What Are the Penalties for DUI in California?
If you are convicted on a DUI charge in San Diego or anywhere in California, you can expect to spend no more than six months behind bars. In California, judges will often choose to order probation and are more lenient for first-time offenders, depending on the case’s specific allegations. Fees may be incurred up to $1,000 for a first-time DUI, though this can increase depending on other penalty assessments brought forward. License suspension will also be likely, with a period depending on whether this is your first, second, or third charge.
However, the prosecution and the judge may add penalties if you have prior DUI convictions, you were allegedly speeding while intoxicated, or your actions caused an accident or bodily harm on another person. These are considered “aggravating factors” and may also escalate your charge to a felony. Likewise, additional punishments may be handed down if you had children in your car with you at the time of the DUI arrest, or if your blood alcohol level was .15% or above, which is considered a high blood alcohol content level (BAC) DUI.
