What Do I Need To Know About DUIs in San Jose?
Driving under the influence offenses in San Jose are under the jurisdiction of the state of California. Just for simply driving under the influence (not including other potential charges), San Jose follows a graduated three-tier offense system, with penalties getting progressively larger for each successive offense. For example, a simple DUI offense can get you up to six months in jail, while the second or third DUI offense can get you up to one year in prison. If you’re older than 21 you are considered driving under the influence if you have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08%. Under 21, it’s .01%
But as with all misdemeanors, other charges can greatly increase the penalty, such as the case of San Jose resident Donovan Barclay who was recently charged with both the possession of an illegal substance and violating his bail release terms from a previous DUI charge.
If you’re seeking the assistance of a San Jose DUI attorney law practitioner, there are a few things they can do to help. If you’ve already had a DUI, you should know that it remains on your record until you get it expunged. This requires the aid of a DUI attorney lawyer, but it’s highly recommended because this sort of thing on your record can severely affect your future career prospects or anything that might require a background check. They can also reduce a DUI conviction that was a felony down to a misdemeanor. If you are facing a DUI charge, you can actually plead to a lesser offense than a DUI, but this is only possible if you have no prior record, there was no accident or other charge, and your blood alcohol content was marginally high. In this case, you can end up with a reduced case of reckless driving.