Penalties for Driving Under the Influence
Grasping the potential DUI penalties in Los Angeles County is a critical step if you're dealing with a DUI case. The range of penalties and punishments available to a judge and prosecutor in a DUI case is extensive and intricate, making it a challenge to cover them all here.
However, over the past twenty-five years as a Los Angeles DUI lawyer, I have learned that you must first differentiate between mandatory and discretionary punishments. In California, many alternative sentences can be negotiated with the prosecutor in driving under the influence cases.
If you are convicted of a second-time DUI, you face a mandatory minimum of ninety-six hours in jail for up to one year. Further, if you are convicted of a refusal DUI or the Department of Motor Vehicles finds you administratively responsible for a denial DUI, you will lose your driver's license for one year (with no restriction).
The way to avoid having these punishments imposed on you is to avoid being held responsible for them.
Successfully avoiding the associated punishments of a second-time DUI or a refusal DUI is not only possible but likely with the expertise of a top-tier local DUI lawyer. While the concept may seem straightforward, achieving this outcome is far from simple, but with the right representation, there is hope.
Other penalties and punishments that are mandatory are acceptable (a minimum of $390 plus penalty assessment), an alcohol program (there is a three-month, a six-month, a nine-month, an eighteen-month, and a thirty-month), and a probationary period (usually three years).
Some of these punishments are mandatory because the legislature has determined that they must be because DUIs are so dangerous to the community.
Therefore, when negotiating these cases as a defense attorney, you must know which pitfalls you can avoid and how and which ones you can not.
Early discussion of these potential mandatory punishments is a key part of our representation strategy. By addressing these issues from the beginning, we ensure that our clients are fully informed and prepared, putting them in control of their legal situation.
Consequences Of A DUI Conviction
Some punishments that are not mandatory include the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) seminar, a trip to the hospital and Morgue, and community work like Cal trans, community service, and community labor.
Judges and prosecutors use several other punishments, depending on the circumstances and the person's actions.
Your DUI attorney is the one who will be fighting for you and trying to protect your rights and steer the powers that be away from penalties that you can not afford or deal with.
This is why I sit down with my clients from the beginning and make sure that we are on the same page and can make the moves necessary to avoid a serious problem.
What can our DUI attorneys bring to the table for you in a DUI to give you the best possible result? Our lawyers have a combined 75 years of experience, and we handle DUI cases daily in all of the courthouses in Los Angeles.
Our main objective is to get your DUI charge dismissed due to certain defenses. Ultimately, we will assert on your behalf or get you the minimal penalties possible.
We love to get cases dismissed for our clients, but if we can not, we will do everything we can to minimize the damages a DUI can have to your driving record, criminal record, reputation, and freedom.
When you have done thousands of DUIs over a career of twenty-five years, you better believe we know what it takes to get the best possible result!
First Offense, No Prior DUI Offenses penalties include:
Jail Time: 0-6 months; Probation: 1-5 years; License Suspension/Revocation: 4-6 months; Rehabilitation/Alcohol workshops: 3-9 months; Monetary Fines: $390-$1,000; Car insurance will increase or be terminated.
Second DUI Offense penalties include:
Jail Time: 90 days to one year; Probation: 1-5 years; License Suspension/Revocation: up to 2 years; Rehabilitation/Alcohol workshops: 18 months or a 30-day treatment program; Monetary Fines: $390-$1,000, plus some additional charges; Car insurance will rise substantially or be terminated.
Third DUI Offense penalties include:
Jail Time: 120 days/4 months to one year; Probation: 1-5 years; License Suspension/Revocation: up to 3 years; Rehabilitation/Alcohol workshops: 18 months or a 30-day treatment program (especially if the individual never completed one); Monetary Fines: $390-$1,000, plus some additional charges; Car insurance will rise substantially or be terminated.
Fourth DUI Offense penalties include:
Jail Time: 180 days/6 months to three years; Probation: 1-5 years; License Suspension/Revocation: up to 4 years; Rehabilitation/Alcohol workshops: 18 months (if the individual never completed one); Monetary Fines: $390-$1,000, plus some additional charges; Car insurance will rise drastically or will be terminated; Offense may be tried as a felony.
If you caused an injury or a death due to drunk driving, the penalties are enhanced if you have been charged with a DUI offense one or more times.
Our aggressive representation and unmatched credentials increase your chances of favorable results. Our priority is helping you protect your legal rights, freedom, and reputation. We offer a quality legal defense.