California DUI and Repeat Offenders: A Failing System
In California, along with most states in the U.S., it is illegal to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%. If you are found to exceed this limit, you can face both criminal charges and DMV administrative penalties that can make it difficult to meet family obligations and continue to hold on to your career. For repeat offenders, the penalties for driving under the influence continue to accrue with each offense and can result in probation, stiff fines, mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device, and often jail time. But is extensive jail time for offenders who exceeded the legal limit without causing injury or death really the best way to deal with driving under the influence? Experience shows that it is not, but the system continues to punish these offenders with penalties that are often reserved for crimes resulting in bodily injury or death.
Repeat DUI offenders are often alcoholics, but the system fails to recognize the need for these offenders to receive drug and alcohol counseling and support from peers in drug and alcohol recovery support groups. By jailing these offenders simply for exceeding the legal limit, they are not only being deprived of the counseling and support they need, they also have more time for the problem to get worse. Their release from jail often leads to additional offenses because of the difficulty of meeting life obligations with a DUI on their records. Jail time is not a substitute for drug and alcohol counseling and support, but the system remains unchanged. If you are facing administrative penalties or criminal DUI charges, contact a California DUI attorney immediately to preserve your rights and have the best chance of a successful outcome for your case.
Orange County, in Southern California has recently been experimenting with a DUI Court for 2nd and 3rd offenders out of Harbor Court in Newport Beach. In the future I will be addressing the Orange County DUI Court as well as other Counties systems for dealing with second and third offense DUI cases. If you have been arrested for DUI in Southern California contact a Southern California DUI Lawyer immediately to preserve you right to a DMV hearing and represent you through the DUI criminal process. Our DUI Criminal Defense Lawyers and Attorneys represent those accused of DUI throughout Southern California, including DUI Defense in Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego.
