There are three common charges that may be included in a DUI plea bargain.
Getting a California driving under the influence (DUI) charge can be incredibly serious. Not only do you face criminal charges, but it has an impact on your ability to drive, work, and otherwise live your life. These penalties reflect the dangerous nature of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Yet in some cases, the punishment does not necessarily fit the crime. In these situations, your Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer may be able to negotiate a plea bargain with a prosecutor. In essence, a plea bargain involves your attorney working with the prosecutor to attempt to get a more favorable deal. Generally, the result is either reduced DUI penalties in exchange for a guilty plea to a DUI, or a reduced charge. If your Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer secures a charge reduction, you will then plead guilty to that charge.
While there are numerous possible charges that a DUI could be reduced to, the most common include three driving offenses: wet reckless, dry reckless, and exhibition of speed. These charges are all misdemeanor offenses, but each has different long and short-term consequences.
“Wet reckless” and “dry reckless” are essentially reckless driving charges. Wet reckless means that the charge involved drugs or alcohol, while dry reckless means that you were recklessly driving without drugs or alcohol. Neither charge will result in a driver’s license suspension, although both will lead to 2 points on your California driver’s license. Most importantly, only a wet reckless charge will be considered a prior offense for future DUI offenses. According to a Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer, California has a 10 year “look back” period. This means that if you are arrested for a DUI, the state will “look back” 10 years to see if you have any prior DUI or related charges. A wet reckless counts as a prior offense, while a dry reckless does not. For this reason, it is far better to get a charge reduction to a dry reckless. However, depending on the facts of your case, this type of charge reduction is not always possible.
Exhibition of speed is the third common charge reduction. Like wet and dry reckless charges, it will result in 2 points on your California driver’s license. It will not cause your license to be suspended, and is not considered a prior offense for purposes of the DUI look back period.
There are other possible charge reductions that a prosecutor may consider based on the facts of your case. Your Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer may propose a charge of public drunkenness (a misdemeanor charge), or driving with alcohol in a vehicle (an infraction). Neither of these charges will result in points on your license or a license suspension. Alternatively, he or she may propose that you be charged with a specific traffic violation, such as running a red light. These violations will be infractions, and will not be considered a prior offense or result in a license suspension. Most will result in 2 points on your California driver’s license.
While a California DUI can lead to severe consequences, there are many cases where an aggressive Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer can negotiate a favorable plea deal on your behalf. At the Chambers Law Firm, we pride ourselves on our ability to work out plea bargains for our clients whenever possible. Contact us today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com to schedule a free initial consultation.
