Last Updated 8th of March, 2010

Why would someone facing a DWI offense consider a plea bargain?

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A plea bargain is a common legal practice. Ninety percent of all convictions today result from plea bargains. Many DUI cases begin with plea bargain offers from the prosecutor, allowing you to plead guilty to a lesser charge with lighter penalties. Each DUI or DWI case is different, so whether or not to accept a plea bargain is your decision.   

Plea bargain benefits for a DWI offense include:

  • More modest penalties, which include fines, jail, license suspension, community service and alcohol abuse counseling.
  • Not going to trial will spare you from mounting legal fees. 
  • Depending on your standing in your community, a plea bargain will attract less attention.
  • Avoiding trial will cause you less stress.
  • Plea bargaining a drunk driving charge down to reckless driving spares you from having your driving record temporarily or permanently tarnished by the letters DUI. 
  • Having the charges reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor. 

But before making a plea bargain decision on your own, be sure to consult with a DUI lawyer. These attorneys exclusively handle drunk driving cases, making them crackerjack experts on the DUI laws pertaining to your state. They know what's at stake and can interpret for you in clear and simple terms the pros and cons behind a plea bargain offer. 

Keep in mind that not every state allows DUI plea bargains. Oregon, for example, explicitly prohibits it. 

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