California DUI Penalties | Consequences of Drunk Driving in California : Jail Time, Fines, License Suspension
First DUI:
- Imprisonment: Up to 6 months in county jail
- Fines: $390-1,000
- Driver's License Suspension: 6 months. Eligible for restricted license.
- DUI Class: 12-45 hours
- Ignition Interlock Device: Generally not required for first offense DUI. Starting July 1, 2010, however, individuals arrested and convicted of DUI in Alameda, Los Angeles, Tulare, and Sacramento Counties will be required to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle for no less than 5 months.
Second DUI:
- Imprisonment: Required 96 hours jail time. Many counties will insist on a minimum of 10 days of jail. The maximum amount of jail time is 1 year.
- Fines: Up to $1,000
- Driver's License Suspension: 2 years. Eligible for restricted license.
- DUI Class: 18 or 30 month DUI class depending on BAC at time of arrest.
- Ignition Interlock Device: Installation required
Third DUI:
- Imprisonment: Required 120 days
- Fines: Up to $1,000
- Driver's License Revocation: 3 years
- DUI Class: 18 or 30 month DUI class depending on BAC at time of arrest.
- Ignition Interlock Device: Installation required
California DUI Misdemeanor "Enhancements" Include:
| DUI Causing Injury | DUI With Passenger Under Age 14 |
| DUI with BAC .15% or greater | Refusal to Submit to Chemical Testing |
| DUI while Reckless Driving and/or Speeding | DUI in Construction Zone |
Fourth or Subsequent DUI within 10 years (Felony):
- Imprisonment: 16 months to 4 years in State Prison
- Fines: $390-$1,000
- Driver's License Revocation: 4 years
California DUI Laws - Relevant Statutes
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Division 6 Drivers' Licenses
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Chapter 2 Suspension or Revocation of Licenses
- Article 2 Suspension or Revocation by Court, inlcuding
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Article 3 Suspension and Revocation by Department, inlcuding
- 13352. Conviction for driving under the influence or engaging in speed contests or exhibitions of speed; terms of suspension or revocation of license; eligibility for restricted license; reinstatement conditions
- 13352.1. Conviction or finding of violation of Section 23152; ten month suspension of privilege for certain offenders; conditions for reinstatement
- 13352.2. Driving-under-the-influence programs; filing of proof of enrollment and proof of completion by program provider
- 13352.3. Persons under eighteen years of age convicted of violations of Sections 23152 or 23153; term of revocation; reinstatement of privilege
- 13352.4. Restricted driver's licenses
- 13352.5. Restricted driver's licenses
- 13352.6. Conviction of person under 21 drinking and driving; reinstatement; driving-under-the-influence program
- 13353. Chemical blood, breath, or urine tests
- 13353.1. Preliminary alcohol screening test; refusal or failure to complete; notice; review
- 13353.2. Immediate suspension; grounds; notice of order of suspension; determination of facts
- 13353.3. Order of suspension under Vehicle Code Section 13353.2; effective date and period of suspension
- 13353.4. Restoration of driving privilege and issuance of restricted or hardship permit to operate motor vehicle during suspension or revocation period
- 13353.5. Expiration of suspension or revocation period; out of state residence; reinstatement; conditions
- 13353.7. Restricted driver's licenses
- 13353.8. Order suspending or delaying driving privileges; showing of critical need to drive; review of order; imposition of restrictions on driving privilege
- 13353.45. Certificate of completion; fees
- 13380. Peace officer's report; service of notice of suspension; arrest
- 13382. Blood alcohol of specified level; suspension or revocation of driving privilege; notice; confiscation of license; temporary license
- 13384. Consent to chemical test of blood, breath or urine
- 13385. Driving under the influence; declaration required in application forms or renewal notices as condition of licensure
- 13386. Certification and list of ignition interlock devices; prohibitions
- 13388. Preliminary alcohol screening test or other chemical testing; procedure upon failure to take or complete test
- 13389. Persons previously convicted of driving under the influence; lawful detention during probation; preliminary alcohol screening test; suspension of driving privileges
- 13392. Fee for reissuance, return or issuance of license
- Article 4 Procedure, including
- Chapter 3 Investigation and Hearing
- Chapter 5 License Fees
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Chapter 2 Suspension or Revocation of Licenses
- Division 7 Financial Responsibility Laws
- Division 10 Accidents and Accident Reports
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Division 11 Rules of the Road
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Chapter 12 Public Offenses
- Article 1 Driving Offenses
- Article 1.3 Offenses by Persons Under 21 Years of Age Involving Alcohol
- Article 1.5 Juvenile Offenses Involving Alcohol
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Article 2 Offenses Involving Alcohol and Drugs, including
- 23152 Driving Under Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
- 23153 Driving Under Influence of Alcohol or Drugs Causing Injury
- 23154 Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol While on Probation for Prior DUI
- 23158 Chemical Test Procedure
- 23217 Legislative Declarations: Mandatory Minimum Penalties for Multiple Offenses
- 23220 Drinking While Driving
- 23221 Drinking in Motor Vehicle
- 23222 Possession of Marijuana or Open Container While Driving
- 23223 Possession of Open Container in Motor Vehicle
- 23224 Possession of Alcohol in Vehicle: Person Under 21
- Article 4 Ignition Interlock Device
- Article 5 Alcohol and Drug Problem Assessment Program
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Chapter 12 Public Offenses
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Division 11.5 Sentencing for Driving While Under the Influence
- Chapter 1 Court Imposed Penalties: Persons Less Than 21 Years of Age
- Chapter 2 Court Penalties
- Chapter 3 Probation
- Chapter 4 Procedures
- Chapter 5 Ignition Interlock Device
- Division 18 Penalties and Dispositions of Fees, Fines, and Forfeitures
The skilled California DUI lawyers on this site can help you with all aspects of your drunk driving arrest including: further information on DUI penalties, fines, and consequences, administrative driver's license suspension or revocation, Under 21 DUI Drunk Driving and Zero Tolerance Laws, SR-22 insurance, DUI School, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Victim Impact Panels, how to beat a DUI, Ignition Interlock Devices, SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring Device, DUI Expungement, DUI Diversion, Community Service, and all other issues surrounding your California Drunk Driving DUI Arrest.
California DUI Attorneys can help fight for your Rights following a DUI arrest in Alameda, Alhambra, Altadena, Anaheim, Antioch, Arcadia, Azusa, Bakersfield, Baldwin Park, Bellflower, Berkeley, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Buena Park, Chula Vista, Compton, Concord, Corona, Costa Mesa, Culver City, Daly City, Downey, East Los Angeles, El Monte, Elk Grove, Encinitas, Escondido, Fontana, Fremont, Fresno, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Glendale, Hawthorne, Hayward, Hollywood, Huntington Beach, Inglewood, Irvine, LA, La Habra, Laguna Beach, Lakewood, Lancaster, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Mission Viejo, Modesto, Monrovia, Moreno Valley, Mountain View, Napa, Newport Beach, Norwalk, Oakland, Oceanside, Ontario, Orange, Orange County, Oxnard, Palm Springs, Palmdale, Pasadena, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Redondo Beach, Riverside, Roseville, Sacramento, Salinas, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Francisco, San Gabriel, San Jose, San Leandro, San Mateo, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Santa Rosa, Simi Valley, South San Francisco, Stockton, Sunnyvale, Temecula, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, Upland, Vallejo, Visalia, Walnut Creek, West Covina, Whittier, or anywhere else in California.