Alabama DUI Lawyer – Ford Firm
Why people search “Alabama DUI lawyer” (and how we help)
If you were stopped, tested, and booked for DUI anywhere in Alabama, you’re now juggling a criminal charge and a driver’s license problem on two separate tracks. Smart moves in the first 10–14 days can protect your license options and your defense. An experienced Alabama DUI attorney guides both tracks: court dates, negotiations, testing issues, and ignition-interlock or hardship options.
Alabama’s DUI law is found at Code of Alabama §32-5A-191. It sets the legal BAC limits and the penalty ranges for first and repeat convictions.
Quick facts every Alabama driver should know
Legal limits: 0.08% BAC for adults, 0.04% for CDL/commercial, and 0.02% for drivers under 21 (and certain school/day-care drivers).
First conviction penalties (high level): Up to 1 year in jail, $600–$2,100 in fines, and a 90-day license suspension (more with high BAC or refusals).
Repeat-offense lookback: Prior DUIs within 10 years can raise penalties.
Implied consent: Refusing a breath/urine/blood test can trigger license suspension even if you’re not convicted.
Ignition interlock: Courts/ ALEA can require an IID; in many cases it can shorten a suspension.
Expungement: A DUI conviction generally cannot be expunged in Alabama under current law.
Alabama DUI penalties at a glance
First conviction: Up to 1 year jail; $600–$2,100 fine; 90-day suspension; evaluation/treatment; possible interlock (more likely if BAC ≥ .15 or other aggravators).
Second conviction (within lookback): Higher fines, up to 1 year jail, longer revocation/suspension, and mandatory interlock periods.
Third conviction (within lookback): 60–365 days jail (with a minimum 60 days in many cases), steep fines, multi-year revocation, and lengthy interlock.
Fourth or felony-qualifying DUI: Felony exposure with extended incarceration and license consequences; a prior felony DUI can make later arrests felonies.
What an Alabama DUI lawyer does for you
Challenges the stop and testing: Field tests, machine maintenance, observation periods, and implied-consent warnings are frequent battlegrounds.
Manages the license track: Preserves deadlines, pursues interlock/hardship options, and coordinates SR-22 steps.
Negotiates outcomes: From reductions to reckless-driving equivalents (where facts support it) to treatment-forward dispositions.
Protects long-term interests: Targeting results that minimize employment, professional-license, CDL, or immigration impact.
Step-by-step after a DUI arrest in Alabama
Write down everything about the stop, testing, and any medical issues.
Calendar license deadlines immediately (refusal cases move fast).
Call an Alabama DUI attorney to coordinate court and Alabama Law Enforcement Ageny requirements.
Complete evaluation early to show good faith and open negotiation doors.
Price interlock now if you’re likely to need it (can speed reinstatement).
Plan for SR-22 with your insurer (or non-owner policy if you don’t own a car).
FAQ's
What happens after a first DUI in Alabama?
A first conviction carries up to 12 months in jail, $600–$2,100 in fines, and a 90-day license suspension. Courts may order substance-abuse evaluation, treatment, community service, and ignition-interlock (especially with BAC ≥ .15, a crash, minor in the car, or other aggravators). Even without a conviction, you can face an administrative suspension from a test refusal.
Will I go to jail for a first DUI in Alabama?
Jail is possible but not automatic. Many first-offense outcomes focus on fines, probation, court-referral programs, and interlock; aggravating facts (high BAC, crash, injury, or a minor passenger) make jail more likely. Talk to an Alabama DUI lawyer early to target non-jail resolutions where eligible.
Is a DUI in Alabama a felony or misdemeanor?
Most first, second, and third DUIs are misdemeanors; a fourth (or certain serious cases with injuries) can be felonies, and prior felony DUI can elevate future arrests.
What is the legal limit in Alabama?
21+ drivers: 0.08%
Commercial drivers: 0.04% (while operating CMV)
Under 21 / school-bus & certain day-care drivers: 0.02%
Evidence below .08 can still support a DUI if the State proves impairment.
Should I refuse the breath test in Alabama?
Alabama’s implied-consent law warns that refusing a chemical test can cause a license suspension (often 90 days for a first refusal; longer for repeats), separate from the criminal case. Refusal also affects interlock options. A lawyer can review whether the officer had lawful grounds and whether the warnings were properly given.
How do I get my license back after a DUI in Alabama?
Pathways can include serving the suspension days, ignition-interlock installation (which can shorten or replace some suspensions), paying ALEA fees, and filing SR-22 proof of insurance if required. Timing depends on conviction details, BAC, and refusals.
How long does a DUI stay on my record in Alabama?
A DUI conviction is generally permanent and not expungeable under current Alabama law; non-conviction records may be treated differently under §15-27. Expect insurance and sentencing consequences to reference a 10-year lookback for enhancements.
Can a DUI be expunged in Alabama?
Not if it’s a conviction. Alabama’s expungement statute allows clearing some non-conviction records; DUI convictions are excluded. Courts—not ALEA—grant expungements.
How much does a DUI cost in Alabama?
Plan for fines, court costs, ignition-interlock fees, increased insurance/SR-22, evaluation/treatment, and time off work. Third-party analyses put SR-22-affected premiums notably higher for 2–3 years depending on the carrier and violation.
Can I drive for work after a DUI in Alabama?
Hardship and interlock-restricted driving may be possible depending on your case. CDL rules are stricter; a DUI can disqualify you even if you weren’t in a commercial vehicle at the time. Interlock is often required before any lawful driving.
Ignition-interlock basics in Alabama
Alabama’s IID program ties interlock to convictions and aggravators (e.g., BAC ≥ .15, refusal, crash, minor passenger). In many cases, installing an IID shortens suspension time or is required before driving again. Interlock rules are administered with ALEA under §32-5A-191 and related provisions.
Ford Firm – Alabama DUI Defense
At the Ford Firm, Attorney Randal S. Ford has spent over 34 years defending individuals charged with DUI across Alabama. Based in Tuscaloosa at 705 27th Avenue, Suite A, Randal Ford is known for aggressive, strategic DUI defense that protects both your freedom and your driver’s license.
Address: 705 27th Avenue, Suite A, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Phone: (205) 454-7500
When you search “Alabama DUI lawyer,” the Ford Firm provides clear answers and effective defense strategies.
