Get help from a Vista, California DUI Lawyer

What happens if I was arrested for DUI in Vista?

Pursuant to California law, once you have been cited for violating the DUI statute, the state initiates two simultaneous, yet separate legal actions against you. The criminal action is in response to the ticket that was issued to you, while the administrative action is brought against your driver's license by the Department of Motor Vehicles in California. While both actions can result in the suspension of your California driving privileges. Because of this, it is imperative to remember that there may be additional penalties to consider and each action must be handled separately.

Being charged with DUI is a serious offense that can have major consequences, including loss of driving privileges, jail time, and monetary fines. It is imperative that anyone facing an DUI charge in California understand what challenges they will encounter. Finding the legal advice of an aggressive and knowledgeable DUI lawyer will help you understand all of your options and rights.

DUI or DWI - Vista, California

Once you have been arrested for DUI in Vista, California, the arresting officer retains your state issued driver's license and you are issued an "Order of Suspension and Temporary License." This allows you to drive for 30 (thirty) days from the date the order was issued. According to California law, you have 10 days to request an administrative hearing from the Department of Motor Vehicles in California. If you fail to request a hearing within 10 days, your right to the hearing is lost, and your driver's license is automatically suspended for the applicable statutory time frame. In order to preserve your right to an Administrative Hearing, it is crucial that you submit your request to the California DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) within 10 days. A fast, free consultation with a Vista, Califonia DUI attorney will help you understand all of your rights and options, including any defenses you might use.

Penalties for First Time DUI Offenders

• Probation - Probation may be required, at the court's discretion, and typically lasts between 3 and 5 years. During this time, the offender must not commit a criminal offense, drive with any measurable amount of alcohol, refuse to submit to chemical testing, or fail to pay a fine, restitution, or assessment fee.
• Jail Time - A first time DUI offender could face imprisonment of 48 hours in jail, however, the court may substitute a fine, require a treatment program and levy a 90-day license restriction, at the judge's discretion.
• DUI Chemical Test Refusal - Refusing to submit to a test when requested by law enforcement will result in the suspension of driving privileges for 180 days, up to 1 year. Additionally, the offender will be fined between $200.00 and $500.00 for the refusal, and ordered to perform 10 to 60 hours of public community restitution.
• California Driving Privileges and DUI - In Vista, California, a DUI conviction results in the suspension of driving privileges for 4 months.
• Monetary Fines - In California, the fine for a first time DUI offender with a BAC (blood alcohol content) of between 0.08% and 0.10% is $100.00, up to $300.00, plus fees. An offender with a BAC of between 0.10% and 0.15% is subject to a maximum fine of $400.00, plus fees. A first time DUI (driving under the influence) offender with a BAC of 0.15% or higher will pay a fine of $500.00, plus fees.
• Commercial Drivers - Commercial drivers are in violation of the DUI statute with a BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) level of 0.04. A first time DUI or DWI conviction will result in the loss of the commercial driver's license for 1 year, while any subsequent DUI offenses will result in a lifetime loss of the commercial license in California.

DUI Subsequent Offenses in Vista, California

Penalties are increasingly more severe for any additional DUI violations. Due to the complexity of DUI laws in California, you may not be aware of options and rights. This is why an aggressive and knowledgeable lawyer can guide you through this emotionally challenging process. Please contact a California DUI criminal defense attorney for a fast and free consultation.

Alcohol: Persons Under 21

23140. (a) It is unlawful for a person under the age of 21 years who has 0.05 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle.

(b) A person may be found to be in violation of subdivision (a) if the person was, at the time of driving, under the age of 21 years and under the influence of, or affected by, an alcoholic beverage regardless of whether a chemical test was made to determine that person's blood-alcohol concentration and if the trier of fact finds that the person had consumed an alcoholic beverage and was driving a vehicle while having a concentration of 0.05 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, upon a finding that a person has violated this section, the clerk of the court shall prepare within 10 days after the finding and immediately forward to the department an abstract of the record of the court in which the finding is made. That abstract shall be a public record and available for public inspection in the same manner as other records reported under Section 1803. (Amended Sec. 32, Ch. 263, Stats. 2007. Effective January 1, 2008.)

California Department of Motor Vehicles and Court Trial

The DMV hearing and court trial are independent of each other. The California DMV hearing deals with the circumstances surrounding a DUI arrest. The Court trial deals with whether you are innocent or guilty of a criminal act.

California DUI Programs

Through the Driving-Under-the-Influence (DUI) Program Branch within the Office of Criminal Justice Collaboration, the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs licenses and performs compliance monitoring on all DUI programs in California. The objectives of the DUI program is to reduce the number of repeat DUI or DWI offenses by persons who complete a state-licensed DUI program.

The California Alcohol and Drug Program currently licenses 472 DUI programs that provide first-offender (and/or multiple offender) program services throughout California's 58 counties.

• The 18-Month Programs serve second and subsequent DUI offenders; while the 30-Month Programs serve those with third and subsequent DUI offenders.
• First Offender Programs are for those convicted for the first time of a DUI offense, and they must complete a state-licensed three-month or nine-month program, depending on their blood alcohol level.
• The Wet Reckless Programs serve persons convicted of reckless driving with a measurable amount of alcohol in their blood.

How much does a DUI Cost?

Costs for first time DUI in California have been estimated to be more than $5,000. (Actual costs may vary. This amount does not include attorney fees or lost wages due to court appearances.)

• Tow and Impound Fee: $190
• Fines and Penalties: $1,500
• Insurance Increase: $2,700
• DUI or DWI Treatment Program: $550
• Department of Motor Vehicles in California Reissue Fee: $100
• Restitution Fund: $500
• Total Approximate Cost: $5,540

DUI and California Highway Patrol

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) aggressively enforces the state's 0.08 percent BAC (blood alcohol content) law, Administrative Per Se laws (immediate driver license suspension), 0.04 percent BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) level law for commercial vehicle drivers, 0.01 percent BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) level out-of-service requirement for commercial vehicle drivers (24-hour tie-up), and the 0.01 percent BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) level limit for drivers under 21 years of age (zero-tolerance.)

The CHP conducts DUI task force operations (also known as saturation patrols), in areas experiencing a high incidence of DUI traffic collisions.