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Thousands of people are arrested in the San Francisco area for DUI offenses every year ("DUI" stands for "driving under the influence" of alcohol and/or drugs). If you've been arrested in or near San Francisco for DUI, protect your rights by getting yourself an experienced DUI lawyer. A knowledgeable and aggressive DUI defense attorney can make a major difference in the outcome of your case.
California law has very harsh penalties for drunk and drugged drivers. If you're convicted of a DUI offense, you could lose your driver's license, and depending on your driving history and any criminal history, your vehicle could be impounded. For the most serious DUI convictions, prison time is possible. A San Francisco DUI defense lawyer who is familiar with the criminal justice system will work to minimize the negative outcome of the DUI charges against you.
To start planning your DUI defense, contact us today.
California & San Francisco DUI Penalties
In California as in the rest of the United States, DUI offenses can be charged as misdemeanors or as felonies. In some DUI cases, a prosecuting attorney may be open to persuasion regarding the charge to be issued. Your DUI defense attorney will negotiate to try to get the charge (or multiple charges) reduced or dismissed.
In addition, if you've been charged with a misdemeanor DUI and it's your first DUI offense, or if your DUI charge is reduced to a charge of reckless driving, you may be eligible court supervision—a lesser penalty.
If you are convicted of a San Francisco DUI misdemeanor or felony, your driver's license may be revoked. Depending on the facts of your case and your driving history, you could be facing one or more of the following:
- Mandatory drug/alcohol counseling
- Loss of your vehicle
- Jail or prison time
- Community service
When DUI Charges Are Upgraded
Depending upon the details of your case and your prior driving record, a misdemeanor DUI charge could be upgraded to a felony DUI charge. This can happen even on a first-time DUI if:
- You didn't have a valid driver's license at the time of your arrest, or
- You knew or should have known that the vehicle you were driving wasn't insured.
A prosecuting attorney may also upgrade to a felony DUI charge when:
- Someone was seriously or fatally injured due to your drunk or drugged driving
- You are alleged to have committed the DUI while your driver's license was suspended or revoked due to a previous DUI, or
- You have committed two or more prior DUI offenses
A felony DUI conviction can result in a long sentence in a California state prison.
DUI offenses are often difficult to defend since they're usually based on a police officer's or sheriff's observations of the suspect and his or her driving behavior, aided in many cases by chemical testing for blood alcohol content (BAC, obtained by breath testing or blood testing). A qualified DUI defense lawyer knows how to challenge such evidence.
Contact a San Francisco DUI Defense Attorney
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