California DUI First Offense - What to Expect

In California alone, there are roughly 22,000,000and consents to the chemical test could end up facing
licensed drivers residing there. All of the drivers havea mere 4-month suspension verdict while sticking to
been given their licenses with the idea that they arethe requirements for filing a formal proof of insurance
properly trained in driving a vehicle and know all thewith the DMV known as an SR22 filing for 3-years
road laws in force.following the DMV's verdict. Anybody who receives
On the other hand, a lot of drivers take advantage oftheir first DUI offense in California will also have to sign
the opportunity to drive while drunk; in 2007, it wasup for alcohol awareness courses, while there is also a
estimated that 203,866 individuals were placed underchance for being assigned with a restricted license that
arrest for a DUI charge. If this is the first DUI offenseenables a person to commute to and from alcohol
made by a California driver, they might not know whatawareness classes and the workplace.
they are going to be confronted with after theirThen again, a first-time offending driver who does not
charge. Those who are arrested for a DUI charge areconsent to a chemical test is going to be confronted
going to be handled in two separate ways: in thewith a much more severe verdict. Those individuals will
courtroom and at the DMV.be facing a 1-year license suspension with no chance
If a driver happens to be dealing with a first offenseto get a restricted license at any given time throughout
DUI in California, they must know that the state's DMVthe year. As soon as this suspension period comes to
will initially try to suspend their license for the crime,an end, the individual will have to file an SR-22 if they
which is called an administrative per se hearing (APS).want their license to be reinstated.
For anyone who is arrested under suspicion of DUI,After the court hearing, the driver (if found guilty) will
that individual will be provided a mere 10 days to askhave to pay anywhere from $390.00 to $1000.00 for
for a hearing with the DMV; however, lest the hearingtheir first offense. Under some circumstances, it is
shouldn't take place, then the DMV can immediately gocrucial to understand that a first offense DUI could end
ahead with the procedure of suspending theup facing a small punishment. Someone who is given a
offender's license. If the driver is successful withprobationary verdict and willingly takes on the court's
acquiring their own APS hearing, it is likely that thepunishment could be prospectively sent to jail for as
chances of success will be reduced.long as six months; however, if they follow the
A failed APS hearing is going to be contingent uponconditions of their probation contract, jail may be
whether or not the offender has had any previous DUIavoided altogether. California offenders who are not
verdicts or turned down a chemical test in the past orgiven the probation period after the first DUI offense
was in fact over the legal limit. In the course of ancould be given anything from the minimum of 96 hours
APS hearing, there is always an advantage for theup to the maximum of 6 months of jail time.
offender to acquire a California DUI lawyer'sCalifornia deals with many DUI cases annually, but
assistance to represent them not only in court, but atregrettably, there are some circumstances in which a
the DMV hearing and help them to keep their drivingdriver doesn't learn their lesson from the verdict of
privileges.their first DUI crime and are sentenced to more severe
Lest this should have been a first offense DUI charge,verdicts as a result. When you take up your duty as a
the DMV's verdict will be totally contingent uponlawful driver in California, you will both spare yourself
whether or not the individual has submitted to athe possibility of being slammed with your first DUI
chemical test and was or was not over the legal limit.offense and also keep the streets for your fellow
A California driver who receives their first DUI chargedrivers and pedestrians safe.