{"id":286683,"date":"2016-04-04T10:45:08","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:45:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/dui\/cases\/dui-plea-bargains.html"},"modified":"2025-08-05T08:40:48","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T13:40:48","slug":"dui-plea-bargains","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/dui\/cases\/dui-plea-bargains.html","title":{"rendered":"DUI Plea Bargains"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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DUI Plea Bargains<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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A DUI plea bargain<\/span> is a negotiated agreement where a defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge<\/span> in exchange for reduced penalties, avoiding the risks of going to trial. This legal arrangement allows defendants to resolve their DUI case<\/span> through negotiation rather than facing a jury. Many DUI cases<\/span> settle through plea bargains because they offer more predictable outcomes and lighter sentences than potential trial convictions.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

When you imagine a typical criminal case, you might picture a trial with arguments, witnesses, and a jury. Yet, more than 90% of all criminal cases do not go to trial. Criminal cases usually end with a plea bargain, where a defendant agrees to plead guilty. In exchange, prosecutors usually reduce the severity of the criminal charge or sentence they pursue.<\/p>\n

This includes driving under the influence (DUI) offenses. In a DUI case, a defendant might plead no contest<\/a> in exchange for a reduced sentence or plead guilty to a lesser charge, such as reckless driving or a \u201cwet reckless.\u201d<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll explain how DUI plea bargains work, including the reasons for accepting a plea bargain and the advantages of pleading guilty to a lesser charge<\/a> rather than going to trial. We will also discuss the most common plea deals in a DUI case.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve recently been arrested for DUI or DWI, you should contact a local criminal defense attorney<\/a> sooner rather than later. They can review your case and talk to the prosecutor about a plea bargain<\/a>. They’ll know your state’s DUI laws inside and out and be in a better position to negotiate with the state than you would be on your own.<\/p>\n

What Is a Plea Bargain?<\/h2>\n

The plea-bargaining process<\/a> is relatively simple. A plea bargain in a criminal case is very similar to an out-of-court settlement in a car accident case, for example. Both of these resolutions can be mutually beneficial for you and the other party \u2014 in a DUI case, the state. Of course, there is much more at stake than money for the defendant in a criminal case.<\/p>\n

Depending on the specific drunk driving charge<\/a> you\u2019re facing, the penalties can be pretty severe. The judge will likely impose fines, a suspension of your driver\u2019s license, community service, and a possible prison sentence.<\/p>\n

Most defendants will do whatever they can to avoid a DUI conviction<\/a>. Not only can a conviction of driving under the influence result in fines and possible jail time, but it can also impact your personal and professional lives immensely.<\/p>\n

By entering a plea agreement for a reduced charge, you can put the matter behind you and move forward with your life. Plea bargains typically require a defendant to waive certain rights, including the right to a jury trial<\/a>. You will also receive a lighter penalty than you would if a jury convicts you of DUI. That isn\u2019t always possible if your case goes to trial<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What Are the Common Types of Plea Deals in a DUI Case?<\/h2>\n

Some of the more common plea deals available to a defendant facing a DUI charge include:<\/p>\n