Taimoor Rana is seasoned criminal defense attorney specializing in DUI related cases. He shares his expert legal opinion here « DUI/DWI Laws in Alabama
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- There are two theories on the bases of which you can be arrested for a DUI charge in the state of Alabama. First is that, the cops can arrest you for DUI if you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This means that you have clearly impaired mental capacity because you are intoxicated. If the officer by whom you are pulled over feels that your driving appears to be impaired, there are chances that you could be arrested.
Secondly, the state of Alabama also operates with a per se law, this law states that you are not allowed to drive with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of .08% or higher. If your blood tests show that your BAC level is above the legal limit, you will be arrested for a DUI, it does not matter how good you can drive even with this level of BAC. 
DUI Arrests in Alabama
After having arrested for DUI in Alabama you will have to face two cases. The first case that you have to face is in the criminal courts. The second case is that you have to attend an administrative hearing with the Alabama Department of Public Safety. It is essential for you to contact a lawyer as soon as you are arrested, because just 10 days are given to you to request the Department of Public Safety hearing. If you fail to do so then this will put a risk at your ability to drive.
They will also ask you to submit a blood, breath, or urine test in order to see how much alcohol is in your system. If you refuse to submit this test, it will cause you to lose your license for at least 90 days automatically. Moreover you will not be allowed to apply for a restricted license. This refusal of yours to submit the test can also be used against you in your court case. The best thing is that you first talk to an attorney before making this decision of either submitting or refusing to submit a test.
Basic Consequences for First Time Offenders
When you have arrested for the first time for your first Alabama DUI conviction, you can expect to face the following consequences:
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You may have to pay fine between $600 and $2,100.
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You may have to give mandatory $100 donation to Impaired Drivers Trust Fund.
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You may have to spend up to 1 year in jail, with no minimum sentence.
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You may have to pass through alcohol assessment and evaluation.
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You may have to attend possible alcohol treatment program.
If you are arrested subsequently for DUI offenses, you will have to face even stricter consequences.
Suspensions of License for Alabama DUI
If you are arrested for Alabama DUI charge then due to this you may also lose your license. It depends on how many DUI convictions you have on your record, the suspension time for different no. of convictions are as follows:
- For first time offenders the suspension period is 90 days.
- For second time offenders the suspension period is 1 year.
- For third time offenders the suspension period is 3 years.
- For fourth time offenders the suspension period is 5 years.
In the state of Alabama offenses remains on your record for 5 years. However, with the help of your attorney you may be able to apply for a restricted license which will allow you to drive to and from work.
Insurance Consequences
You will also face insurance consequences after you have been arrested for DUI. Those who have been convicted of DUI offenses, insurance coverage are not given to them by many insurance companies. If however, your insurance company is still giving you insurance coverage, you will find that the cost of your policy has been increased dramatically.
On the other hand if your company drops your coverage then you will have to find a new company to cover you and this should be done before you can get your license back. To find such company which can cover those with drunk driving convictions will be very difficult, because most of the insurance companies are not interested in covering such people.
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