Being arrested for, and charged with a DUI in California can have a significant impact on your life, but being charged with a second DUI will have an even bigger impact on you. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that you partner with the right California DUI attorney to make sure that you are giving yourself the best chance of working towards a favorable outcome for your charges. Even following a conviction for a crime, there is an opportunity for an experienced and aggressive attorney to work with the judge before sentencing in order to find a solution that works for everyone.
Before we can begin to work with a judge, we will need to start by building a strong defense for your situation and develop a case that will help move us towards a favorable ruling. The sooner we are able to begin working with each other, the more time that we will have to get a full understanding of the situation, a clear view of all possible outcomes, and then develop an argument that will help us navigate this case with a clear goal.
Read more below to learn about the possible penalties for your second DUI charge. Contact us now to schedule an initial consultation, where you will be able to discuss your situation directly with a DUI attorney. During your call, we will be able to talk to you about past cases that we have successfully represented that are similar to your own, as well as answer questions that you may have about your specific situation and what to expect as your case progresses. We understand that this is a stressful time in your life, and we will do all that we can to give you a transparent understanding of what is happening throughout your case.
Penalties Associated With a Second Misdemeanor DUI
Typically, a second DUI is considered a misdemeanor, unless your first DUI was a felony as a result of causing injury to a third party, or some other circumstances that increased the severity of the charges. In the case that you are being charged with a felony DUI, the following penalties will not apply. These are intended to just address the standard second DUI. If you are facing a second DUI that is either a felony or if there are additional charges or enhancements, contact us as soon as possible to get a better understanding about what to expect during the pendency of your case, as well as the possible penalties that you are facing if you are convicted.
Jail Time
A misdemeanor second DUI conviction in California can result in between three days and a year in county jail, which is up to the discretion of the judge and may also depend on the agreements that we are able to make with the judge and the prosecution during the pendency of your case.
License Suspension
Your license will be automatically suspended after you are arrested for DUI in California, unrelated to the criminal charges that you are facing. The Department of Motor Vehicles is in charge of your driving privilege, and they are the body that will suspend your driver’s license.
There are steps that you can take in order to avoid having your license automatically suspended after your arrest, but you will need to contact the DMV within 10 days of your arrest in order to apply for an appeal in a DUI hearing. If you are successful in your appeal, you will be able to retain your driving privileges until your case is completed, at which point a conviction will result in a one-year suspension and likely the installation of an ignition interlock device at your own cost. If you refuse to install an IID, you may lose your license for two years.
Fines
You will be required to pay up to $1000 in fines, which are separate from the cost for installing and maintaining an IID, court fees, legal costs, or any other expenses that you may incur as a result of your charges.
Additional Penalties
In addition to possible fines, jail time, and license suspensions, you will likely need to attend a California DUI school for repeat offenders. It is up to the discretion of the sentencing judge regarding how long you will need to attend these courses.
Contact Us Now
The most important step to take after being arrested for a second DUI is to begin working with a trustworthy and experienced criminal defense and DUI attorney. Schedule your initial consultation now, so that we can begin working on your case as soon as possible. The more time we have, the better we will be able to build a strong, comprehensive defense, identify all possible routes towards success, and plan an effective argument for your situation.
