What Are The Penalties For a DUI?

Receiving a DUI is something that no one wishes to go through. The penalties that coincide with a DUI can also be rather harsh depending on the circumstances. The number of DUIs that someone has received in the past are also factored into the potential penalties for a DUI. If you or someone you know has been charged with a DUI, then reaching out to the Morales Law Firm for guidance and assistance through the charge can help dramatically. 

DUI Misdemeanor Penalties

The more DUIs that someone receives the worse the penalties will be. If it is a first offense DUI misdemeanor then the fines range from around 400$-1000$. There also may be a jail sentencing of up to 6 months. The DUI receiver may also have their driver’s license revoked for a certain period of time and will most likely have to enroll in a DUI school for up to 9 months. For a 2nd and 3rd DUI misdemeanor offense, the fines are generally around the same as for a first offense, but your driver’s license is revoked for a longer period of time. The time that someone must enroll in a DUI school also rises with these 2nd and 3rd offenses from a maximum time of 9 months up to 30 months.   

DUI Felony Penalties

DUI felony penalties are much harsher than DUI misdemeanors. If someone has been injured as a result of the DUI driver then their case may be prosecuted as a felony. Also, if the DUI driver has 4 or more DUIs on their record then their case may be prosecuted as a felony. A felony DUI has a potential jail time of 16 months to 16 years and carries fines that range from around 400$ up to 5000$. The time that one must enroll in a DUI school is also up to 30 months and they may even see their license suspended for up to 5 years. If you or someone you know have been charged with a DUI misdemeanor or felony then it would be wise to get in contact with a DUI lawyer in San Francisco, CA to help with your case.

Legal Assistance & Reduced Penalties

While the potential for a jail sentence for a DUI exists as well as harsh fines and other penalties it is certainly possible to have these charges reduced or even dropped. Many times a DUI lawyer is able to use their knowledge and experience to look over the charges and find things that are inconsistent. The officer that made the arrest for DUI may have done it incorrectly and not followed proper DUI protocol. There may be other details too that could lead to reduced penalties. The important thing is not to panic and to understand that these types of charges don’t have to be fought alone. Reach out to the Morales Law Firm to learn more about fighting a DUI offense and to get the assistance you need to fight these charges.