The Dangers Of A Second DUI In California

Being charged with a DUI violation in the state of California for the first time is bad enough. But a second DUI offense is definitely a worse scenario. If you were charged and actually convicted for a first DUI and put on probation, you should avoid a second charge at all costs. Otherwise, you will be liable not just for increased penalties under the second DUI charge but also with violations of the terms and conditions of your probation. You cannot afford to be complacent under these circumstances and you must get in touch with a highly competent DUI defense attorney in the California as soon as possible.

So what are the legal consequences to be anticipated with the second DUI charge? If your first DUI has brought about some very inconvenient legal consequences, expect that of your second DUI offense to be even more severe. If there’s one thing that the state of California refuses to tolerate, it’s the recurring cases of DUI violations eventually leading to a lot of recidivism cases as well. Hence, the penalties have become more enhanced over time. Now depending on the jurisdiction where you were arrested for the DUI violation, you could be made to suffer some or all of the following penalties:

• 3 to 5 years of court-ordered probation.
• Fines, including court fees amounting to $2,500.
• Suspension of driving privileges in the state for 2 years.
• 18 months of DUI school.
• Mandatory jail time amounting to 96 hours.

There are cases, however, when some of these penalties can be modified, depending on the circumstances surrounding your DUI charge. The court will also take into account such surrounding circumstances, coupled with the ability of your DUI defense attorney to negotiate for more favorable terms in your behalf. For example, the fines and other court fees can actually be partially worked off through some form of community service. This can be considered especially if the offender does not have visible and sufficient source of income and /or assets. Also, you may be issued a restricted license in lieu of your suspended one for the said 2-year suspension meted out. However, in some counties, you will still need to install an “ignition interlock device” on your vehicle.

The mandatory jail time can also be converted in some cases to work service. Again, this largely depends on the surrounding circumstances of your case and just how experienced your DUI defense attorney is in handling second DUI offenses. Hence, the moment you face a second DUI in California, you should not waste time locating a DUI defense attorney that can aggressively work things out for you. Talk to our DUI defense attorneys and learn more about the intricacies of DUI violations here in the state of California.