Articles Posted in DUI Penalties

spilled beer.jpgDrunk driving rates of U.S. high school students have drastically fallen over the past 20 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC). In a report that was released this week, the CDC claimed it analyzed data from 1991-2011. The data was collected from self-reporting, voluntary, and anonymous surveys in 41 states. The teens were asked in a questionnaire if they drove a motor vehicle one or more times after consuming an alcoholic beverage within 30 days before taking the survey.

The survey found that in 1991, 22.3% of teens aged 16 years or older admitted to driving after drinking alcohol, while only 10.3% admitted to this behavior in 2011. The results in the reporting states varied. There was a higher rate in the Gulf Coast region but some states such as Utah were much lower (4.6%). No data was available for California.

The study did not report how many students were driving in 1991 versus 2011. With the fall in the economy, higher gas prices, and higher unemployment rates among teens, it can be assumed that the amount of teenage high school students that are driving at all is less than in 1991. In addition, the survey only asked students if they had been drinking and driving within the month prior to taking the survey. Considering these shortfalls, the reported drinking and driving rates may be very low.

Over the years, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) have been lobbying states for zero-tolerance laws. California has complied. This means if you are under the age of 21, it is unlawful to drive a motor vehicle in California with a measurable amount of alcohol in your blood. In addition, you must submit to a preliminary alcohol screening (PAS) test. The DMV will suspend your driver’s license for one year for the first offense of driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) at or above a .01%.

The above blog article is by no means all-inclusive and is not legal advice. For information about a specific case, speak to a drunk driving attorney in your area.

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money bag.jpgOnce a DUI defendant pleads guilty or is convicted of drunk driving after a jury trial, the judge will pronounce sentence. If there was a victim who suffered any loss or damages as a result of defendant’s driving under the influence, the sentence will include court ordered restitution. The victim’s right to collect restitution is found in the Declaration of Rights of the California Constitution, Article I, Section 28.

Section (b) specifically states: “In order to preserve and protect a victim’s rights to justice and due process, a victim shall be entitled to the following rights…(13) To restitution.” Because it is the victim that holds this right, neither the court nor the prosecuting authority can use their discretion in negotiating the restitution amount during the plea bargaining stage. However, the court “shall order full restitution unless it finds compelling and extraordinary reasons for not doing so, and states them on the record.” (See California Penal Code Section 1202.4(g).)

The California Constitution, Article I, Section 28(e), defines a victim to be “a person who suffers direct or threatened physical, psychological, or financial harm as a result of the commission or attempted commission of a crime or delinquent act. The term “victim” also includes the person’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, or guardian, and includes a lawful representative of a crime victim who is deceased, a minor, or physically or psychologically incapacitated.” This section also states that a victim is not “a person in custody for an offense, the accused, or a person whom the court finds would not act in the best interests of a minor victim.”
The amount of restitution that is ordered is governed by California Penal Code Section 1202.4, which states … “the court shall require that the defendant make restitution to the victim or victims in an amount established by court order, based on the amount of loss claimed by the victim or victims or any other showing to the court.”

Often, at sentencing, the amount of losses/damages to the victim or victims are not known. So, the judge will set a Restitution Hearing. At that hearing the victim presents their damages/losses to the court, usually in the form of documentary evidence or testimony. Under California Penal Code Section 1203.1d(d), the court shall not exclude “documentary evidence such as bills, receipts, repair estimates, insurance payment statements, payroll stubs, business records, and similar documents relevant to the value of the …damaged property, medical expenses, and wages and profits lost” as hearsay.

The defendant has a right to dispute the amount of the restitution under Penal Code Section 1202.4(f)(1).

Payment of the restitution is often a term of probation; however, if the defendant’s drunk driving probation is terminated and the restitution has not been paid in full, the judge will turn that Restitution Order into a Civil Judgment. This allows the victim or victims to use any legal means available under California law to collect on the judgment.

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car.jpgDriving under the influence charges were filed against a Charleston, South Carolina sheriff’s deputy, Nicholas Wagner, after he crashed his personal vehicle on an on-ramp to Interstate 526 westbound on May 5th, according to postandcourier.com. Wagner was said to have “smelled of an alcoholic beverage, had glassy eyes, slurred speech, and he swayed as he walked.” He refused to do the field sobriety tests and he was arrested and charged with drunk driving.

