The penalties for driving under the influence in Nebraska are determined by whether or not you have any prior offenses and high your blood alcohol test results were. The legal limit in Nebraska is .08 and a .15 and above is considered an aggravated DUI, meaning the penalties are more severe.

The penalties for a first offense DUI in Nebraska include 7-60 days in jail, a $500 fine and a six month license revocation. The court can also place you on probation, in which case you can usually avoid jail time. You would still be required to pay a $500 fine and the minimum license revocation period is 60 days. In both situations, you can get an ignition interlock device during the period of your license suspension.

Yes, there is a minimum jail sentence of 7 days and a maximum of 60 days jail for first offense DUI if you are not sentenced to probation by the court.

It depends. Your license will be suspended, but in some cases you can apply for an ignition interlock device. The device is attached to your vehicle and your vehicle will not start until you blow into the device. Eligibility depends on what you are charged with.

Depending on what you are charged with, you can lose your license for anywhere from 60 days to 15 years.

No, you will not be able to drive to work on a revoked license unless you have applied for and received a permit to drive with an ignition interlock device. You can then only drive the vehicle on which the device is installed.

If you are charged with drunk driving, you will need to appear in court. Whether you elect to have a trial or pursue a plea agreement, you will need to appear in court at least once, if not more. Your first appearance is usually an arraignment and not a trial.

Your first court appearance will usually be your arraignment. This is where the charges against you are read out loud. You can read about what to expect an arraignment here.

Yes, you have the right to a trial to contest the charges against you, as well as the right to certain constitutional protections such as due process and the right to be free of unlawful search or seizure. There are a number of possible defenses and strategies depending on the facts of your case.

Probably not. Miranda warnings are related to statements made by you to the police. If a statement was made by you while you were in custody (not free to leave) and was the result of questioning by the police, such a statement may not be used in court. However, in DUI cases, there is usually other evidence other than your statements, so it is likely the case would still go forward.

Yes, a DUI charge can be based on drugs and not just alcohol. The DUI law makes it illegal to drive while under the influence of drugs as well. Since there is no blood alcohol content to measure, there is usually an investigation done by a “Drug Recognition Expert.” These are officers with specialized training that claim to be able to spot impairment based on various drugs.

Yes, if you have used enough marijuana to be impaired, you can be arrested and charged with dui.

You can still be charged with DUI if they only tested your breath. Nebraska DUI laws allow the police to test either your breath or blood for alcohol.

You always have the right to represent yourself in a criminal proceeding, but we would not recommend it. A DUI has the potential for jail time and will impact other parts of your life. A lawyer can make sure the charges are legal and will also help you navigate the system and give you peace of mind. Contact us for a free case review.

Yes, it is possible to be charged with DUI even if you are sleeping in your car. The law says that you only need to be in actual physical control of a vehicle. The courts have found that being asleep behind the wheel meets this definition.

If you hire a lawyer, most prosecutors will turn over police reports and videos to your attorney as a matter of course. If you do not have a lawyer, you still have a right to most of those materials, but you may have to file a motion with the court depending on the jurisdiction.

Usually you can have a jury trial on a DUI if you wanted to. State law says you have an absolute right to a jury trial anytime the penalty is a year or more. If it is less than a year, you have to make a demand for jury trial quickly. In some cities in Nebraska, DUI first offense has been codified in the city code which can potentially limit your right to a jury trial.

An ignition interlock device is a thing that is installed on your car that requires you to breathe into a mouthpiece before starting the vehicle. The purpose of the device is to detect alcohol in your body and prevent you from driving if you have been drinking.

A zero tolerance violation in Nebraska is a charge that results when a minor is driving a motor vehicle and has a blood alcohol content of .02 or more.

Whether or not you can be placed on house arrest for a DUI charge in Nebraska depends on the county you are charged in. Some counties do not allow house arrest in any circumstances, while others require the approval of the court, the jail and or the County Attorney.