Penalties vary in drink driving cases depending on the circumstances of the offence. For example, you may receive lighter penalties if you are judged to have been in charge of the vehicle, rather than driving or attempting to drive.
You can also receive harsher penalties depending on the level of alcohol in your system.
There are a wide range of penalties available to judges when sentencing for drink driving offences including fines, bans, penalty points, community orders, and imprisonment. You may also be required to attend a drink driving rehabilitation course.
In more serious cases which involve death or injury, penalties could be extremely severe.
Above the legal limit or unfit to drive whilst in charge of a vehicle
Standard penalties and implications for drivers:
- Driving ban – a judge may or may not disqualify you
- Fine – Up to £2,500
- Points – if you are not disqualified, you will receive 10 points
- Prison term – up to 3 months
- A criminal record
- Increased insurance premiums
- If you drive for work you may lose your job.
Above the legal limit or unfit to drive whilst driving or attempting to drive
Standard penalties and implications for drivers
- Driving ban – at a judge’s discretion
- Fine – up to £2,500
- Penalty points – 10, if not disqualified
- Prison term – up to 6 weeks
- A criminal record
- Increased insurance premiums
- If you drive for work you may lose your job.
Penalties for drivers of HGVs,
LGVs, or PPV
Driving an HGV, LGV or PPV is considered an aggravating factor for drink driving offences. This means you may face penalties which are at the upper end of the sentencing range for these offences. If you are a commercial goods operator, you could also face:
- Public inquiry by the traffic commissioner
- Loss of commercial licence
- Loss of employment.
Other penalties
Often, drink driving charges are accompanied by dangerous or careless driving charges. These offences can come with severe penalties attached. Another charge that can often be brought alongside a drink driving offence is failure to provide a specimen.
If a police officer requests a sample of your breath, blood or urine, you are legally obliged to provide one, unless you have a specific exemption described in law.
This charge can bring with it serious penalties including driving bans, unlimited fines and imprisonment
Find out more about failure to provide a specimen offences by clicking on the following links:
Another charge that can often be brought alongside a drink driving offence is failure to provide a specimen. If a police officer requests a sample of your breath, blood or urine, you are legally obliged to provide one, unless you have a specific exemption described in law. This charge can bring with it serious penalties including driving bans, unlimited fines and imprisonment.
Find out more about failure to provide a specimen offences here
