Police throughout Simi Valley are stepping up DUI enforcement in an effort to crack down on drunk driving throughout the area.
Under California’s DUI laws, drivers do not need a recorded blood alcohol level to be arrested on suspicion of DUI. As long as the police officer considers the motorist to be “impaired,” you can be arrested and charged with DUI.
What this means is that as these checkpoints and DUI dragnets are set up throughout Simi Valley, innocent motorists can be arrested and charged by overzealous police.
If you have been arrested and charged with DUI — with or without a sobriety test — a skilled Simi Valley DUI attorney can help you navigate your DUI charges.
DUI Charges in California
Being charged with DUI in California is serious offense, and it can have serious consequences.
For just your first offense, you could spend up to six months in jail, pay a fine of up to $2,600 and have your driver’s license suspended for 10 months. In some counties, you could also have an ignition interlock device installed.
On your second DUI, you can expect:
- Up to one year in jail,
- A fine of up to $2,800,
- Up to two years license suspension and
- An ignition interlock.
On your third offense, those penalties rise to a fine of $18,000 and a three-year license suspension. These costs of a drunk driving conviction aren’t limited to just the penalties, as this can cause lost time at work and extra expenses to get around.
If this seems harsh, note that it could be even worse if you are charged with a DUI “enhancement.”
Simi Valley DUI Attorney Robert M. Helfend
DUI enhancement charges in California are related to the circumstances around your arrest. An enhancement can cause your jailtime, your fine and your license suspension to be lengthened.
DUI charges can be enhanced for things like:
- Injuring another person while driving under the influence
- A prior felony DUI conviction within the last 10 years
- Excessive blood alcohol level (at .20 or above)
- Having a minor under 14 in the car
- Speeding over 20 mph on the street or over 30 mph on the freeway
- DUI in highway construction zone
If you have been charged with a DUI in Simi Valley, the stakes couldn’t be higher. While police and sheriff’s departments are enthusiastically and overzealously charging motorists with DUI throughout the area, it has the serious potential to negatively affect the lives of those charged.
Being convicted of DUI can hurt you financially, and it can seriously impact your ability to lead a normal and happy life. Worst of all, you could lose years of your life in jail.
This is why it is so important to work with a Simi Valley DUI attorney to prepare your defense.
I’m attorney Robert M. Helfend, and since 1984 I have aggressively defended the accused in Ventura and throughout Simi Valley. With more than three decades experience handling DUI cases, I have the expertise to handle your case and get you the best possible outcome.
If you have been charged with DUI, there is no time to waste. Contact me today so that we can discuss your case.