What A Maine OUI Charge Really Means For Your Daily Life

If you think getting stopped for OUI is over once the fine is paid, you need to think again.

Maine Courts Take Driving Under the Influence Very Seriously

We've all made bad decisions in our lives. But getting behind the wheel when you're under the influence is one that will follow you long after the blue lights go out.

READ MORE: How to Help Your Car Survive the Coldest Winter Months in Maine

In Maine, the standard legal limit for driving under the influence is 0.08% blood alcohol content for drivers 21 and over, but you can still be charged with OUI if your driving is impaired, at any alcohol level.

There is zero tolerance for underage drivers under the influence.

The initial ramifications are losing your driver's license for a few months to a year (or more for repeat offenders) and a hefty fine. There could also be a jail sentence.

An OUI Charge in Maine Will Affect Your Life Beyond the Courtroom

But the cost of an OUI goes far beyond that.

Your insurance costs will increase significantly.

If you work at a job that requires driving, you just gave your boss grounds to fire you, because their insurance premiums will also increase if they keep you on.

Even if you don't have to drive for work, you still have to get back and forth to work. Without a license, you will need help from friends or pay for a rideshare.

You'll likely have to take a safety course, which you will pay for, to the tune of several hundred dollars.

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Then there's the reinstatement fee for your license, once you've completed all the court-ordered requirements.

If you crash your vehicle, there's another expense to repair or replace your ride.

Not All the Ramifications of an OUI in Maine are Financial

An OUI conviction may restrict you from traveling to some foreign countries, including Canada.

And, finally, an OUI is a criminal offense that will appear on background checks accessed by employers when you're looking for a job.

Actually, there's one more that's the most important of all. You may live the rest of your life knowing that you killed someone in a crash.

All because you made one bad decision.

So remember, if you plan to drink, have a safe way home, and don't get behind the wheel. Your future self will thank you.