California DUI Penalties

Penalties for a first DUI conviction include fines, loss of license, and jail time. It starts with court probation for three to five years. This is a little different from the probation associated with released prisoners, as there is no probation officer involved. It is critically important that the probationer never drinks and drives during the specified period.

Fines and court fees will also be assessed, depending on factors related to the severity of the DUI conviction. For a first offense, these may run between $1,500 and $1,800 depending on which county is involved. Payment for costs is due within 45 days, but, in some cases, the person may pay over a longer time for an added charge. Again, depending on the offense, there are situations in which fines and fees can be worked off by community service.

Driving or Jail Time After a Conviction

If the person's license is suspended, he or she may not drive any motor vehicle under any circumstances during the specified period. If the person is allowed to drive on a restricted license, he or she may only drive to and from work or to and from school. In each case, violation of the terms will result in stiffer penalties.

DUI school will be required based on the BAC and other additional factors related to the offense. California also imposes a mandatory minimum of 48 hours of jail time for all first offenses. There are instances when jail time may be changed to community service time.

It is important to note that all of the above penalties can and will be increased for multiple offenses. Court costs and fines can go up by several thousand dollars, while jail time for DUI accidents with injury or death can result in 15 years to life in a state prison.