A DUI is a misdemeanor under California law, but there are steep penalties.
The officer is required by law to immediately forward a copy of the completed notice of Driver Licence Suspension or Revocation.
Your driver license will be suspended or revoked and the report sent to the DMV. The DMV will automatically conduct administrative review that includes a review of the officer’s report, the suspension or revocation order, and any test results.
Here is an overview of what to expect after a DUI:
- Your licence will be suspended 30 days, but you may request a hearing with the DMV to try and avoid suspension.
- You will be criminally arraigned. A plea will need to be entered and possibly go to trial.
- If convicted, possible penalties including fines, jail time, alcohol/drug treatment and limits on your driving privileges. The penalties vary depending on whether you have a past DUI offenses and whether anyone was injured as a result.
How Much Does a DUI Cost in California?
The expected consequences and cost for being charged and convicted with a in DUI is California can be severe, even for a 1st time offense.
A criminal conviction from a DUI offense in CA which will result in permanent criminal record. A first DUI conviction in California is a misdemeanor.
These are common penalties that you can expect to face:
- Licence Suspension
There’s also a four-mouth administrative suspension imposed by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if the driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .80% or more.
- Fines
There is a criminal fine prescribed by law.
A first DUI carries $390 to $1,000 in fines plus a number of “penalty assessments” that can substantially increase the amount the driver has to pay. The total can be several thousand dollars or more.
- Jail
It’s possible for the first offender to receive 48 hours to six months in jail.
- Court Assessments
Sentence-Related Costs
- Alcohol Education Classes
- Car Impounded/Storage Fees
- Ignition Interlock Devices
Other Sentence-Related Costs
A guilty plea or conviction of a DUI can be found in any future background checks, which can negatively affect a person’s employment and personal life.
First time DUI offenders usually receive informal probation from 3 to 5 years. Normally as a condition of probation, the offender must complete DUI classes consisting of 30 hours of classes over 3 months period. However, for dependants with a BAC of .20% or more, the program is nine months with 60 hours of class time.
