Criminal Penalties for a California DUI
In addition to the loss of driving privileges that can result from a DUI, California criminal penalties can be imposed as well. It is a crime to either drive a vehicle in California if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or to operate a vehicle if your blood alcohol content is over .08 percent. You can be charged with a violation of either or both of those crimes if you drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
A DUI in California is typically a misdemeanor. A felony DUI can involve possible jail time. A DUI becomes a felony if it involves injury to another person, it’s the fourth (or higher) DUI conviction in the past 10 years, or if there are prior felony convictions involving drinking while intoxicated. The amount of jail time depends on a lot of factors, including your driving record, your BAC, whether injuries to people or property occurred, and who your judge is.
The penalties involved depend greatly on whether this is your first DUI conviction or a subsequent conviction. A first conviction of a misdemeanor DUI usually results in alcohol education classes, a driver’s licenses suspension, a fine, probation, and / or two days in jail. The penalties go up from there for subsequent DUI convictions within a 10 year period.
No one wants a criminal record. If you have been charged with a DUI, you have rights. You need an experienced California DUI attorney to explore all possible defenses. If you or someone you know has been charged with a DUI, contact the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf today at (310) 277-1707 for a free consultation.
