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Delaware DUI Insurance Laws
via Car Insurance Comparison by Editor on 11/18/11
Delaware has prepared for the fact that people may be arrested several times for driving under the influence (DUI). As a matter of fact, they have specific penalties for people arrested seven different times for this exact same crime. Other states haven't been this thorough. Compare state car insurance by entering your ZIP code and let us help you find the best car insurance rates!
Laws Against DUI in Delaware
Delaware drivers who were arrested while driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or greater can be convicted of the driving under the influence (DUI) charge. Under age 21, their BACs only need to be .02 or more. Employees who were driving their companies' vehicles with a BAC of .04 or higher can also be convicted of DUI. Several penalties will result after these people have received these convictions. A DUI will greatly affect car insurance! claims car insurance |
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First Time Offenders
The first time that Delaware drivers are found guilty of breaking DUI laws, they will have to spend some time in jail. In Delaware, this sentence will last, at the most, six months. They will have a fine levied against them in the amount of at least $500 and maybe up to $1,500. They will also be required to attend courses aimed at teaching them against drinking and driving. A DUI's affect on car insurance rates can be vary drastic!If first time offenders had a BAC between .08 and .14, their licenses will be suspended for one year. An offender arrested with a BAC between .15 and .19 has their licenses suspended for one year and a half. Anyone arrested with a BAC greater than .20 receives a two year license suspension.
First Offense Election
Those who have been convicted of their first offenses have the option of enrolling in Delaware's first offender program. When they apply for this program, they have the opportunity to receive an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) license. Once they qualify for this license after one month, they will be able to drive again with the IID installed in their cars. They will be required to remain on this program for at least five months.Second Time Offenders
Those who receive their second convictions get to spend more time in jail. This time their sentences will be at least two months and could last as long as one year and a half. Their fines also increase to between $750 and $2,500. They will have the option of keeping the IID in their vehicles if they want to drive again after they have served one year of their license suspensions. They will also be required to attend courses and programs aimed at preventing drunken driving.Second time offenders arrested with a BAC between .08 and .14 must endure a two year license suspension. It will be the same for people arrested with a BAC between .15 and .19. A BAC greater than .20 entitles these offenders to a 30-month suspension of their licenses.
Third Time Offenders
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The license suspension will last for two years if the offender had a BAC between .08 and .14, 30 months with a BAC between .15 to .19 and three years with a BAC higher than .20.
Fourth Time Offenders
People who receive their fourth DUI conviction have just become Class 4 felons. The prison sentence lasts at least two years, but could be five years. At this point, it doesn't matter how high or low the offenders BAC was; they all receive 60 month license suspensions and their fines will range from $3,000 to $7,000. These offenders will have to wait two years before they can be eligible for the IID and they will have more education courses to complete.Some states don't specify different penalties for people arrested for DUI after the fourth time, but in Delaware they have differing penalties of increasing severity for the fifth, sixth and seventh arrests.
Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Time Offenders
The fifth DUI conviction is a Class E felony. The prison sentence will be between three and five years. The fine will be between $3,500 and $10,000. The sixth DUI conviction results in a prison sentence between five years and eight years with a fine between $5,000 and $10,000. This conviction is now a Class D felony.After receiving a seventh conviction, Delaware drivers will be imprisoned for at least 10 years, but not longer than 15 years. They will pay a fine of at least $10,000 with a maximum of $15,000 being possible. They have also been given their fifth felony conviction. This time it is a Class C felony.
Drunk Driving Accidents in Delaware
In 2009, Delaware experienced 102 car crashes that resulted in 118 fatalities. Of these 102 collisions, 42 percent were alcohol-related. Total arrests for DUI in this state came to 3,804 for the year.The state has separated its alcohol-related fatalities into three different groups:
- The under 25 age group represented 23 percent of the 118 fatalities from 2009
- The 25 to 54 age group experienced 65 percent of the alcohol-related fatalities
- The over 55 age group had 12 percent of alcohol-related deaths.
The Latest Developments
In June of 2011, the Attorney General and the Governor joined forces to combat the problem of repeat offenders by passing and signing a bill into law that increases the repeat offenders' prison time and adds monitoring and counseling to these people's sentences. The new law was written because Attorney General Beau Biden acknowledged the fact that multiple arrests aren't deterring people from repeatedly drinking and driving.The law is also meant to help people become sober and remain that way permanently. These repeat offenders may be released from prison on parole only if they agree to be monitored with an electronic ankle bracelet; they must also remain sober for a period of 90 days. During this time they will be receiving intense treatment for their alcohol addictions.
Auto Insurance after a DUI
Delaware drivers who have their auto insurance with a national auto insurance company will find that their auto insurance rates will rise significantly after a DUI arrest. It's very possible that these companies will cancel the policy, but people with a DUI have to have liability coverage if they are going to be allowed to drive again. claims ca insurance |
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Delaware the Tort State
A DUI insurance policy will offer these drivers limited coverage, but it will at least meet the liability coverage requirements that Delaware has imposed on all of their drivers. Since Delaware is a tort state, this means that someone will need to be assigned blame for causing a collision. The purpose is to find out which driver will pay everyone's medical bills and property damage repair bills.Some auto insurance companies know that Delaware drivers who have been convicted DUIs are at their mercy because so many insurance companies will refuse to sell them insurance policies when they are such a high risk. By entering their information into this ZIP code search, they will be able to see the difference between those insurance companies that are taking advantage of their unfortunate situations and those that will sell them liability coverage for practical rates.
Delaware drivers will be able to receive several quotes of rates different auto insurance companies can give them by using our comparison search. They will be able to choose the best rates and possibly purchase the insurance the very same day if they like the company and the coverage. This fast process can begin as soon as you type your ZIP codes into the field and click submit. We will find and compare Delaware car insurance INSTANTLY!
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