DUI Penalties

Penalties for Conviction in DUI Cases

When you have been arrested on a charge of DUI you are facing two separate issues, the criminal case in a court of law and an administrative Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) hearing regarding suspension of your driving privileges. For a first offense, your license will be suspended for 4 months; for a second offense within 10 years the suspension will be for 1 year. The suspension process is automatic. If you wish to dispute the suspension you have 10 days to request a DMV hearing. In which case, it is important that you have the assistance of a San Francisco DUI attorney at the firm to protect your rights. The legal team has years of success assisting drivers to retain their driving privileges.

Defending DUI Charges in San Francisco

While you can refuse to take a Field Sobriety Test without penalty, if you refuse to take a chemical test your driver's license will be automatically suspended by the DMV for 1 year for the first offense without any possibility of obtaining a work only restricted license. For a second offense within ten years your suspension will be for two years and a third offense will result in suspension for three years.

If convicted in a court of law of DUI, the penalties can vary and may be more severe depending upon the circumstances. A first offense may be punishable by:

4 days to 6 months in jail
Possible assessments and fine amounting to over $1,500.
plus a possible suspension of 6 months
a minimum of 3 months attendance at a DUI school
community service
installation of an ignition interlock device (IID)
probation is usually 3 years

With so much at stake it will be important to select an attorney who excels in DUI defense. As a member of the National College for DUI Defense, and the California DUI Lawyers Association, The Law Office of Nors Davidson has an impressive record of successful defense of clients charged with DUI. Call for a consultation with a DUI lawyer who will listen carefully and prepare a strong defense strategy.

Contact a San Francisco DUI Defense Attorney at the firm who will defend a client from DUI charges.