Residents and visitors to Hawaii need to understand how serious it is to be charged with a DUI. Legislators are constantly enhancing the penalties for a conviction, making it essential to fight each charge that you receive.
Below, we wanted to discuss some of the potential consequences of a DUI conviction in Hawaii. We explore some of the penalties listed under the statute, as well as some of the other things that may happen to you that you may not be aware of at the time you are charged with the offense.
Penalties under the state’s DUI laws
In Hawaii, the penalties for a first time DUI conviction are rather strong. If you are convicted, you will need to complete at least 14 hours in a substance abuse program, which is designed to determine if you may have a problem abusing alcohol.
You will also lose your driver’s license for one year. During this time period, you may apply for an ignition interlock, but, know that you are responsible for paying the installation and monitoring costs associated with the device. These costs can quickly add up to over a thousand dollars throughout the year that your license is suspended.
You could also be required to complete 72 hours of community service, spend anywhere from 48 hours to five days in jail, as well as a fine of up to $1,000. The court has discretion to impose one of more of the above penalties on you as a result of the conviction.
Additional consequences outside of the law
In addition to the possible jail time, fines and other penalties, there are other issues that may impact motorists convicted of a DUI. First, your car insurance rates will increase dramatically. Once you have that conviction on your record, you are going to have a very difficult time finding insurance. When you do, your rates will be several times higher than they were in the past, and this will carry on for years after your conviction.
Next, you need to be aware of the potential problems that this may cause for your career. If you are in the military or work in a position that requires a security clearance, you will probably lose this access as a result of the conviction. This could have a very negative effect on your ability to keep your job.
Additionally, a conviction for DUI will make it impossible to work in certain fields. Companies that require you to drive as part of your daily responsibilities will more than likely not hire you because of this conviction. They do not want to take on the risk and increased insurance costs that they may face if you operate a company car.