Wednesday, July 1, 2009

What Are the Penalties For a Felony DUI in San Diego?

you've been charged for a DUI in San Diego, it can be considered a felony if you caused an injury or death to another driver or passenger, have a prior felony conviction, or refuse to submit to a chemical test. However, if you had three or more DUI convictions within the past 7 years, you could also be charged a felony DUI. In San Diego County a felony DUI is considered a misdemeanor charge and it's likely that the charge will go on your criminal record. In San Diego there is a ten-year "washout" period when it comes to felony DUI convictions. What this means is that if you've been charged with felony DUI within the past 10 years, the current drunk driving charge can be viewed as a felony DUI no matter if you've injured someone or not.

Here are a list of possible penalties for a felony DUI in San Diego:
1. A jail sentence lasting 6 months - 1 year
2. Mandatory minimum term of incarceration: 48 consecutive hours, or 10 days of community service
3. Fines from $390 - $1,000
4. 4-year license revocation
5. Vehicle may be impounded for six months and you could be required to have an ignition interlock device put on your car up to three years
6. Alcohol or drug program for 18-36 months if you haven't already attended one

Due to the severity of a felony DUI charge, we highly recommend contacting a San Diego DUI lawyer for counseling.

Understanding Minnesota DUI Law

Minnesota as DUI laws that (Driving under Influence) are among the toughest in the country. The recent lowering of the legal limit of BAC from .10 to .08 has made it even tougher. Just like drunk-driving laws also called DUI or DWI laws that exist in other states, Minnesota DUI arrest also involves two separate cases. The first case is that of a criminal court case wherein drunken driving punishment is meted and the second case is sought by the Minnesota Department of Public safety- if the person charged with DUI is proved guilty it can have adverse affect on his Minnesota driving privileges. The third charge will be levied if the driver refuses to undergo the chemical test after being arrested for drunk driving. This constitutes a separate and different criminal offense - over and above the first two cases. This is how tough DUI laws are. Under Minnesota DUI law, the driver who has been arrested for breaking the law has the right to consult his DUI defense attorney if he has one before taking the necessary test for to determine BAC level. If the driver arrested under DUI charges does not know of any DUI defense layer, the police provide the driver with a directory of DUI lawyers so that he can choose one from it. Under Minnesota DUI law, the criminal court punishment for driving under the influence could involve a jail sentence of up to 90 days plus fines, mandatory alcohol education courses that includes the effects of DUI and mandatory education on the consequences of DUI on the driver's license. Under Minnesota DUI law the penalties and punishment for first time DUI offender could include a jail term of up to one year as well as a fine of up to $3,000.

Treatment for a second time offender under Minnesota DUI law is harsher. And if the 2nd time offender has done it within ten years of the previous DUI offense, then the punishments include a jail term plus a fine of up to $3,000. The punishment is quite harsh and higher for the third DUI offense within 10 years. The vehicle the driver was driving under intoxication is impounded immediately and a much higher jail term is sought. Under these circumstances alcohol abuse evaluation has to be obtained as a rule and the driver will have to prove that he is not an alcoholic. Finally under Minnesota DUI laws, a fourth time DUI offense within ten years is considered a felony. This means if proven guilty a jail term of three years and a fine of $14,000 or more. Looking at all the above facts, one must hire an efficient and competent Minnesota DUI Lawyer as soon as he can after being arrested. Until the lawyer arrives on the spot, he should handle everything with patience and politeness with the police or officer who has made the arrest to avoid aggravating the case.

Get Help With Your Orange County DUI


When people go out to drink, they don't really think about the possibility of being arrested for drunk driving. You go out for a fun night and next thing you know you're being pulled over for drinking and driving.

The unfortunate thing is that many people who are arrested for a DUI don't take it seriously enough. The consequences of what may seem like a harmless couple of drinks could be tragic and deadly.

If you've been arrested for a DUI in Orange County, don't think of your arrest as just a minor offense. A DUI is a traffic violation that should be taken seriously, especially if you value your driving privileges. The one thing you don't want to do is to try and defend a drunk driving case all by yourself. There are many factors involved in a DUI case that only an experienced DUI lawyer is knowledgeable about including current DUI laws, processes, and court procedures. Besides, an experienced lawyer is highly resourceful and can decipher which aspects of your case would require further investigation.

If you are charged for drunk driving in Orange County, you're looking at the possibility of a jail sentence, high fines and penalties, driver's license suspension or revocation, mandatory DUI classes or rehabilitation, and insurance cancellation or increase. If you hire a Orange County DUI attorney to help you with your case, he/she can help you save your license and even get your sentence reduced.

What Are the Penalties For An Orange County Felony DUI?

Your DUI in Orange County could be considered a felony drunk driving charge if you caused an injury or death to another driver or passenger or have prior felony convictions.


California Vehicle Code Section 23153 states:
“Any person who, while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, or under the combined influence of intoxicating liquor and any drug, drives a vehicle and when so driving does any act forbidden by law or neglects any duty imposed by law in the driving of such vehicle, which act or neglect proximately causes bodily injury to any person other than himself, is guilty of a felony.”


Penalties for a felony DUI in Orange County could include:
1. A jail sentence lasting 6 months - 1 year or longer
2. Mandatory minimum term of incarceration: 48 consecutive hours, or 10 days of community service
3. You could subject to extensive fines up to thousands of dollars including penalty assessments and victim restitution funds
4. DMV can suspend or revoke your driver's license
5. Vehicle may be impounded for six months and you could be required to have an ignition interlock device put on your car up to three years
6. Mandatory attendance of an alcohol or drug program


Due to the severity of a felony DUI charge, it's highly recommend that you contact a Orange County DUI lawyer for counseling.
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