When you're placed on DUI probation, you're usually ordered to do certain things, and you're also ordered to refrain from doing certain things. One of the things that you're generally going to be called to do is to do an alcohol program. You're going to be ordered to pay a fine. You're going to be instructed not to drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in your system.

This gets a little tricky for some people. Some people think that I'm good as long as I'm not a .08 or greater. No, not when you have a DUI case. When you have a DUI case and get convicted, now you're not allowed to drink and drive anymore, even if you're under a .08.

So, that's part of the terms and conditions of your probation. Other terms and conditions are that you have to obey all laws. So, if you were to pick up a new case, even if it wasn't a DUI case, but if it was a crime, then you're going to be looking at violating your probation, which could lead to serious consequences.

For a first-time DUI probation violation, you could face up to six months in jail. For a second-time violation, the potential jail time increases to a year.

Valid Driver's License

Also, the court restricts you that you cannot drive without a valid driver's license. So, you have to coordinate with the DMV to make sure that your driver's license is suitable because if you drive with an invalid driver's license, you're going to violate your DUI probation.

You're going to be charged with driving on a suspended license, and that's a Vehicle Code Section 14601.2. That will cause you to be looking at mandatory jail time. They're severe when it comes to making sure you have a valid license if you got a DUI and your license was suspended for that particular reason.

Typically, if you have a misdemeanor DUI in Los Angeles County and you're put on probation, you can travel and go anywhere you want. You have the freedom to move around without any restrictions in that regard.

You don't have to report to a probation officer, and you're free to do what you want as long as you don't violate the law or do everything you're ordered to do.

Progress Reports

They typically have you come back and forth to the Los Angeles county courts for progress reports while you are on probation to make sure that you're doing everything you're supposed to — you haven't picked up any new cases, you're doing your alcohol program, you paid your fine, and you're doing whatever the court has ordered you to do related to your lawsuit.

Once you complete everything you're supposed to do, you'll still be on probation, but the court's probably not going to make you come back to court anymore. They don't need people to keep coming back and forth to court once they've done everything they are supposed to and once they have fulfilled their obligations to the court.

When somebody is on DUI probation in Los Angeles, they keep coming back and forth to court because they need to have some checks and balances to make sure that that particular individual has done everything that they're supposed to regarding their DUI matter in Los Angeles County.

Felony DUI Probation

So, being placed on probation for a DUI in LA — especially if it's misdemeanor probation — is not the end of the world. If you're set on felony DUI probation, that will be a bit more of a stringent process.

You won't be able to travel anywhere you want. You'll have to get permission from the probation officer or the court to travel anywhere. You'll have to report to the probation officer related to your DUI case at least once every month.

Sometimes, they make you refrain from drinking alcohol altogether while you're on probation if your DUI is severe enough, and there are other terms and conditions — you won't be able to own, use, or possess a weapon if you're convicted of a felony DUI in Los Angeles.

So, again, the terms related to a felony DUI probation in Los Angeles are much stricter than they are for a misdemeanor DUI. That's why you want to complete all of your terms as fast as possible, comply with the probation department, and then coordinate with your attorney to see if you can get your felony DUI reduced to a misdemeanor and ended early.

Then you'll only be on summary probation. You won't have to report to the probation department anymore. You won't have to pay any fines related to your case, and it's a much easier thing to do when you're not on felony probation for your DUI matter. There's also the possibility of early termination if you comply with all the terms and conditions.