San Diego DUI Attorneys

It is considered wise practice to avoid driving if you have been drinking excessively. Depending on your gender and weight, there are a certain number of drinks you should not go past if you intend to drive home. Many times we can tell that we may drink excessively and take precautions such as deciding to stay at a nearby hotel, or finding a designated driver to drop us off at home. Where this arrangement is not made and judgment already impaired, it is a huge risk to drive anyway, and one that can cost you a lot. If you are pulled over by the police as find yourself facing DUI charges, then you need to understand what kind of punishment you may end up being handed down by the court.

•    Fines and penalties

The fines can typically range from a few hundred dollars to a couple of thousand. On many instances the more intoxicated you appeared to be, based on your blood alcohol level at the time, the stiffer fine you may find being imposed. Also, if it is a repeat offense, the subsequent fines will keep getting higher. Under normal circumstance where it was an only DUI offense, your fine will fall within the minimum maximum set by the state. If there are however special circumstance like injury to pedestrian or property damage, then the fine can go considerably higher.

•    Jail Time

A first time offender can end up serving jail time of anywhere between 2-180 days in county jail. Repeat offenses will net you even longer jail terms. In fact whereas first offences will land you in county jail, fourth or more will likely take you to state prison.

•    Driving restrictions

This is another common penalty whereby after your license suspension has expired, you are only allowed to drive and form work. If you have been order to attend an alcohol treatment program, you may be allowed to drive to these meetings as well. The restrictions can last several months.

•    Alcohol treatment programs

This is basically counseling to deal with alcohol problems. One must successfully complete the mandated program in order to avoid further penalties from the court. The period of the program will again be influenced by the severity of your blood alcohol level as was tested during your arrest.

Often it is a combination of these penalties that someone convicted with a DUI offense will face. In addition o the legal repercussions, there is also the higher rates you will have to endure for your motor vehicle, life and health insurance. Such behavior is considered very reckless and a strong indication you will get into an accident sometime in future. Repeated convictions can not only increase the severity of your punishment in court, but also end up making it impossible for you to get insurance. Another cost to consider is that of the San Diego DUI Attorneys you may have to hire to represent you. Rates can vary for a couple of hundred to over a thousand dollars in lawyer’s fees charged on an hourly basis.

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