Monthly Archives - September 2012

A first-time offense for a DUI can have a devastating effect on your life. Being charged with a DUI more than once can have even more of a devastating effect. Time spent behind bars is a very real possibility for a DUI arrest, whether it is your first arrest or have subsequent arrests.  Your need for a San Jose DUI attorney will be greater than ever as the penalties you face can be harsher and more severe.

The road you have ahead of you if arrested two or more times for a DUI is not an easy one. An experienced DUI attorney in San Jose can educate you on what you face and that honesty is a sign of a good lawyer with integrity. If convicted multiple times, you may face the following penalties:

• Fines that can be as little as $390, but as much as $1,000, with mandatory penalty assessments bringing the total up to $1,500.
• Anywhere from three months to one year behind bars
• The loss of your drivers’ license for an extended amount of time. (A license suspension can have an effect on your professional life, as well as the cost of your insurance premiums for years to come.)
• The possibility of a judge requiring you to attend a state-approved alcohol treatment program if convicted.

There is also a possibility of being labeled as a “habitual traffic offender” if you continually are charged with driving under the influence. By your third offense, you can lose your license for as long as three years. This can hinder you getting to and from work, and also have an effect on any future employment. If you choose to drive with a suspended license and have this label, getting caught can have a damaging effect on your life, as well as your family’s as you may face another trial and harsher penalties than ever before. Make sure whatever San Jose DUI lawyer you hire has experience in repeat-offender cases or your life can take a turn you never expected.

The first time you were charged with a DUI you learned what a hard road it could be to get your life back on track. First-time offenses can often be expunged from the record, but it is more difficult to get subsequent convictions expunged. This can affect new employment opportunities and your overall finances for a long time to come. If you face such serious charges, call a DUI lawyer in San Jose today for the assistance you need.

The prospect of losing your drivers’ license is no laughing matter. However, it is a very real prospect if arrested for driving under the influence in California. It can have serious consequences that can change your future and affect you financially for years to come. If you drive to and from work or even use your vehicle for work, you can lose your income.  And in some cases, your car may even be impounded. Having a San Jose DUI attorney on your side in the fight for your drivers’ license is of the utmost importance.

Within 10 days of being charged with driving under the influence, you must request an administrative hearing with the California DMV to decide the fate of your license. You are free to do this without representation, but having a lawyer make this request for you may lessen your chance of being encouraged to accept a phone hearing. An in-person hearing may be less convenient for all involved, but can also possibly warrant you the best results. Having your DUI lawyer in San Jose representing you at this hearing is even wiser. Your attorney can get the feel for your case at this time, which may help him or her better represent you in criminal court.

If you do lose you license and you are a first-time offender, you can be without your driving privileges for up to six months. You may also find yourself taking three months’ worth of DUI educated courses that have been approved by the state and can face more serious penalties if you were driving with a minor as a passenger who was under 14 years of age at the time. Also, if you were speeding at 20 MPH above the speed limit on the streets or 30 MPH above the speed limit on the highway, you can lose your license for an even longer period of time. Aside from not being allowed to drive, you may find that your insurance premiums will soar and may stay unreasonably high for quite a few years. If you do face these possibilities, you need a San Jose DUI lawyer taking special care of your defense.

The driving consequences of a DUI conviction can stay on your record in California for up to 10 years. This is something you can ill-afford, both financially and in your personal life. For the excellent defense that you need, call a DUI lawyer in San Jose today.