Have you been arrested for DUI? California has some of the harshest DUI laws in the country, so you want to do everything in your power to avoid a conviction.
1st DUI charge
Even if a DUI charge is the only negative mark on your record, your life will be affected. No, your life won’t be ruined – it’ll just be a bit more difficult than it was before. It’ll probably be a misdemeanor, unless certain aggravated factors are present, such as an extremely high blood alcohol level or the presence of a minor in your car while you were DUI. But if it’s a normal 1st time DUI case, it’ll be a misdemeanor charge. But that doesn’t mean a conviction will include lenient penalties.
You’ll probably have to pay serious fines – thousands of dollars. You likely will have to attend DUI school once a week for a certain number of weeks, which will disrupt your personal and work life. You’ll have to report a DUI charge on college and job applications for at least 10 years according to California law, and you’ll be on probation for many months or perhaps even years. Your license will be suspended for at least 4 months, perhaps even longer. When you finally do get your driving privileges back, this DUI will be on your permanent record for 10 years, so anytime a police officer pulls you over, even if it’s just for a minor infraction, he or she will see it. Plus you’ll have to pay for much more expensive car insurance if you’d like to begin driving again.
If at all possible, avoid a DUI conviction, even if it’s just one. You’ll save yourself a whole lot of trouble and stress. Not to mention money and time!
2nd DUI charges
If you get arrested for DUI again anytime within 10 years of your 1st DUI arrest, it will be treated as a 2nd DUI. Penalties become even more severe – and jail time might even be part of your sentence if you are convicted. Depending on the circumstances of the DUI, it may be a felony charge.
You’ll have to pay even higher fines and attend DUI classes for a longer period of time. Your license will be suspended for many months or perhaps years, and your car insurance rates will go through the roof when your license is reinstated. You may have to pay for the installation of an Ignition Interlock Device on your car that will test your blood alcohol levels before starting. Other penalties are also possible if you’re convicted of a 2nd DUI.
But in short, no, your life won’t be ruined if you get convicted of a 2nd DUI. There are still plenty of reasons to keep working hard to improve yourself and your situation. But your life will be significantly more of a hassle if you have a 2nd DUI on your record, so act fast to prevent one.
Expert DUI defense assistance
No matter how many times you’ve been arrested for DUI, don’t give up! Conviction isn’t inevitable. Get Southern California’s most effective DUI defense attorney on your side to prevent conviction today. All prospective clients should call 714-760-4088, email dchambers@clfca.com, or use the chat box below to schedule an appointment with Attorney Dan Chambers of the Chambers Law Firm. Attorney Chambers will begin strategizing to prevent a DUI conviction in your specific case right away.