The defendant, a ten year veteran of the sheriff’s department, was scheduled for a bench trial; however, the prosecutor offered to dismiss the DUI charge if he plead guilty to a lesser charge. He agreed and changed his plea to guilty of reckless driving.

In San Diego, California, if a person is charged with driving under the influence, the prosecutor has discretion in offering two lesser charges, a dry reckless or a wet reckless. If the blood alcohol content is significantly over the .08 limit, there are drugs (prescription or illegal) involved, there is personal injury or property damage, and the prosecutor believes they can prove the drunk driving case beyond a reasonable doubt, they will not give a reckless driving offer.

If the blood alcohol content was below or slightly above .08%, if there are mitigating factors in the case, and the prosecutor’s DUI case is not strong, they will often offer one of the reckless driving charges if the defendant agrees to plead guilty. If the defendant refuses to accept that offer, the matter often goes to trial on the original drunk driving charges.

There are benefits in accepting a reckless driving offer over the DUI. A dry reckless is not priorable. This means that if the defendant is convicted of another drunk driving incident within ten years, the dry reckless cannot be used to increase the penalty in the new case. A wet reckless is priorable. The fines and fees for a dry or wet reckless are less than a DUI and San Diego courts often give a three year period of informal probation for reckless driving verses five with a drunk driving conviction.

There are other differences between a dry and wet reckless and a DUI. The above blog article is by no means all-inclusive and is not legal advice. Each case involves distinct facts which may change the offer given by the prosecuter or the sentence imposed by the judge. In addition, laws may have changed since the last update. For the latest information on drunk driving cases, the penalties, and your specific facts and possible defenses, contact a DUI defense attorney in your area.

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A standard sentence in misdemeanor DUI cases includes a term of probation. Depending on what charges you plead to or were convicted of depends on the standard term of probation. In San Diego, the courts often give a term of three years for a dry or wet reckless and five years for a misdemeanor driving under the influence offense.

Once probation is terminated, either due to expiration or a motion for early termination, you may want to apply for an expungement. There are many benefits to doing an expungement, but there are also things that an expungement does not provide for.

Penal Code Section 1203.4 provides, the probationer shall be permitted by the court to withdraw his or her guilty plea or the court shall set aside the guilty verdict. The court shall then dismiss the accusations and he or she shall thereafter be released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense of which he or she was convicted. However, like anything else in the law, there are some exceptions.

The probationer still has an “obligation to disclose the conviction in response to any direct question contained in any questionnaire or application for public office, for licensure by any state or local agency, or for contracting with the California State Lottery Commission.”

If a private employer asks if you have been convicted of a crime, you can answer, “No.” But, if you are applying to a government job or with a government licensing agency, and you are asked if you have ever been convicted of a crime, you must disclose the expunged case. In addition to the disclosure, you should also note in the application that your matter was expunged.

The expunged matter cannot be used against you when applying for jobs or in promotion opportunities.

In any subsequent prosecution for any other offense, the expunged matter can be plead and proved with the same effects as though an expungement was not granted. This means the expunged matter is still “priorable.” For instance, if you had a DUI expunged, and then you are charged with another drunk driving case within ten years, that first expunged case can still be used as a prior DUI to enhance the penalties of this new case.

If you are not allowed to possess a firearm, an expungement does not restore that right. You must wait the requisite time under the law to reinstate your firearm rights.
If you are prohibited from holding public office due to the conviction, an expungement does not allow you to hold public office.

Even though an expungement does not result in your records being permanently destroyed, many people want to have this done as a way of having closure. Another motivation is for better employment opportunities and to better position themselves in a licensing application.

The above blog article is by no means all-inclusive and is not legal advice. Laws may change and may not apply to your case. For the latest information or to get legal advice, speak to a drunk driving lawyer in your area.

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justice scales.jpgOnce a driving under the influence defendant pleads guilty or is convicted after a jury trial, their criminal record will reflect this indefinitely. Since criminal records are public records, they can be easily searched and found by law enforcement agencies, employers, and state licensing agencies. Most probationers want to get their criminal record cleaned up as soon as possible so their record does not hinder them.

