Many factors can change the outcome of your drink driving conviction. Some of the most common ones are below, although ultimately, the severity of your punishment is determined by a magistrate’s court.

Drink driving penalties

Fines

There are a few different fines, depending on the circumstances of your drink driving. Some of these are:

• Being in charge of a vehicle while being above the limit or being unfit to drive: £2,500 fine.

• Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit: An unlimited fine.

• Refusing to provide blood, urine or breath for analysis: An unlimited fine.

• Causing death when drunk driving: An unlimited fine.

Imprisonment

Whether or not you receive a prison sentence depends on the seriousness of the offence.

• Being in charge of a vehicle while being above the limit or being unfit to drive: 3 months imprisonment.

• Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit: 6 months imprisonment.

• Refusing to provide a specimen of blood: 6 months imprisonment.

• Causing death when drink driving: Up to 14 years imprisonment.

Driving Bans

A driving ban alongside a drunk driving conviction is quite common, as you are deemed unfit to drive. The following factors determine the length of your driving ban:

• Being in charge of a vehicle while being above the limit or being unfit to drive: A possible ban.

• Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit: A driving ban of at least a year, which can be longer if you’ve been convicted twice in ten years.

• Refusing to provide a blood specimen: A possible ban of at least one year.

• Causing death by drink driving: A ban from driving for two years.

If you have just finished a driving ban and are seeking drink-driver insurance, check out our drink-driver insurance page. We can find a policy that suits your needs and get you back on the road.