If you are a licensed driver in California, you’ve likely heard the term “DUI” and “DWI”. DUI stands for driving under the influence, while DWI is the acronym for driving while intoxicated. Drunk driving laws are set by states and each has their own rules and regulations when it comes to each term. Some states have separate rules for each term, but states like California use DUI as a blanket term for driving under the influence of a substance or being impaired as specified by that vehicle code of law.
There is more than one way to get a DUI, such as a per se DUI, drug DUI and other similar distinctions. While we never want to be in the position of receiving a DUI, being informed of what it entails and the penalties is important to not only help if you are charged, but to also for context the next time you may grab your keys after a function or long work lunch.
What Does DUI Mean in California?
While some states use the terms DWI and DUI separately, California officially uses the term “DUI” for any conviction that falls under the blanket of someone driving impaired/under the influence. If arrested for a DUI, you can be convicted either because the court proves you had a high blood alcohol level, or because there is evidence that you were operating a vehicle while impaired. Either way, the penalties are the same.
Charges for DUIs
There are different types of vehicle code offenses (VC) that are all related to impaired driving. California vehicle code offenses include:
- Vehicle Code 23136 VC – Zero-Tolerance Underage Drinking
- Vehicle Code 23140 VC – Under 21 DUI
- Vehicle Code 23152(a) VC – DUI
- Vehicle Code 23152(b) VC – DUI per se (over 0.08% BAC)
- Vehicle Code 23152(d) VC – Commercial CDL DUI
- Vehicle Code 23152(e) VC – Driver for Hire DUI
- Vehicle Code 23152(f) VC – Drug DUI
- Vehicle Code 23152(g) VC – Drug and Alcohol DUI
- Vehicle Code 23153 VC – Injury DUI
- Vehicle Code 23154 VC – Probation DUI
- Vehicle Code 23572 VC – DUI with Minor Passenger
- Vehicle Code 23578 VC – DUI High BAC
Minimum and Maximum Penalties for a First DUI Conviction
A first-time DUI conviction is deemed a misdemeanor in California and the person charged will face the following penalties:
- Fines. The first DUI can carry a fine from $390 to $1,000 plus any penalty assessments. The total can be several thousand dollars or more.
- Jail. For a first DUI conviction, it is possible to get as little as 48 hours to as much as six months in jail. The judge can order probation, which is more common, and comes with no jail time.
- License suspension. A six-month license suspension is the most common for first time DUI offenders. If your blood alcohol concentration is .08% or more, then there will be a four-month administrative suspension added by the DMV.
- Probation. First DUI offenders normally receive a three-year term of informal probation (though it can be up to five years). As a condition of probation, the defendant normally must complete a three-month DUI course, consisting of 30 hours of classes. However, for defendants who had BACs of .20% or more, the program is nine months in duration and 60 hours of class time.
Penalties for a Second and Third DUI Convictions
The second and third DUI convictions come with penalties that only get more severe and cause you to lose more freedoms with each conviction. Both are still deemed misdemeanors in California, but incur misdemeanor probation of 3-5 years, mandatory second offender DUI school (18-30 months), installation of an driver interlock device (IID) on one’s vehicle (for one year), and a mandatory minimum of 96 hours in county jail (up to one year).
Felony DUI Charges
There are specific aggravating factors that can turn a misdemeanor DUI conviction into a felony. Felony DUIs come with more serious penalties than any misdemeanor charge, especially if they involve injury or death.
DUIs Involving Deaths or Injuries
DUIs with injuries: If you injure someone in a DUI incident, you will face more severe penalties than a standard DUI. Injury DUIs are “wobblers”—meaning they can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony. If charged as a felony, an injury DUI can result in a prison sentence of 16 months to four years. And depending on the defendant’s history, fines for an injury DUI can range from $390 to $5,000.
DUIs with fatalities: A DUI offense that causes the death of another person is typically prosecuted under California’s vehicular manslaughter laws. A defendant who is found to have caused a death can be charged with:
- Negligent vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated
- Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, or
- Second-degree murder
Find An Experienced DUI Attorney
When you face criminal charges, it’s hard not to focus on what you have to lose. But you have control over your defense – and we’ll do everything in our power to protect your rights. Whether you face a DUI, assault charge, or something else entirely, we put our decades of combined courtroom experience to work for you. We have successfully defended many clients in San Jose and central California over the years. We can defend you, too.
At Hann Law Firm, we take a personal approach to everything we do. From our first consultation, we’ll listen to your needs and concerns. Listening to our clients is at the heart of our success in the courtroom. When you work with us, we’ll address your specific challenges, prepare diligently for the best possible outcome, and create a personalized approach to help achieve your goals.
Contact us today for a free consultation and we will fight for you!
