You will likely be charged with two separate crimes.
Being pulled over on suspicion of driving under the influence is scary enough — but if you don’t have a license, it is even more nerve-wracking. No matter why you are driving without a license, if you are arrested for a DUI and you don’t have a valid California driver’s license, you could be in serious trouble. In fact, according to an Orange County criminal defense attorney, you could be facing two different criminal charges.
Driving without a license is misdemeanor offense in California. The state of California considers a person to be driving without a license if he or she has never been licensed in any state, failed to renew an expired license, is a resident of California but does not have a California license, or is ineligible for a California license. A conviction for driving without a license as a misdemeanor offense may result in up to 6 months in county jail and fines of up to $1,000 — in addition to any penalties that may result from a DUI conviction. However, with the assistance of a skilled Orange County criminal defense attorney, driving without a license is frequently reduced to an infraction if the driver can postpone the case and obtain a valid California driver’s license. As long as the driver is eligible to receive a California driver’s license, he or she will likely be able to have the charge reduced.
The consequences for drivers who are underage are even more significant if they are caught driving under the influence without a valid California drivers’ license. In addition to penalties associated with the DUI itself, a prosecutor will also likely bring criminal charges for driving without a license. The consequences could include being barred from getting a driver’s license for a certain number of years, taking mandatory alcohol education courses, probation, fines, and possible jail time.
While any DUI charge is serious, a DUI that involves an unlicensed driver has the potential to be even more grave. As an Orange County criminal defense attorney can explain, having the additional charge makes it more difficult to defend the case before a jury. And unlike a DUI case, there are not generally factual or legal defenses to a driving without a license charge: a person either has a license or does not.
If you have been charged with a DUI, it is vitally important to have an experienced, aggressive DUI defense attorney to represent you. There are numerous avenues to explore to potentially negotiate a favorable plea deal for a DUI case, or even to have the charge dismissed entirely. A skilled Orange County criminal defense attorney will investigate the case thoroughly, and work with you to put together the best possible defense to the charges against you.
At the Chambers Law Firm, our team of professionals includes a former prosecutor and police professionals. We know how the system works, and we put that knowledge to work for you. Contact us today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com to schedule a free initial consultation, and learn how we can help you.
