Washington, D.C. criminal defense lawyer Nabeel Kibria discusses the likely penalties for a first-time DUI in Washington, D.C. He shares that for a first-time DUI offender in Washington, D.C., it’s natural to feel scared and want to know the potential penalties. Under the law, the maximum penalty for a first offense is 180 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. However, if the facts surrounding the case are relatively benign—meaning no one was injured and no significant property damage occurred—the likelihood of serving little to no jail time is very high. With the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney, it is also very possible that such a case could even be dismissed.