San Diego Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer — Serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties
San Diego area drunk driving accident lawyer Erik A. Friis provides residents of Riverside, San Bernardino, and other California communities with aggressive, personalized defense strategies. A DUI conviction in California can carry harsh penalties, especially if the arrest occurs as part of a traffic accident. The punishment for a DUI offense can include a license suspension, significant fines, and even jail time. If you have been charged with a DUI, you may be unsure of your rights under the law, what to do next, and what a possible conviction can mean for you. For this reason and many others, soliciting the help of a qualified and highly experienced attorney to carry out your defense is of the utmost importance.
If you have been charged with a DUI, YOU HAVE TEN DAYS FROM THE DATE OF YOUR ARREST TO REQUEST AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND CHALLENGE A LICENSE SUSPENSION. If a hearing is not requested, your license will be immediately suspended. To discuss your case with an experienced lawyer who knows the ins and outs of DUI cases in California, contact the Law Offices of Erik Friis as soon as possible.
Penalties for California Drunk Driving Convictions without Injury
Although California drunk driving penalties vary from county to county, the following provides a general guideline for potential penalties and punishments. Our San Diego drunk driving accident lawyer knows that our clients from Riverside and across California face potentially serious consequences when they are facing a DUI allegation. Erik A. Friis is a skilled, diligent attorney who applies the same standards of excellence in the carrying out of each case and provides aggressive, hard-hitting representation to help his clients achieve the best possible outcome to their case.
Probation
If you are convicted of a DUI, you may be placed on probation. Many times, the alternative to being placed on probation involves serving a harsher jail sentence. If you are convicted of a felony, you must be placed on formal probation, which requires reporting to a probation officer. If you are convicted of a misdemeanor, you can be placed on informal probation, which means you do not have to report to a probation officer and can leave the state without permission, for example.
First DUI Offense
A first DUI conviction may carry the following penalties. Jail time is imposed or extended if you opt not to receive probation. Our San Diego drunk driving accident lawyer will provide you with the information you need to make the important decisions surrounding your case.
With probation, a person may be punished as follows:
- Fines and fees ranging from $390 to $1,000, plus assessments
- First offender drinking driver program ranging from 12 weeks to 9 months, depending on the blood alcohol content level
- Jail time may not be required, but a six-month sentence is possible in some cases
- Additional consequences might include ignition interlock device placement and vehicle impoundment
- Other standard DUI terms
Without Probation, a person may be punished as follows:
- 96 hours to six months in jail
Second DUI Offense
A second DUI conviction may carry the following penalties. Our experienced San Diego drunk driving accident attorney can help you mount a thorough DUI defense if you have been charged in a second DUI case.
With probation, a person may be punished as follows:
- Fines and fees ranging from $390 to $1,000, plus assessments
- Multiple offender drinking driver program (18 or 30 months in length)
- Jail time ranging from 96 hours to one year
- Additional consequences might include ignition interlock device placement and vehicle impoundment
- Other standard DUI terms.
Without Probation, a person may be punished as follows:
- 90 days to one year in jail
Third DUI Offense
A third DUI conviction carries the following penalties. If you have been charged with your third DUI, our San Diego drunk driving accident attorney will help you ensure your rights are protected.
With probation, a person may be punished as follows:
- Fines and fees ranging from $390 to $1,000, plus assessments
- Multiple offender drinking driver program (18 or 30 months in length)
- Jail time ranging from 120 days to one year
- Revocation of driving privilege for 3 years
- Designated as a habitual traffic offender
- Additional consequences might include ignition interlock device placement and vehicle impoundment
- Other standard DUI terms
Without Probation, a person may be punished as follows:
- 120 days to one year in jail
Fourth DUI Offense
A fourth DUI offense within a ten-year period can be, and usually is, a felony charge carrying the potential penalties listed below. If you have been charged with your fourth DUI offense, it is imperative that you contact our San Diego drunk driving accident attorney as soon as possible.
With probation, a person may be punished as follows:
- Fines and fees ranging from $390 to $1,000, plus assessments
- Multiple offender drinking driver program (18 or 30 months in length)
- Jail time ranging from 180 days to one year and a possible maximum sentence of three years in state prison
- Revocation of driving privileges for four years
- Designated as a habitual traffic offender
- Additional consequences might include ignition interlock device and vehicle impoundment
- Other standard DUI terms
Passenger Under the Age of 14
These enhanced penalties may be added by the court when a DUI charge includes driving with a passenger under the age of 14. Our San Diego drunk driving accident attorney helps clients from Riverside and throughout California to fight enhanced penalties of any type. Erik A. Friis will help you mount the most effective defense possible, regardless of the circumstance surrounding your case.
