You can end up incarcerated, fined, and with a suspended license if you are convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) in San Diego. You may have to face multiple hearings after a DUI accusation. It’s easy to be overwhelmed and railroaded by the court system.
Luckily, you do not have to handle DUI charges on your own. You can get immediate support from a professional team of DUI lawyers in San Diego. The Simmrin law Group has years of experience beating DUI charges for our clients, protecting them from jail time and the loss of their license.
Understand the Charges You’re Facing after a DUI
The state of California does not treat all DUIs the same way. In fact, there are even different blood alcohol content (BAC) levels used to charge drivers for a DUI. Non-commercial drivers over 21 cannot have a BAC above .08%, while drivers under 21 must keep their BAC below .01%. Commercial drivers fall in the middle, and must have a BAC of less than .04%.
You will face more severe penalties if you are charged with multiple DUIs in the course of a ten-year period.
Note that you may also face additional repercussions if:
- Your BAC Was Very High
- You Injured or Killed Someone During a DUI
Repercussions for a DUI Conviction in San Diego
The court system handles DUI charges very severely. Depending on your exact situation you could face:
Jail Time
- 1st DUI Charge: 2 Days to 6 Months
- 2nd DUI Charge: 4 Days to 1 Year
- 3rd DUI Charge: 120 Days to 1 Year
Fines
- 1st DUI Charge: Up to $2,000
- 2nd DUI Charge: Up to $2,500
- 3rd DUI Charge: Up to $3,000
License Suspension
- 1st DUI Charge: 1 Month to 1 Year
- 2nd DUI Charge: 90 Days to 2 Years
- 3rd DUI Charge: Up to 3 Years
You may also be forced to complete an alcohol treatment program. The court could also impound your vehicle and you could be required to place an interlock system in your vehicle, which would prevent you from driving if alcohol is detected on your breath.
Dealing with DUI Charges in San Diego
You may have to face a courtroom hearing for a DUI. We can fight for you at this hearing. Breathalyzers and other chemical tests do not always provide accurate results, which means you have a chance of winning your case even if your BAC was reported as too high.
Additionally, police officers have to follow specific regulations when carrying out a DUI stop. We can investigate the situation around your DUI charge to ensure you are not unjustly convicted of driving under the influence in court.
We can also help you handle your hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The DMV hearing is conducted separately and it is not tied to your criminal hearing. The DMV uses this hearing to decide whether or not your license will be suspended.
You only have 10 days to request a DMV hearing after a DUI arrest. If you do not request the hearing in time, your license will be automatically suspended. It is important that you contact a DUI lawyer as soon as possible to protect yourself from this loss.
We Can Help with All Traffic Violation Charges
DUIs are only one of the charges drivers can face in San Diego. You might also be charged with reckless driving, or driving on an invalid license. You could even be given a ticket for minor traffic infractions, such as speeding or running a stop sign.
We believe you deserve professional support regardless of the charges you are facing. Any traffic violation charge can lead to fines and they all put points on your license. You could lose your license if you are given too many points in the course of 1, 2, or 3 years.
Let us take charge of any traffic violation charges you’re facing.
Get Protection from a San Diego DUI Lawyer
A DUI conviction can lead to jail time and fines. It can be difficult to navigate a court case and any DMV hearing on your own. That’s why it’s important for you to contact a DUI Lawyer in San Diego as soon as possible. Get your case started by contacting the Simmrin Law Group for a FREE consultation.
You can get professional help by calling (310) 997-4688 or completing our online contact form.