Regardless of the circumstances, you should never drive a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Besides the evident risks, this could land you in jail with DUI charges. People often fail to understand that Hawaii DUI laws are extremely harsh, and even when you are being charged with DUI for the first time, there could be tough consequences. If you have been arrested for a DUI in the state, here are some facts that you should know.
DUI is the same as OVUII in Hawaii
In many other states, “DUI” stands for driving under the influence of alcohol, while “DWI” stands for driving while intoxicated. However, in Hawaii, OVUII is the term that’s typically used, which stands for “operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant”. In other words, an intoxicant could refer to alcohol, drugs, or both.
All implied consent laws apply to visitors too
If you are in Hawaii for a break or vacation and intend to drive a vehicle on your own, the implied consent laws still apply. This means that if a police officer pulls you over and asks you to go for a blood, urine, or breathalyzer test, you must agree to that. If you don’t, your license will be suspended for a year.
Violation refers to a BAC level of .08 or higher
If you are asked to take a blood or breathalyzer test and your BAC content is found to be .08 or higher, you would be charged with OVUII. The prosecutors don’t need additional evidence to prove their case. However, this may not be the end of the road for you. These tests are prone to accuracy, and your lawyer can gather details to prove that.
You can get a conditional license
Since your license is suspended, you may want to consider requesting an administrative hearing for a “conditional” license, which will give you the right to drive a vehicle for the next two weeks. If you win, you will have your license back.
DUI convictions have consequences
If you are convicted of drunk driving, you will have to deal with numerous consequences. Besides losing your license, you may have a hard time finding a new job as the DUI conviction will appear in your background checks.
No matter whether you were drunk or not, make sure to talk to an attorney immediately after your arrest so that you can work on your defense and start gathering evidence.