DUI Penalties in California

Whenever you are charged with DUI, there are a number of different penalties that can apply, depending on your personal circumstances when arrested. With the assistance of a professional DUI Defense Attorney, you could possibly have some of these reduced or dismissed altogether, provided you retain the services of the Kraut Law Group. Our firm has successfully assisted numerous clients in getting their charges reduced or dismissed. Some of the possible penalties are as follows:

First Time DUI Offender - Misdemeanor

Jail time - Mandatory 48 hours in custody, with a maximum 6 months in jail.
Fines - Maximum fine is $1,000 plus court costs. These court costs can be significantly more than the fine alone.
Driver license suspension - Suspended license for one year, with no restricted license for work or school.
DUI alcohol school - Court will impose a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of nine months.
Probation - Court will impose either a formal probation, which means you will have a probation officer with whom you must check in periodically or an informal probation, which means you will have no probation officer, but you must abide by strict terms and conditions.
Interlock device - In some cases, the court will impose the requirement that when you get your license back, you will need to blow into a device to ensure that you have not consumed any alcohol before driving. This is scheduled to be implemented beginning July 1, 2010 in Los Angeles County
Terms of probation - Court may impose strict terms of probation, including search and seizure. That means if the police come into contact with you, they may search you or the car that you are in without reason. You may also be ordered not to drink alcohol during the entire time of probation.

Second Time DUI Offender (Prior conviction within the past 10 years)- Misdemeanor

Jail time - Mandatory minimum of between 4 and 10 days jail. Maximum of six months in jail
Fines - Significant increase in fines and court costs.
DUI alcohol school - Minimum of 18 months, maximum of 30 months at a DUI alcohol school.
Driver license suspension - 2 year suspension of driver license.
Probation - Court will impose either a formal probation, which means you will have a probation officer with whom you must check in periodically or an informal probation, which means you will have no probation officer, but you must abide by strict terms and conditions.
Interlock device - In some cases, the court will impose the requirement that when you get your license back, you will need to blow into a device to ensure that you have not consumed any alcohol before driving. This is scheduled to be implemented beginning July 1, 2010 in Los Angeles County

Third Time DUI Offender (2 prior convictions within the past 10 years) - Misdemeanor

Jail time - Mandatory minimum of 120 days custody, and a maximum of 1 year in jail.
Fines - Significant increase in fines and court costs.
DUI alcohol school - Minimum of 18 months, maximum of 30 months at an alcohol school.
Installation of an interlock device (IID) in any vehicle that is driven will be mandatory effective July 1, 2010 in Los Angeles County while on probation.
Driver license suspension - Suspended license for three years, with no restricted license for work or school.

Forth Time DUI Offender (3 prior convictions within the past 10 years)- Misdemeanor or Felony

Jail time - Minimum of 180 days in county jail if a misdemeanor, or up to 3 years prison if a felony.
Fines - Significant increase in fines and court costs.
Installation of an interlock device (IID) in any vehicle that is driven will be mandatory effective July 1, 2010 in Los Angeles County while on probation.
DUI alcohol school - Minimum of 18 months, maximum of 30 months at an alcohol school.
Driver license suspension - 4 year total license suspension.

Contact Michael Kraut, DUI Defense Lawyer for Los Angeles

If you have been arrested or charged with a DUI offense in the Los Angeles or Southern California area, our firm is who you need to aggressively fight your charges. Being convicted of DUI can lead to serious consequences for you future. Our firm has the know-how to resolve your case without the need of your serving jail time. As a former prosecutor, Attorney Kraut is well known by the judges and prosecutors in the Los Angeles area and has established a reputation with them as a tough and relentless defense attorney.

For a DUI defense attorney you can trust, contact the Kraut Law Group to fight your DUI charges.