DUI Penalties
Drunk Driving penalties in California are set forth by statute and can be incredibly complex. The range of possible sentences is determined by the basic statute, with sentence enhancements for such things as:
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- Having a prior conviction within ten years
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- Speeding 20 mph over the limit
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- Having a child under 14 in the car
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- Having a blood-alcohol reading over .15%
- Refusing to submit to chemical testing
Within the range, the actual sentence in a drinking and driving case will be affected by:
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- The facts of the case
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- Any policies of the local court and prosecutors
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- The weaknesses in the case uncovered by the defense attorney
- The reputation of that attorney
All of this is independent of the DMV drivers license suspension, which is determined separately and which can itself be very complicated. If you are facing DUI charges, do not tackle it alone. Contact an experience DUI attorney for help.