Penalties: imprisonment, probation, fines and court costs.
Criminal conviction of the crime of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), Driving with Excessive Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) and Driving Under the Influence of drugs (DUI) in Missouri are punishable by imprisonment, the imposition of fines, and the assessment of court costs. In addition, points are assessed against a driver’s license in Missouri upon being convicted of DWI.
Driving While Intoxicated. RSMo §577.010.
A person commits the crime of “driving while intoxicated” if he operates a motor vehicle while in an intoxicated or drugged condition (§577.010.1).
Driving while intoxicated is for the first offense, a class B misdemeanor (§577.010.2), punishable by up to six (6) months in prison (§558.011.1(6)) and a fine of up to $500.00, not including court costs (560.016.1(2).
No person convicted of or pleading guilty to the offense of driving while intoxicated shall be granted a suspended imposition of sentence (SIS) for such offense, unless such person shall be placed on probation for a minimum of two years (§577.010.2).
Counties, cities, and municipalities in Missouri also have their own criminal law and ordinances relating to DWI which may vary. Often, a person arrested for DWI is prosecuted under the local county, city, municipal ordinance or law against driving while intoxicated.