Nevada First Offender
You are DUI in Nevada if your blood alcohol is .08% or higher. The limit is .04% for commercial drivers and .02% for drivers under 21. Drivers can be arrested and convicted for DUI with a lower blood alcohol content (BAC) reading or for driving under the influence of controlled or prohibited substances.
The first DUI offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The minimum penalties for first offense are two days in jail or 96 hours of community service, a $200 fine, $70 in court costs, a $60 chemical test fee, and a DUI education course, including mandatory attendance at a victim impact panel. If your blood alcohol level was 0.18 or more or you are under the age of 21, you must also pay $100 to have an alcohol evaluation done.
Penalties for a typical DUI first offense:
Criminal
Arrest
Vehicle Impounded
Two days to six months in jail or community service (48 to 96 hours)
Fine $400 to $1,000
Chemical Test Fee $60
DUI School or Substance Abuse Treatment
Victim Impact Panel
Drivers License
License revoked for 90 days
$65 Reinstatement Fee
$35 Victims Compensation Civil Penalty
$21.75 Driver License Fee
DMV Tests: Vision, Knowledge, possibly Skills
SR-22 Certificate of Liability Insurance required for three years
Under 21
The blood alcohol limit is.02%. Your license will be revoked for 90 days, and you will be subject to criminal penalties (see above). You must pay $100 to have an alcohol evaluation done.
Commercial Driver
The blood alcohol limit is .04% for commercial drivers, though any detectable amount will affect your driving privileges. License revoked for 90 days. Law enforcement can prohibit any commercial driver from driving for 24 hours if you have blood alcohol of over 0.01 percent.
Revocation Appeal and Reinstatement
You may appeal a revocation through the DMV Office of Administrative Hearings.
License reinstatement is not automatic, even if the criminal charges were reduced or dismissed. You must meet reinstatement requirements and physically obtain a license to regain your driving privilege. A revocation which is not reinstated will remain on
your record indefinitely and you will not be able to obtain a driver license in any state.
DUI School
At least 8 hours of "DUI school," either 4 two hour or 1 eight hour session. If your BAC is .18 or higher, you may be required to obtain a Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse evaluation and further counseling (AA or NA), as ordered by the court. The higher your BAC, the more hours you will have to take.
Test Refusal
Driving in Nevada implies consent to be tested you may not refuse. Law enforcement may use reasonable force to obtain blood test if a breath test is refused.
Insurance
Upon conviction, your insurance rates will probably increase dramatically, and your carrier may drop you, forcing you to find a carrier that offers less coverage for even more money.