First offense: Add 48 hours of jail time
Second offense: Add 10 days of jail time
Third offense: Add 30 days of jail time
Fourth offense: Add 90 days jail time, unless sentenced to prison
Possible child endangerment charges: No enhancement, but additional jail or prison could apply
Test Refusal
Refusing breath or blood tests at a police station after you have been arrested can result in the following penalty increases.
Second offense: Add 96 hours of jail time
Third offense: Add 10 days of jail time
Fourth offense: Add 18 days of jail time
Blood Alcohol Content of .15 Percent or Higher
If you are charged with a DUI with a blood alcohol content of .15 percent or greater, the court may enhance penalties for your first through fourth offenses.
Blood Alcohol Content of .20 Percent or Higher
If you are charged with a DUI with a blood alcohol content of .20 percent or greater, penalties may be enhanced by the court for your first through fourth offenses.
Commercial Driver
If you drive a commercial vehicle, the following penalty enhancements may be added by the court.
First Offense: Commercial driving privilege will be suspended for one year
Second Offense: Commercial driving privilege will be revoked for life
DUI Conviction with Bodily Injury
A DUI conviction in California involving injury carries more severe punishments, possibly including significant jail time. In these cases, it is of the utmost importance that an attorney with extensive knowledge of not only DUI law, but personal injury law as well, is obtained. As an experienced San Diego drunk driving accident lawyer, Erik A. Friis will fight to see that your rights are protected when it matters most.
First Injury DUI Offense
A first injury DUI conviction can carry the following penalties:
With probation, a person may be punished as follows:
- Fines and fees ranging from $390 to $1,000, plus assessments
- First offender drinking driver program attendance ranging from 12 weeks to 9 months, depending on blood alcohol content levels
- Jail time ranging from five days to 16 months and the possibility of two or three years in state prison
- Suspended driving privileges for one year
- Additional consequences might include ignition interlock device and vehicle impoundment
- Other standard DUI terms
Without Probation, a person may be punished as follows:
- 90 days to 16 months in jail and the possibility of two or three years in state prison
Second Injury DUI Offense
A second injury DUI conviction may carry the following penalties:
With probation, a person may be punished as follows:
- Fines and fees ranging from $390 to $5,000, plus assessments
- Multiple offender drinking driver program (18 or 30 months in length)
- Jail time ranging from 30 days to 16 months and the possibility of two to three years in state prison
- Revocation of driving privileges for three years
- Additional consequences might include ignition interlock device placement and vehicle impoundment
- Other standard DUI terms.
Without probation, a person may be punished as follows:
- 120 days to 16 months in jail with the possibly of two or three years in state prison
Third or More Injury DUI Offense
A third injury DUI conviction carries the following penalties:
With probation, a person may be punished as follows:
- Fines and fees ranging from $390 to $5,000, plus assessments
- Multiple offender drinking driver program (18 or 30 months in length)
- Jail time ranging from 30 days to 16 months and a possibility of two to three years in state prison
- Revocation of driving privileges for five years
- Designated as a habitual traffic offender
- Additional consequences might ignition interlock device and vehicle impoundment
- Other standard DUI terms.
Without probation, a person may be punished as follows:
- From two to four years in state prison
In addition to the punishments above, a DUI with injury punishment can be enhanced if the victim suffers great bodily injury. The enhancement could be an additional three to five years of prison time. If the DUI is alleged as a felony, there can be a year of prison time added to the sentence for each additional person injured, up to three people. Enhancements for having a passenger under the age of 14 and for refusing a chemical test may also apply. If you have been charged with causing bodily harm to others in a DUI accident, our San Diego drunk driving accident lawyer will provide you with the vigorous defense that you deserve.
Contact Our San Diego Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
To ensure you receive the defense you deserve in order to minimize or eliminate the punishments and penalties associated with a DUI arrest, contact our San Diego drunk driving accident lawyer serving Riverside, San Bernardino, and all of Southern California.
Contact the Law Offices of Erik A. Friis today to speak with an experienced San Diego drunk driving accident lawyer about your case. We serve Riverside and all of Southern California.
San Diego
3111 Camino Del Rio N., Ste. 400
San Diego, California 92108
Phone: (866) 644-6692
Fax: (858) 549-2271
Click HERE for directions
Riverside
4129 Main Street, Ste. B2
Riverside, California 92501
Phone: (866) 644-6692
Click HERE for directions
