What happens when you get a DUI in Alaska?

Getting a DUI in Alaska is something that you should take very seriously and make sure that you follow all of the state requirements so that you do not get into any further legal trouble.

You should never attempt to drive after drinking because it could end up endangering your life as well as other drivers on the road as well as costing you a lot of money in fines and other criminal and administrative penalties.

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DUI Laws in Alaska

In Alaska, there is a zero tolerance law in effect that applies to any minor between the ages of 14 and 21. If you are under 21 and are found to have had any amount of alcohol while driving, you can be arrested for a DUI.

If you are driving your personal vehicle, your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) cannot be above .08 in Alaska. Also, if you are driving a commercial vehicle, you can be arrested for a DUI if your BAC is at or above .04.

One of the ways that you can be required to take a BAC test or breathalyzer in Alaska is if you are found to have an open container in your vehicle while driving.

Along with many other states in the U.S., Alaska is an implied consent state, which means that any driver who operates a motor vehicle in Alaska is required to submit to a breathalyzer test if pulled over by a law enforcement officer.

If a police officer in Alaska asks you to take a breathalyzer test while driving and you refuse the test, this could be punishable by having your driver’s license revoked or even spending time in jail.

You should also keep in mind that your refusal to take a breathalyzer test when requested by an officer in Alaska can be used against you in court as evidence for a DUI charge.

The Penalties for a DUI Conviction in Alaska

If you are convicted of a DUI in Alaska, you should brace yourself for some serious penalties, even if it was your first conviction.

– First Offense

The first time that you are convicted of a DUI in Alaska, you will have your license suspended for 90 days, face up to 72 hours in jail, pay a $1,500 fine and be required to have an ignition interlock device installed in your car.

– Second Offense

For a second DUI conviction in Alaska, the penalties increase to at least 20 days in jail, a $3,000 fine and a license suspension of at least one year.

– Third Offense

You could spend between 60 to 120 days in prison for a third DUI conviction in Alaska along with paying up to $10,000 in fines and having your license suspended for at least three years.

After a third DUI conviction in Alaska, the penalties get extreme.

– Habitual Offenders

Habitual DUI offenders could have their license suspended for five years, pay up to $10,000 in fines and spend up to one year in prison. No matter how many DUI convictions you have had, you will be required to have an ignition interlock device installed in your car or truck.

How the Point System Works for Your Alaska Driver’s License

In order to encourage responsible driving behavior, Alaska has a points system to keep track of violations for all kinds of traffic laws.

There are various point values assigned to each different type of traffic violation depending on the severity of the offense. The points range between two and 10 per offense. Having a DUI conviction results in 10 points on your license.

In Alaska, if a driver accumulates 12 points in one year or 18 points in two years, he or she is facing a suspension of their driver’s license for a certain period of time.

In order to reduce the total number of points on your driver’s license, you may be able to take a driver’s safety course sponsored by the state. After a while, the points are no longer counted on your license. In general, the longest that points will stay on your Alaska record is for 24 months.

Suspension or Revocation of Your Alaska Driver’s License

There is an important difference in having your driver’s license suspended or revoked in Alaska. If your license is suspended, this means that you are only prevented from driving for a certain period of time.

There may be steps that you can take to get your driver’s license fully reinstated so that there are no restrictions on when and how you can drive. This could include maintaining proof of financial responsibility for insurance, such as an SR-22 certificate, as well as paying off your fines.

However, if your license is actually revoked, this is a much more serious situation. This means that you no longer have any driving privileges in Alaska.

If you wanted to be able to drive again, you would have to apply for a completely new driver’s license, which means going through a written and road test.

This process is also more expensive because you will be required to pay any outstanding fines from the state as well as all of the application fees for a new Alaska driver’s license. It is not impossible to get a new Alaska driver’s license, but it will take some time, money and effort on your part.

Preventing Future DUI Convictions in Alaska

One of the ways that the state makes sure that drivers convicted of a DUI in Alaska do not repeat the same dangerous mistake is to require them to take an alcohol and driving safety class.

This is an official program run by the state that teaches drivers convicted of a DUI about the dangers of alcohol and driving.

In addition to this official program, drivers convicted of a DUI will have to have an ignition interlock device installed in their car at their own expense. This requires you to take a breathalyzer before driving your vehicle to make sure that you have not consumed any alcohol at all.

Getting Car Insurance Coverage After a DUI Conviction in Alaska

After a DUI conviction is on your record, you may have a difficult time finding affordable auto insurance. You will need to spend some more time shopping around online for companies that will be willing to provide you coverage.

In fact, there are some auto insurance companies that specifically serve high-risk drivers, such as someone convicted of a DUI in Alaska.

If all else fails, you can contact your state department of insurance and get assigned to the high-risk pool, which means that you will have the required auto insurance. Be prepared to pay a higher premium.

If you have a DUI conviction, you will need to ask for all available discounts to you, such as bundling different policies, in order to try to pay a more reasonable rate. You could also offer to take a safety course to qualify for a discount.

Getting a DUI in Alaska

The laws in Alaska are very strict when it comes to the penalties for a DUI conviction. You will face fines, possible jail time, special insurance requirements and a wide range of other things that you must do in order to get your driver’s license reinstated.

You should also prepare for the task of finding auto insurance coverage to be a bit more expensive and difficult, which is why you need to be ready to shop around online for many auto insurance quotes.

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