Consequences Of A San Diego Driving Under The Influence (DUI) Conviction
Common Factors For All San Diego DUI Convictions
If you are convicted of driving under the influence in San Diego, you will be placed on 5 years of summary (informal) probation. Your vehicle insurance rates will significantly increase, and you would be forced to pay a big fine. All DUI convictions are “priorable” for ten years. The more DUI convictions you have in a ten year period, the more severe the consequences become with the Court as well as the DMV. Even if you win the DMV hearing, a DUI conviction in a San Diego courtroom will cause a license suspension. It is essential that you hire a San Diego DUI lawyer that can successfully handle both the criminal case and the DMV hearing. Contact Attorney Michael L. Stuartimmediately to discuss your San Diego DUI case for free. All calls or emails will be promptly returned.
First DUI Conviction In San Diego
If you are convicted of a first-time DUI in San Diego, the Court will require you to pay a fine of about $2000.00, complete a 3 or 9 month First Conviction Program (depending on your blood alcohol concentration), attend the MAAD Victim Impact Panel, and possibly perform any number of days of useful Public Work Service through the San Diego Probation Department. If any minor children under the age of 14 were in the vehicle or you were speeding at more than 25 mph over the limit, you could be facing 60 days in the San Diego County Jail.
If you were under the age of 21 at the time of your San Diego DUI arrest, the Court will suspend your license for one year. An aggressive and experienced DUI defense lawyer can run that additional license suspension concurrently (at the same time as) any DMV suspension and will demand that the Judge grant you a restricted license so that you can drive to work and school.
Second DUI Conviction In San Diego
If you get convicted of a second DUI in San Diego within the last 10 years, you will be facing at least 4 days of custody at the San Diego County Jail. You may be able to prevent having to go back to jail by participating in the San Diego Sheriff’s Work Release Program. The Court and the DMV would require you to complete the 18 month Multiple Conviction Program to ever get your driver’s license back. You would have to pay a fine of more than $2400.00.
Third DUI Conviction In San Diego
If you are convicted of a DUI in San Diego and you have two prior convictions in the last ten years, you will be sentenced to at least 120 days of custody in the San Diego County Jail. You would be required to pay a fine of about $2700.00 and would again be required to complete an 18 month Multiple Conviction program to ever get a valid driver’s license. You will be deemed a “Habitual Traffic Offender” which has a significant negative effect for your driving record, causing a revocation of your privilege to operate a motor vehicle for two years.
Four Or More DUI Convictions In San Diego
If this is your situation, you could be charged with a felony DUI in San Diego even if you did not injure anyone. If you are lucky and your fourth DUI is charged as a misdemeanor, you would be facing a minimum of 6 months in the San Diego County Jail. Most likely your driver’s license would be revoked for three years. An experienced and aggressive lawyer like Michael L. Stuart can prevent such a harsh sentence.
DUI With Injury Or Felony DUI In San Diego
Even if it is your first DUI in San Diego, you can be charged with either a felony or misdemeanor if injuries occurred. Usually, the extent and seriousness of the injuries determines if the charges filed are a felony or a misdemeanor. As a misdemeanor, you would be required to serve at least 5 days in the San Diego County Jail, pay any and all victim restitution, including a $2300.00 fine, possibly perform Public Work Service, and attend a First Conviction Program.
If you are charged with a felony DUI, you could be sent to prison. The Judge would have to grant you formal probation for a period of 3-5 years to prevent you from going to prison. You could still do up to one year in the San Diego County Jail. Felony DUI cases are very serious in San Diego. You need to hire the right San Diego DUI defense lawyer.
Contact Attorney Michael L. Stuart immediately to discuss your San Diego DUI case for free. All calls or emails will be promptly returned.