California DUI Basics

It is unlawful to operate a motor vehicle in the state of California with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or greater. If you are a commercial driver, that number goes down to 0.04% and even lower to 0.01% for underage drivers (below 21).

A simple DUI (1 ^st offense) will result in 96 hours to 6 months in jail, up to $1,600 fine, up to 6 months driver's license suspension, mandatory completion of a DUI program, California SR22 insurance required for a Restricted License and you may be required to install an ignition interlock device. The above penalties assume there were no aggravating factors at the time of the arrest. If you have been arrested for DUI, you should seek legal advice from a skilled Torrance criminal defense for help.

Aggravating Factors in DUI Arrests

There are specific circumstances, which if they were present at the time of your DUI arrest, will result in extended penalties and sentence enhancements. These aggravating factors will increase your DUI penalties, regardless if this is your first, second or third offense. These aggravating factors include: having a BAC of 0.15% or greater, causing an accident, excessive speeding, having a minor in the car under the age of 14, being under the age of 21 at the time of your arrest, refusing to submit to a chemical test, causing bodily injury or death.

In some cases, a person convicted of DUI may be offered alternatives to county jail or a California State Prison sentence and these alternatives may include: Cal-Trans roadside work, community service, electronic monitoring or house arrest, residence in a sober living facility, or incarceration in a private or city jail.

Torrance DUI Lawyer

If you have been arrested for DUI, contact a Torrance DUI attorney from the Law Office of Stephen G. Rodriguez & Associatestoday. We have extensive experience in handling DUI cases, and we will use our experience to help negotiate lighter penalties, we may even be able to get the charges against you dropped, depending on the facts and evidence in the case. Hiring a DUI lawyer can make all the difference in the final outcome of your DUI charges.

Contact a Torrance DUI attorney from our firm for a free initial case evaluation.