California DUI Penalties: First DUI Offense

Facing your first DUI in Napa, you may want to consult an attorney:

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California laws governing a first DUI offense can be severe. Drinking and driving is the most common way people end up in jail.  While many try to get by with it, you may find yourself on your way to the county jail. If this is the first time you were ever arrested, it can be scary. You have some things you need to attend to if you intend to keep your license and your record clean.  If you don’t care, you can expect a costly driving experience.

Court appearances, DMV Administrative hearings, DUI School, driving restrictions  ( DMV can now decide if a restriction should be issued. SUSPENSION means NO DRIVING, restriction allows SOME DRIVING), SR-22 car insurance, Court probation (3-5 years), Court Fee’s, are things that you will now be familiar with. You can expect some jail time (48 hours) minimum.

If your DUI was enhanced  by speeding, driving with a child in the car, suspended or restricted license, elevated BAC (+.20) you can expect a SIGNIFICANT increase in penalties & punishment.

Did you comply with the chemical test? If not you can expect your license to be suspended from the DMV for one year.

If you are in need of representation for a DUI there are plenty of places to go.  We find that many clients educate themselves on the internet prior to calling. Feel free to ask as many questions as you can think of. We would be happy to help you understand where you sit with your case.

Driving Under the Influence

American Canyon DUI Lawyers always get calls:

Napa DUI Stop

In Napa County, driving with a blood alcohol level ( BAC ) of .08 or greater is enough to get you a night in jail. This is true for all counties in all the states. How many drinks does that make? Well that depends on your size, weight, food intake and the like. What you don’t want to do is guess. If you have to wonder about it, you probably shouldn’t be driving. Now, you are probably reading this after that fact…right? Well you need to contact our office for a free dui consultation if you want to know what to do next.

Napa County is stepping up enforcement to look for drivers under the influence. Be warned and give Napa DUI Lawyers , American Canyon DUI Lawyers or Yountville DUI Lawyers a call if you need help.

From the Napa Registar:

“The Napa County Avoid the 9 is launching an 18-day crackdown on drunken driving as part of a nationwide effort.

Starting Aug. 20, law enforcement agencies across the county will hold a variety of enforcement efforts aimed at curbing driving under the influence of alcohol.

The activities include:

• extra patrol from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Friday in Napa;

• extra patrol from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday in American Canyon, Napa, Yountville and possibly Calistoga and St. Helena;

• DUI Taskforce operations from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 27 in American Canyon, Napa, Yountville, Calistoga and St. Helena.

• extra patrol on Aug. 28 in American Canyon, Napa, Yountville, and possibly Calistoga and St. Helena;

The Avoid the 9 is a campaign by nine local law enforcement agencies geared at public education and enforcement of drunken driving laws. The California Office of Traffic Safety pays for the campaign.”

Contact Napa County DUI Attorney for a free consultation