If you are in the military and you are facing a DUI charge, some aspects of your case can greatly differ from the case of a civilian. For this reason, it is important to educate yourself on your personal situation. Also, understand how you should approach the DUI charge and the potential consequences that you face. Use this page as a basis for your research into your case and how you should approach it.

Military DUI

Unlike a civilian DUI case, a military DUI case gets tried in a military court. As a result, you will need a DUI attorneythat is reputable and well versed in regular cases. Also, they should know the unique process and consequences that you face as a military member. The first step in dealing with a DUI charge is finding yourself a good attorney. In civilian cases, the court hearing and overall process can be lengthy. This means that civilians have time to consider different lawyers. However, military DUI cases generally take much less time. So, it is important that you find an attorney to represent you immediately.

Most attorneys will offer you a free consultation. Use this opportunity to ask questions and determine the competency of your attorney. It is important that you feel comfortable with your attorney. Your representation in court could be the difference between a conviction of guilty versus not guilty.

While military courts can use the state’s legal blood alcohol limit, they don’t have to. Even if you get caught driving with a blood alcohol level much under the state limit, the military can determine for itself if it feels that your judgment got impaired. If the military does decide that your judgement was impaired, it will charge you with a DUI regardless of your actual blood alcohol content. While your case will be stronger if you were under the state’s legal blood alcohol limit, you should be aware that in this situation, you still might face the consequences of a DUI.

Consequences

While there are clear consequences of driving under the influence in civilian cases, military cases are different. The military can determine how severe of a punishment you will receive based on your case.  There is no maximum punishment for military DUIs, meaning that the military can completely decide your sentence. This could range from minor reprehension to more serious consequences, such as dishonorable discharge, pay reduction, rank reduction, fines, or even imprisonment. As a result, you could face serious consequences if you receive a military DUI. Keep in mind that getting a DUI can end your career in the military. While this is not a guarantee, it is important to take this charge seriously because it has the potential to affect your career.

Receiving a DUI if you are in the military can have serious consequences that a civilian with a DUI would not face. If you are charged with a DUI, it is important to build a strong case and find a good lawyer to represent you. Consider contacting Ruane Attorneys for a free consultation.