Plea Guilty v. Alternative Disposition
| Penalties Imposed If You Plea Guilty | 2nd Offense DWI |
|---|---|
| Jail | 60 days – 2 1/2 years (30 days must be served) |
| Fine | $600 to $10000 |
| Additional Fees | Head Injury: $250 / Victim Fee: $50 |
| License Suspension | 2 yr |
| Hardship License | Eligible after 1 yr |
| Alternative Disposition Penalties | 2nd Offense DWI (Only Outside 10 yrs) |
|---|---|
| Jail | None |
| Fees | Head Injury: $250 / Victim Fee: $50 |
| License Suspension | 45 – 90 days / Under 21 drivers lose license for 210 days |
| Hardship License | Eligible 3 days after entry of CWOF |
| Driver Alcohol Education Program | Required |
Benefits of an alternative disposition:
1. Continuance Without a Finding (CWOF): It’s not technically a conviction, so if asked by a someone if you’ve ever been convicted, then you can honestly say “no.”
2. Penalties are less harsh
Cons of an alternative disposition:
1. It can possibly show up on some background checks.
2. If you’re ever charged with another OUI, it will be counted against you as a prior OUI conviction.
3. Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) counts a CWOF as an OUI conviction for suspension purposes.
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