Free DUI Lawyer In California

Reader’s Question:

I have a history of DWI arrest in California. Recently, I was required by the court to attend a traffic school course. If I took a traffic school course online, how long will it take me to complete the course?

Megan

Concord, California

Interesting question, Megan. Though traffic school course lengths differ from state to state, typical courses are usually within 4 to 6 hours in length. Since it is an online course, you have the freedom to start and stop the course as much as you want to. It should not actually take longer to complete an online traffic school course for your DWI arrest than it would with a traditional sit-down traffic school class, which is normally 8 hours. Online program allows you to work at your own pace. You won’t have to rush or panic, since you will be informed if your court deadline is near. Otherwise, you may stay in the program for as long as you want. The best thing about online traffic school course is that you are not required to go through the course all at once, though you can do that if you want. Normally, the program is broken up into several sections to give you the convenience to move at your own pace. Since the program can keep a record of your development, you can easily go back to where you left off. Usually, there are no limitations on how often you can log on and off.

The California Traffic School Course is arranged to take 8 hours to complete. Because the program is self-paced, however, the length in which it takes to complete a course may vary from individual to individual.

Reader’s Question:

My sister should have known better that having a second DUI offense in California would mean stricter penalties. I just want to know exactly, what are the penalties involved in my sister’s DUI case?

Liz

Central Coast, CA

Driving under influence of alcohol and other intoxicating substances is a serious offense in California. Many people never realize the trouble they will get into with drunk driving. Only after they face a jail sentence and huge penalty that they understand the entire consequence of their actions. Most of them don’t mix drinking and driving ever again.

However, there are some people who tend to disregard the rules, laws and law enforcement officers again. For a second DUI offense in California, the fine amount is of course higher than the prior offense. This ranges from 1800 to $2800. Your sister may also lose her driver’s license for a period of 18 months. The license may be restricted or suspended. She cannot drive the vehicle at all in case of suspension. She can drive the vehicle to and from work or educational institution in case of restriction.

It would be compulsory in all the cases to spend at a place that highlights the risks of drunk driving and persuades the driver to avoid the same offense again. Depending on the blood alcohol content in the system, a second DUI offender may even spend 18 months in a DUI school.

The jail term for second DUI offense in California is for 96 hours. But it may be reduced by doing community service.

Reader’s Question:

A friend of mine was charged with DUI here in Burbank, California. I have done several researches about fines and other penalties a DUI offender might get for his first offense. What I need to know more is the probation involved. How long would be the probationary period for people convicted with DUI?

Bea

Burbank, CA

Penalties are designed to prevent offenders from committing the same offense again. The effect for any mistake is a punishment. Because of the potential consequences of injuries and deaths that may result from DUI offenses, the punishment for them are harsher.

The punishments are decided according to the different factors involved when DUI was committed and the number of times the DUI offense is committed. The type of punishment involves a combination of penalties such as fines, license revocation, court probation, attendance in DUI school and jail term.

Since your friend was charged with DUI in Burbank, California, if he will be convicted, the court probation period is for three to five years in which he has to avoid drinking and driving. The DUI offender does not need to report to a formal court officer. The fines are either paid in full or in installments. The driver’s license is nullified for a period of 6 months. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has the authority to issue restricted license to travel to school or work. Moreover, the DUI offender may have to attend a DUI school to attend alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs for a period of 12 to 45 hours depending on the level of alcohol concentration in the blood. In California, laws require mandatory jail of 48 hours this may be converted to community service.