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What changes DUI penalties in

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California?

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Your blood alcohol level,

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qualifying priors and the

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charge can all matter.

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Court punishment and DMV

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license action are separate, so

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check both.

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Blood alcohol concentration, or

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BAC, is not a sentencing

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calculator.

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In California, a reading of

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zero point one five percent or

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more is a factor the court must

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consider for possible enhanced

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penalties.

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For a first offender granted

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probation, zero point two zero

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percent or more generally

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requires at least a nine month

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DUI program, instead of the

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minimum three month program

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below that threshold.

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Longer programs can be ordered.

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For a first non injury DUI

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conviction, jail exposure can

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reach six months.

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A court fine and other costs

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also apply.

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Probation changes the

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sentencing framework, so jail

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is not inevitable in every

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probation case.

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DUI probation ordinarily lasts

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three to five years, with

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conditions and a required

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program.

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The basic fine range is on

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screen.

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It is not your total cost:

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license, program and other

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charges can apply.

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California generally looks at

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qualifying offenses within ten

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years, using violation dates

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and resulting convictions.

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Some alcohol related reckless

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driving convictions can count.

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A second or third qualifying

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non injury DUI can carry up to

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a year in county jail.

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A fourth can be prosecuted as a

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felony.

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Some serious prior convictions

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have special rules.

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Give your lawyer the actual

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records;

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do not decide the count from

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memory.

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For a driver aged twenty one or

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older who took the chemical

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test and had a BAC of zero

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point zero eight percent or

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more,

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DMV describes a four month

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first administrative

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suspension, or one year for a

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repeat within ten years.

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A first non injury conviction

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normally brings a separate six

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month suspension, or ten months

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under the longer program

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provision.

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Exceptions and restricted

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licenses matter.

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Do not simply add the periods

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together or assume court

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resolves the DMV case.

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A refusal or failure to

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complete a required chemical

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test can bring different

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consequences.

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For adults twenty one and

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older, DMV describes a one year

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first suspension, a two year

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second revocation, and a three

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year third or subsequent

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revocation within ten years.

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Whether the legal requirements

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were met matters.

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Seek prompt advice about the

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notice and hearing;

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refusing a test is not a way

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to avoid license consequences.

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An ignition interlock checks

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breath alcohol before a vehicle

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starts.

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California extended its

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statewide program through the

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end of two thousand and thirty

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two.

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Qualifying repeat and injury

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cases can require one to four

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years of interlock use;

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first non injury cases have

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different options.

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Eligible drivers may obtain

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restricted driving privileges

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after completing the required

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steps.

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Installation alone is not

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enough.

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Confirm program enrollment,

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insurance proof, fees and DMV

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approval before driving.

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These are California adult,

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noncommercial examples.

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Injury, a death, drug only

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charges, driving on DUI

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probation, a commercial license

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or being under twenty one can

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change the rules substantially.

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A reading below zero point zero

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eight percent does not make

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impaired driving lawful.

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Other states have different

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rules.

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Get local advice before relying

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on a penalty estimate.

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Do not use this overview as a

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prediction of your sentence.

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Collect your citation, court

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papers, test results, prior

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records and every DMV notice.

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California DMV says to request

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a hearing within ten days after

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receiving the suspension or

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revocation notice.

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The request alone does not

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automatically pause the action.

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Ask about a stay, restricted

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driving and your current legal

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status.

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Keep court dates and

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conditions, and arrange

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transport if you cannot

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lawfully drive.

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Read the California answer and

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sources at Legal Hotline dot

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com, with a hyphen between

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Legal and Hotline.

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Our United States number is on

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screen for free general legal

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information.

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Legal Hotline is an information

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service, not a law firm;

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lawyer matching is separate.

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Get individual advice before

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making decisions about a plea

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or driving.