Contact Our DUI Attorneys for Experienced Representation
A conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) in California will carry stiff penalties, even if it is the first time you have been arrested. Law enforcement agents will give you no leniency, no matter how spotless your criminal and driving record may be. If you are facing a DUI and do not know where to turn for assistance and support, call (559) 266-8604 to talk to a DUI lawyer from Wapner & Jones, P.C. With more than 40 years of combined legal experience, our former prosecutors turned defenders can offer protection from even the harshest of penalties.
First Offense DUI Penalties
Each county in California is permitted to interpret DUI laws in their own way, assigning their own unique penalties. Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Madera Counties are among some of the counties that issue the harshest penalties.
For a first-time DUI conviction with no aggravating factors, you could face:
- 2 days to 6 months in jail
- $390 to $1,000 in fines
- A 3-month to 9-month DUI program
- 6-month license suspension
Multiple DUIs & Higher Penalties
You will be up against higher penalties if you have been arrested and convicted several times for a DUI, not only in California but also across the country. For a second-time conviction, you can be incarcerated for one year and lose your license to suspension for two. For a third conviction, you will be facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 120 days in jail and your license will be revoked for three years. A fourth DUI may be considered a felony and can lock you up for an entire year and trigger a four-year license revocation. Unlike a license suspension that can be reinstated with a small fee, a license revocation will require you to pay higher fees and complete driver's training courses again.
DUI Lookback Period and Aggravating Factors
California uses a 10-year lookback period when it comes to DUI offenses. As previously mentioned, subsequent arrests during this 10-year lookback period will have steeper punishments. Frequency is not the only aggravating factor that can escalate your penalties.
Other aggravating factors in Fresno County for DUI penalties include:
- Arrested with a minor (under 14) in the car.
- Speeding.
- DUI while driving on a suspended or restricted license.
- Causing an accident.
- Having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.15% or more.
- Being under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Refusing to take a chemical test can also be seen as its own standalone aggravating factor. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is permitted to automatically suspend your license for a year if you refuse to take such a test.
The DUI Defense You Need is at Wapner & Jones, P.C.
Our DUI attorneys have focused much of their legal practice on drunk driving cases. To get unique skills and years of experience dealing with charges just like the ones you are facing, contact us today. Once you get to know our team, you will understand why we are the leading defense attorneys in the Central Valley.
Your initial consultation is free when you call (559) 266-8604.