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, but an experienced San Diego DUI lawyer can help.
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 from losing their licenses. A DUI attorney in San Diego, CA, can help you keep your freedom and your driver’s license.
Understand the Charges You’re Facing After a DUI
The state of California does not treat all DUIs the same way. Even different blood alcohol content (BAC) levels are 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%.
Penalties Increase in Severity Over Time
You will face more severe penalties if you are charged with multiple DUIs over ten years. A first-time offense may be considered a misdemeanor, but a repeat offense is more likely to become a felony. A San Diego DUI attorney near me can help you build a strong defense against the charges you face in California.
Note that you may also face additional repercussions if your BAC was very high or you injured or killed someone during a DUI. These events are aggravating factors that can lead to additional charges, harsher penalties, and more severe consequences for your permanent record. For example, if you kill someone while driving under the influence, you may be charged with DUI manslaughter or — if you were aware of the potential consequences but disregarded them — DUI murder.
Either incident changes a potential misdemeanor to a serious felony. An experienced San Diego DUI attorney can help you understand the full nature of the charges against you and begin preparing an appropriate legal strategy. When you face a DUI charge in California, be sure to speak with a DUI & DWI defense attorney from the Simmrin Law Group.
For a free legal consultation with a dui lawyer serving San Diego, call (310) 896-2723
Repercussions of a DUI Conviction in San Diego
The court system handles DUI charges very severely. Depending on your exact situation, you could face the following:
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, preventing you from driving if alcohol is detected on your breath. Our San Diego, CA, DUI lawyers are here to explain the law to you and help you understand all of your options when faced with a DUI charge.
San Diego DUI Lawyer Near Me (310) 896-2723
Dealing with DUI Charges in San Diego
As you work with your San Diego DUI lawyer to dodge a conviction, there are multiple opportunities that may be available to you. Generally, these will include working out a plea agreement or pretrial diversion, or defending your DUI at trial. Here is more information about these options:
Avoid Court with Pretrial Diversion
Your DUI attorney may be able to help you avoid the harsh penalties of a guilty verdict by getting you entered into a pretrial diversion program. These are ideal for non-violent offenses by first-time offenders. With a pretrial diversion program, there are specific requirements you will need to meet.
For instance, you may be required to undergo random drug or alcohol testing, install an ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle, and participate in mental health or group therapy. Depending on the specific details of your case, the court may require you to enter a drug or alcohol treatment program, complete community service hours, pay fines or restitution to victims, and abstain from drugs or alcohol for a specific period of time. Then, once you have met the requirements of your pretrial diversion program, the court dismisses the charges against you or reduces them to a lesser offense based on the specific details of your case.
When Your DUI Goes to Trial
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 must 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.
For example, if you were stopped at a DUI checkpoint, we can investigate the checkpoint operations to see if they complied with standards established by the Supreme Court of California. If they aren’t, your charges may be reduced or dropped. We can also help you handle your hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
The DMV hearing is conducted separately and is not tied to your criminal hearing. The DMV uses this hearing to decide whether or not your license will be suspended.
Be Sure to Act Quickly
You only have ten days to request a DMV hearing after a DUI arrest. Your license will be automatically suspended if you do not request the hearing in time. It is important that you contact a DUI attorney in San Diego as soon as possible to protect yourself from this loss.
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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 given too many points in 1, 2, or 3 years.
Let us take charge of any traffic violation charges you’re facing. The longer you wait to speak with a San Diego DUI attorney, the more difficult it becomes to build a strong case on your behalf. Do not leave the attorney no time to build a defense.
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Get Protection from a San Diego DUI Lawyer
A DUI conviction can lead to jail time and fines. It can be challenging to navigate a court case and any DMV hearing on your own. That’s why you need to contact a DUI Lawyer in San Diego as soon as possible. The Simmrin Law Group is here to represent your best interests when charged with DUI or any other crime in California.
We’re here to help our clients prepare a robust legal defense and handle the process of preserving their licenses. Both areas require strict adherence to tight timelines and defending your rights, so look for a San Diego DUI lawyer you can trust with every process step. Get your case started by contacting the Simmrin Law Group for a free consultation.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form