A standard DUI sentence includes a term of probation. Under California law, Penal Code Section 1203.4, a person is eligible for an expungement “in any case in which a defendant has fulfilled the conditions of probation for the entire period of probation, or has been discharged prior to the termination of the period of probation.” There are a few exceptions to this rule where an expungement is not available. Examples of this are when the person served time in prison for this offense or the offense was a sex crime.

Most drunk driving cases are eligible for expungement.

Successful completion of probation is when the probationer paid all the fines and fees related to their case, attended all court ordered programs and community service, appeared at each court hearing or had their attorney appear on their behalf, had not picked up any new violations, and did not violate any of the terms of probation.

At the natural termination of probation, if the probationer is not serving a sentence for any offenses, is not on probation for any other matters, or currently charged with another crime, he or she can petition the court for an expungement.

If however, the term of probation has yet to expire, the probationer can still petition the court for an early termination of probation. The court has complete discretion to decide if early termination will be granted. The court often looks at several factors in making their decision including the seriousness of the underlying conviction, criminal history, and community ties. If the motion for early termination of probation is granted, the probationer than can petition the court for an expungement.

If probation was not successfully completed, the probationer can still ask the court for an expungement; however, the judge has discretion to grant or deny the request.
If an expungement is granted, the person is permitted to withdraw the guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere and enter a plea of not guilty. If convicted, the court will set aside the conviction. The court will then dismiss the case and the person is then “released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense” with some exceptions.

A skilled drunk driving defense attorney, Susan L. Hartman, can assist you in filing the necessary motions to terminate your probation early and get your matter expunged.

The above blog article is by no means all-inclusive and is not legal advice. Laws may change and may not apply to your case. For the latest information or to get legal advice, speak to a DUI attorney in your area.

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sdprobation.jpgDuring a driving under the influence sentencing hearing, the court may offer to put the defendant on probation. (The defendant does not have to agree to probation; however, it lessens the amount of time spent in jail if any time has to be served at all.)

The judge may impose a sentence but then suspend the execution of that sentence. For instance, the defendant may be sentenced to six months in jail, but the execution of that sentence is suspended until ordered. In those cases, if the defendant violates probation and it is revoked, the judge has authority to deny reinstating probation and execute the six month sentence. Thus the defendant will be required to serve out the six months in jail. However, if the probationer successfully completes probation, the judge will not order the sentence to be executed and he or she will not have to serve any of that time in jail.

In misdemeanor DUI cases, most commonly the judge suspends the imposition of sentence, putting the defendant on probation without giving an indicated sentence. By doing this, if the probationer violates the terms of probation, the judge can ultimately sentence him or her to the maximum jail sentence allowed for that particular crime. In misdemeanor drunk driving cases, the maximum jail sentence imposed for a first DUI is 6 months. For subsequent misdemeanor DUI cases, the maximum jail sentence is one year. (Note, a fourth drunk driving conviction is considered a felony and felony DUI sentencing rules apply.)

Most San Diego judges sentence defendants to probation with standard terms and conditions. These terms and conditions include: 1.) Violate no laws; 2.) Do not drive with a measurable amount of alcohol/drugs in the blood; 3.) Submit to any test at the request of a peace officer for detection of alcohol/drugs in blood; 4.) Violate no laws regarding driving a motor vehicle while under the influence or in the possession of alcohol, drugs, or both; and, 5.) Do not drive without a valid driver’s license and liability insurance.

In addition, the defendant often has to complete an alcohol program, attend a MADD panel class, and pay fines/fees. Failure to do any of the above can result in a probation violation. The court, on its own motion, may revoke probation. If the probationer is out of custody, the court usually sends a notice with a time and date to appear. At that hearing, the probationer may not contest the probation violation and the judge will immediately address the violation. If the violation is contested, a date for a probation revocation hearing is set.

If the probationer does not show up for the initial prerevocation hearing, the court will issue a bench warrant for the probationer’s arrest. The warrant will remain until addressed. If the court preliminarily revoked probation, the probation term is tolled, meaning it’s not running; therefore, the probationer should go to court as soon as possible.

