What is ‘legally drunk’ in Utah
In Utah, it is illegal for drivers under the age of 21 years to drink alcohol, as a result they are considered to be legally drunk when their blood alcohol level is more than .01. Non-commercial drivers above 21 years are legally drunk if their blood alcohol level is more than .08. For commercial vehicle drivers, they are legally drunk if their blood alcohol level is more than .04. In Utah, school bus drivers are commercial drivers.
Utah Drunk Driving Penalties
For first time DUI offenders in Utah, they face the following penalties:
- A prison sentence of 2 days to 6 months
- A fine ranging from $700 to $1,000. However, if at the time of the offence the offender had a passenger who is below 16 years or the offender inflicted bodily injury upon another, the fine is up to $2,500 and the prison sentence up to 1 year.
- The offender’s driver’s license revocation period is 90 days
- If the judge finds that the offender is a safety hazard, he/she may add a suspension period of 3 months, 6 months, 1 year or 2 years.
For second time offenders within 10 years of the first conviction, they face:
- A prison sentence of 10 days to 6 months
- A fine ranging from $800 to $1,000. However, if at the time of the offence the offender had a passenger who is below 16 years or the offender inflicted bodily injury upon another, the fine is up to $2,500 and the prison sentence up to 1 year.
- The offender’s driver’s license revocation period is one year
- If the judge finds that the offender is a safety hazard, he/she may add a suspension period of 3 months, 6 months, 1 year or 2 years.
For third time offenders, they face:
- A prison sentence of up to 5 years
- A fine not exceeding $5,000
- The offender’s driver’s license revocation period is 1 year
- If the judge finds that the offender is a safety hazard, he/she may add a suspension period of 3 months, 6 months, 1 year or 2 years.
The Point System in Utah
Under Utah’s Driving Improvement Program, the Utah DMV issues points for certain traffic violations. Accumulation of too many points will lead to your license’s revocation and higher insurance premiums. If you get more than 200 points on your driving record in a three year period, you could have your driving privileges suspended. Drivers under 21 who get more than 70 points face the same penalty