DUI 1st & 2nd

A DUI charge — even a first offense — carries real consequences in Mississippi. A conviction stays on your record, affects your license, and can affect employment, housing, and professional credentials. Before entering any plea, it is worth understanding what the state actually has.

What this page covers

First and second offense DUI in Mississippi, DUI Other (impairment by prescription medication or marijuana rather than alcohol), license consequences, non-adjudication, and the questions that matter most in these cases.

What a conviction means

DUI First: Fine of $250–$1,000 (plus court assessments that often push the total well above that), up to 48 hours in jail, and a 90-day driver's license suspension. Beyond the formal penalties, a DUI conviction appears on background checks indefinitely and can affect insurance rates for years.

DUI Second (within five years of a prior): Fine of $600–$1,500, 5 days to 1 year in jail, and a two-year license suspension. A second conviction also means any future DUI will be charged as a felony.

Depending on your situation, a conviction may also affect professional licenses, CDL credentials, or security clearances.

Non-adjudication for first-time offenders

Mississippi law provides a non-adjudication option for some first-time DUI offenders. If you qualify and complete the program requirements, the conviction can be kept off your record. Not every case qualifies, and the process must be properly initiated. Whether non-adjudication fits your situation depends on the specific facts of the charge.

How Kerry approaches these cases

Every DUI case starts with the facts of the stop and the testing. Key questions include:

The stop: Did the officer have a legitimate reason to pull you over? A stop without legal justification can undermine the entire case that follows.

Field sobriety tests: Federal guidelines govern how these tests must be administered — how they are explained, demonstrated, and scored. Deviations from those procedures matter.

Officer certification: Officers must be properly trained and certified to conduct DUI evaluations. That certification is documented and reviewable.

Breath and blood testing: Testing equipment must be calibrated, maintained, and operated according to specific protocols. The records supporting proper operation are available and worth examining.

DUI Other charges: When impairment is attributed to prescription medication or marijuana rather than alcohol, the state faces a different evidentiary burden. The officer's qualifications to evaluate that type of impairment, and the evidence beyond the officer's own observations, are both fair questions.

Video evidence: Dashcam and body camera footage often tells a different story than what appears in a police report. That footage is typically requested early in a case review.

Talk to Kerry first

Call 662-205-0008 or contact the firm for a free consultation. Payment plans are available. Consultations are confidential.