The above blog article is by no means all-inclusive and is not legal advice. Laws may change and may not apply to your case. For the latest information or to get legal advice, speak to a DUI attorney in your area.

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MA License.jpgIf you were arrested in California for drunk driving, and you have an out-of-state driver’s license, you are subject to the same two processes that a California resident with a California driver’s license faces: The administrative process through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the criminal process through the courts. In addition, you may face additional penalties in your home state.

The officer in California cannot take your out-of-state license. However, they typically give you notice that your privilege to drive in California will be suspended 30 days after the arrest date.

The DMV is immediately notified of your arrest and you only have ten days from the date of arrest to request an administrative per se, or APS, hearing challenging the suspension. If you do not schedule the APS hearing within those 10 days, your driving privileges will be suspended 30 days after the arrest. If you request a hearing, the suspension is stayed or postponed pending the outcome of the hearing.

If you fail to request a hearing or you do not prevail at the hearing, your privilege to drive in California will be suspended. The suspension period will depend on how many other prior drunk driving convictions you have on your DMV record.

So your privilege to drive in California is suspended, how does that affect your right to drive elsewhere? Well, the Interstate Drivers License Compact, or DLC, requires all states that are a part of it to share driving history with other states. The idea is for each driver to have one license and one record. California is a part of the DLC, so they report DUI’s to the state where the driver is licensed, except for the four states that are not part of the compact, (Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Massachusetts).

Once your home state receives notice of the drunk driving arrest, they may take action against your license. What penalty you will have depends on your specific state. Some states take action when California suspends your license. Others wait to see if you are convicted in court. Some states only penalize the driver if the California statute is the same or similar to the driving under the influence statute in the home state.

Separate from the administrative process with the DMV, the court process also involves the possible consequence of a license suspension. If you are able to get your matter dismissed or your charges reduced, you may not have your license suspended by the court and your home state may not take action against you.

If you have been arrested for DUI in California and you have an out-of-state license, it is imperative that you seek an exclusively, DUI defense firm that can assist you in trying to limit the negative consequences in California and your home state.

The above blog article is by no means all-inclusive and is not legal advice. Laws may change and may not apply to your case. For the latest information or to get legal advice, speak to a DUI attorney in your area.

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When a DUI defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty after a trial, the judge may put the defendant on probation as part of the sentence. Probation is “the suspension of the imposition or execution of a sentence and the order of conditional and revocable release in the community under the supervision of a probation officer,” per California Penal Code Section 1203(a). In other words, the defendant is released into the community with certain terms or conditions that must be fulfilled.

In misdemeanor drunk driving cases, the judge has the authority to grant probation without referring the defendant to a probation officer. This means the probationer reports directly to the court, not to a probation officer. This is often called court probation, summary probation, or informal probation.

A judge has discretion to impose any reasonable terms of probation that are reasonably related to the underlying offense. However, the standard terms and conditions on a first time, misdemeanor drunk driving conviction in San Diego County include, but are not limited to: 1.) Paying the fines and fees to the court; 2.) Enrolling and completing an alcohol program per the recommendation of the SAAU Unit; 3.) Not driving with a measureable amount of alcohol or drugs in the system; 4.) Submitting to a drug or alcohol test at the request of law enforcement; 5.) Not violating the law; 6.) Public work service; and, 7.) Attending a MADD panel class.

In many misdemeanor matters, probation is a three year term. San Diego Courts commonly order five years of probation on drunk driving cases. Within that period of time, if a probationer fails to comply with any of the specific terms of his or her probation, the judge will revoke the probation and the clock will stop running on the probation. The probationer will be notified either by a letter or a warrant may be issued, ordering the probationer to come before the judge.

On the day of court, the probationer may admit the violation or request a hearing contesting the violation. If there is an admission or if the probationer is found in violation of the terms of probation after a hearing, the judge has authority to punish the probationer. The punishment may include modifying the terms of probation by adding additional requirements or ordering him or her to serve time in jail for a period not to exceed the maximum possible jail sentence under the charges plead to or found guilty of.

