There were almost 200,000 people arrested for DUI in California alone last year. Out of those numbers there were just over 180,000 were misdemeanor offenses and a large portion of those cases were overturned by DUI lawyers. DUI is an acronym that stands for 'Driving Under the Influence'. A person is guilty of a DUI if they decide to operate a motor vehicle after the consumption of alcoholic beverages or any chemical or controlled substances. In California, there are a wide variety of laws that involve intoxicated individuals. California has some of the most severe penalties for driving under the influence in all of the United States. The two major factors in deciding the penalty for a drunken driving offense in California depends on how much alcohol was in your system and whether or not you are a repeat offender. If it is your first DUI offense, then you will most likely avoid jail time, however most counties in California will provide you with an alternative such as trash pick up. If this is your second arrest with a ten year period, then the chances of you going to jail are much higher. In California you cannot drive a motor vehicle if your BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) is over .08%. After you've been pulled over, the officer will administer a test giving you the choice of blood, breath or urine. Breath tests are the most common, and the device used to measure your BAC with your breath is called a breathalyzer. Many times people don't know when 'enough is enough' while they've been drinking. Because of this, getting behind the wheel puts them in even greater jeopardy. Generally, a good rule of thumb is to limit your alcohol intake to only one drink an hour. After you've consumed an alcoholic drink, follow that with a full glass of water. This will help reduce your BAC and keep you under the legal limit. If you have been arrested for a DUI offense in California it is very important that you contact an experienced DUI lawyer today. An experienced DUI lawyer will stand up for your rights and help you fight your case. |
