DUI Penalties in Long Beach, CA
DUI penalties in California are serious and can affect the rest of your life. Ranging from community service to years in state prison, these penalties will depend upon the seriousness of the DUI charge that you face. If you have specific questions about the penalties you face, we encourage you to contact our firm. We can review your case and discuss all of your legal options.
Legal Consequences of DUI
- Fines and/or Restitution
- Driver's License Suspension
- Imprisonment
- Community Service
- Alcohol Counseling
- DUI School
- Probation
- Increased Insurance Costs
Potential Penalties for a First DUI Offense
- Maximum of 6 Months in County Jail
- Fines of $390 to $1,000
- License Suspension of 6 to 10 Months
- Summary Probation for 3 to 5 Years
- Court-Approved Alcohol and/or Drug Education Program
Potential Penalties for a Second DUI Offense
- Maximum of 1 Year in County Jail
- Fines of $390 to $1,000
- License Suspension of 2 Years
- Summary Probation for 3 to 5 Years
- California DUI School for 18 or 30 Months
Potential Penalties for a Third DUI Offense
- Maximum of 1 Year in County Jail
- Fines of $390 to $1,000
- License Suspension of 3 Years
- Summary Probation for 3 to 5 Years
- California DUI School for 30 Months
- Designation as an Habitual Traffic Offender
Minimizing Penalties in DUI Case
There are a variety of ways that an attorney may work to help a client avoid the penalties associated with a DUI case. First and foremost, the attorney may work to have charges dropped altogether or to obtain a "not guilty" verdict in court. Other methods include the following:
- Negotiating with the prosecuting attorney to have the charges lessened
- Working out a plea bargain
- Working with the court in securing treatment-geared sentencing
At Gold & Witham, our defense attorneys will review the particular DUI case and charges to determine what we can do to avoid criminal penalties and DMV penalties. By keeping our client's particular case and unique goals in mind, we can then work to create a defense strategy that minimizes penalties. If you would like to learn more, contact us for your free case evaluation.