If you are probation for driving under the influence and you have received notice of a probation violation or warrant is out for your arrest, do not handle this matter on your own. Consult an exclusively, DUI defense firm to properly advise you on your rights, negotiate on your behalf with the judge, and represent your interests in court.

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A dry reckless is defined under California Vehicle Code Section 23103. It states, “A person who drives a vehicle upon a highway in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.”

The penalty for a guilty plea or a conviction under this statute is “imprisonment in a county jail for not less than five days nor more than 90 days or by a fine of not less than one hundred forty-five dollars ($145) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.”

Most often in San Diego County, the prosecutor offers three years of informal probation and a fine of approximately $855 on a dry reckless case. In addition, this is a non-alcohol, non-drug, and a non-injury charge; therefore, it is not a priorable offense. This means that if you are charged with drunk driving in the future, this conviction cannot be used to enhance the punishment of that case.

A wet reckless is a reduced drunk driving charge, California Vehicle Code Section 23103(a) per 23103.5.

The statutory penalty for a guilty plea or a conviction under this statute is the same as a dry reckless, with the addition of an alcohol and drug educational program. However, in San Diego County, the standard offer is three years of informal probation, a fine of approximately $1,036, a first conviction alcohol and drug education program, (either three months or twelve hours depending on the BAC), a one hour MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving) panel class, and a referral to SAAU, (Substance Abuse Assessment Unit).

Unlike the dry reckless, the wet reckless conviction is priorable. So if you plead or are convicted of a wet reckless and you are facing another DUI within ten years, the wet reckless will be looked at as a DUI, thus enhancing the punishment in the new case.

Both a dry and wet reckless are lesser charges in drunk driving cases. Often the prosecutor will offer the reduced charge if the blood-alcohol content, or BAC, is close to the legal limit of a .08 percent or if there are problems with proving the DUI case. An experienced drunk driving attorney may be able to negotiate one of these lesser charges after evaluating the weaknesses in the prosecutor’s case.

The above blog article summarizing dry reckless and wet reckless is by no means all-inclusive and is not legal advice. Each case involves distinct facts which may change the offer given by the prosecution or the sentence imposed by the judge. In addition, laws may have changed since the last update. For the latest information on drunk driving cases, the penalties, and your specific facts and possible defenses, contact a DUI defense attorney in your area.

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The majority of all DUI cases in California are filed as misdemeanors. Some are filed as felonies.

What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony? The California Penal Code Section 17 states, “A felony is a crime which is punishable with death or by imprisonment in the state prison. Every other crime or public offense is a misdemeanor except those offenses that are classified as infractions.”

There is more of a stigma and the punishment is greater for those accused and convicted of a felony rather than a misdemeanor. Usually felony punishments require a sentence of a year or more in a state prison. Misdemeanor convictions carry the possibility of a year or less in the county jail.

As for drunk driving cases, most often first, second, and third DUI’s are charged as misdemeanors. However, if there are aggravating factors, the charges may be raised to a felony. For instance, if the DUI caused injury or death of another, the defendant has three or more prior DUI’s or wet reckless convictions within ten years, or the defendant has a prior felony DUI conviction, the new case will often be charged as a felony.

If the DUI caused injury or death to another, the driver may be charged with either: 1.) Driving under the influence causing injury under California Vehicle Code Section 23153; 2.) Vehicular manslaughter under California Penal Code Sections 191.5 and 192; or, 3.) Murder under Penal Code Section 187. The charges usually depend on the seriousness of the injury.

If the defendant has been convicted of three or more DUI’s and/or wet reckless offenses, the new case may be charged as a felony. This would include any out-of-state convictions that are equivalent to a California DUI.

If the defendant has a prior felony drunk driving conviction and then picks up another DUI, regardless that it would normally be charged as a misdemeanor, the new case can be charged as a felony.

Cases which may be charged as a misdemeanor or felony are called “wobblers.” The prosecutor has discretion to decide how to charge a particular matter; however, an experienced drunk driving defense attorney may be able to negotiate a plea agreement where the defendant pleads to a reduced misdemeanor charge. If the prosecutor refuses such an offer, a skilled DUI defense attorney may motion the trial court to reduce the felony to a misdemeanor.

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