an “Implied Consent” law. The implied consent law states that by driving a motor vehicle on Hawaiian roadways, drivers have given their implied consent to submit to a chemical alcohol test if stopped on suspicion of drunk driving. Breath, blood and urine samples can all be used to determine the suspect’s BAC. If a driver suspected of DUI refuses to submit to chemical testing, he or she will face a mandatory license suspension ranging from six months to one year.
Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices
Honolulu DUI lawyers also know that Hawaiian law allows DUI offenders to be required to install an ignition interlock device on their vehicle in order to have driving privileges reinstated. An ignition interlock device prevents a motor vehicle from starting until the driver has presented a breath sample that tests negative for alcohol.
If you’ve been charged with DUI in Hawaii, a Honolulu DUI lawyer can help you navigate the legal system and fight the charges against you. Your attorney will advise you on a course of action based on the type of DUI charges being held against you, and help you avoid jail time or an extended loss of driving privileges.
- If you need legal assistance with a DUI Charge, click here for a Free Case Review with a DUI Lawyer near you. This website is for informational purposes only, and nothing stated here should be taken as legal advice.
