DUI Overview
Drunk Driving. DWI. DUI. Many people may know these terms, but most believe that DUI is something they will never have to worry about. However, people from all walks of life get arrested for drunk driving, and if it’s happened to you, it is critical that you understand the laws, the process, and what is at stake. Larry Wolf, a top DUI defense attorney, has helped thousands of people just like you to prevail in their DUI cases.
You’ll feel more in control once you understand the charges and your options. Request your free consultation online with Lawrence Wolf or call (310) 277-1707 and put our experts to work for you.
DUI Charges
DUI stands for driving under the influence – California’s terminology for the crime of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In other states, this may be referred to as DWI. The laws in California regarding DUI have changed dramatically and are very strict. You could be facing mandatory jail time, license suspension, and other consequences.
There are 2 different ways that you may be charged with DUI in California. The first applies to whether or not you seem to be impaired more than a sober person would be. The officer on the scene makes a subjective judgment about your driving capabilities based on what he or she observes. If the officer believes that your driving is unsafe and impaired due to either alcohol or drugs, you can be arrested for DUI.
Even if you are driving as safely as any sober person would, you may still be charged with DUI in Century City per California law. It is a crime for anyone with a blood alcohol level of .08% or higher to operate a motor vehicle on a public roadway. If your BAC is .08% or more, you can be arrested for DUI, even if you pass all of the field sobriety tests.
Furthermore:
- Anyone arrested for driving under the influence in California must submit to a chemical test (blood, breath) to determine the alcohol content of the blood. Failure to complete or refusal to take the test will result in suspension of the driver’s license for 1 year, if this is your first offense.
- It is a crime to drink any alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle upon a public roadway.
- It is a crime to have an open container holding any amount of alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle on a roadway.
For more in-depth information about what happens after your arrest, visit our DUI process page.
DUI Drug Charges
According to California law, it is unlawful for a person who is under the influence of any drug or an individual who is addicted to a particular drug, to be operating a motor vehicle. The same statute makes it illegal to drive under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of these substances. If you are arrested for driving under the influence of drugs in California, you may face harsh penalties that can compromise your personal relationships, job stability, reputation, and financial security.
The aftermath of a driving under the influence of drugs arrest can be even more daunting if you have a previous criminal record, prior DUI arrests or convictions, or a history of drug abuse. Other determining factors of your case may heavily rely on the speed in which you were driving, the type of illegal substances you are accused of being under the influence of, and your age. Considering that repeat offenders may face increasingly severe punishments, which include significant jail time, steep fines, and loss of driver’s license, the need to contact an experienced Century City defense attorney is even greater.
Request your free consultation online with Lawrence Wolf or call our office at (310) 277-1707 to get started with your free case evaluation.
Palm Springs DUI Resource Center
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