Santa Cruz DWI Lawyer - First Offense DUI Penalties
California DUI Penalties for First Time Offenders
The penalties for a first-time DUI offense in California involve fines, the suspension of your driver's license, and possibly jail. Additionally, since insurance companies receive information on DUI arrests and convictions, you will see an increase in your insurance premiums. If you drive a company car or government vehicle, the suspension or loss of your license could have a significant effect on your job. At the Law Offices of Andrew C. Janecki, I have a thorough understanding of the processes and issues involved in DUI cases. Depending on the circumstances of your case, it may be possible to have the charges or sentence against you reduced or dismissed.
Don't Lose Your License after a DUI Arrest
After you are arrested for DUI, you have only 10 days to request a DMV hearing before your license is automatically suspended. For this reason, it is essential that you schedule a DMV hearing and contact an attorney to begin preparing your defense.
For more information, contact Andrew C. Janecki at (831) 459-0427.
If you've been arrested on drunk driving charges for the first time, contact DUI defense lawyer Andrew C. Janecki today to schedule an appointment and discuss your case.
First Offense DUI/DWI Penalties in California
In California, penalties can vary city to city and county to county. While judges have some discretion in determining what sentence to impose, in general, first offense DWI penalties include the following:
- First-Time DUI Conviction: a fine between $1,500 and $1,800; the suspension of your driver's license for up to four months; a potential jail sentence ranging from 48 hours to 6 months; mandatory three to nine months enrollment in DUI school; a court-ordered installation of an ignition interlock device; community service if a plea bargain is offered.
Driver's License Suspension and the DMV Hearing
At the time of your DUI arrest, the arresting officer should have given you a pink slip of paper that serves as a temporary license. This piece of paper is the "Suspension Order and Temporary License" that you must use until your DMV hearing. The temporary license should indicate your driver's license will be automatically suspended in 30 days if your license suspension isn't settled through a DMV hearing.
DUI Arrests and Your Pre-Trial Motion
At your arraignment or after you've hired an attorney, you can submit a pre-trial motion to exclude certain kinds of evidence or dismiss the charges against you. If there are good reasons to believe the arresting officer did not have reasonable suspicion to pull you over, failed to properly conduct the field sobriety test, or improperly administered a DUI chemical test, a pre-trial motion provides an excellent opportunity to challenge the charges against you. Additionally, during a pre-trial hearing, a prosecutor may offer you a reduced sentence or charge in exchange for pleading guilty. As such, hiring an attorney to begin the process of your defense at the pre-trial phase is often an effective means for avoiding going to trial later.
Contact Santa Cruz First Offense DWI Attorney Andrew Janecki Today
California's first offense DWI penalties can create a number of complications in a person's life. In order to understand the options available to you, contact Santa Cruz, California first-time DUI offense attorney Andrew C. Janecki today.