Recently in DUI Penalty Chart Category

Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys are well aware of the harsh penalties associated with a Los Angeles driving under the influence conviction.  Unfortunately, not even an individual's celebrity status exempts them from such penalties.   For example, actress Lori Petty was given five years of probation after pleading no contest to a driving under the influence charge yesterday.  Petty was arrested for driving under the influence this past May in the Los Angeles area after she hit a skateboarder with her car.  The unidentified skateboarder was treated for minor injuries by paramedics at the scene and released.  Police arrested Petty and she was later released after posting $100,000 bail.  The actress was also ordered by the court to undergo alcohol abuse counseling, which she had already completed by the time of her sentencing.
Penalties for driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol in Los Angeles can vary widely depending on the facts of each case.  Factors such as how far over the legal limit of .08% your blood alcohol concentration was found to be at the time or your arrest, whether there was a child in the car with you at the time, if you were speeding and prior driving under the influence convictions can all weigh heavily against you.  Typical penalties for a driving under the influence conviction can be up to six months in a county jail, up to $1,000 in fines (not including court costs, which can be extremely expensive on their own), suspension of driving privileges, court-ordered alcohol abuse education classes, probation and even the installation of an ignition interlock device to test your breath before you drive.  Many first time driving under the influence offenses in Los Angeles are classified as misdemeanor criminal offenses.  The factors mentioned above can potentially serve to bump your particular case up to a felony criminal offense, which would subject you to enhanced penalties such as longer jail terms and higher fines upon conviction.  Multiple DUI convictions can land you in jail for as many as three years.  With so much on the line, you need an experienced Los Angeles DUI defense attorney by your side when dealing with driving under the influence charges. 

If you have been charged with driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol, call the attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP today to begin preparing your defense.  Our attorneys have a combined five decades of experience in defending against DUI charges and they will fight for you.

Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys work hard to help their clients get the best results possible.  What's always difficult to manage however is how DUI penalties can change from year to year depending upon new legislation.  Sometimes, the DUI penalties in one state will influence the DUI penalties in another state, and although one might think politicians are exempt from "trends" the truth is they are sometimes very influenced by what other politicians are doing.

For example, many Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys have been keeping an eye on a DUI case in Pennsylvania.  A man, who was already convicted of three DUIs, hit traffic cones and flares which were set up as part of a DUI checkpoint, and then drove behind a nearby restaurant where he was approached by the police. 

In addition to the man's prior DUI convictions, he had drug paraphernalia in his car and failed a field sobriety test as well as having an active warrant out for his arrest.  The three DUI convictions, couple with a pending DUI charge could lead to serious prison time. 

Los Angeles DUI penalties depend in part on the type of violation, how many times the individual violated Los Angeles DUI law and how far over the legal limit the individual allegedly was.  If the person has multiple DUI convictions, it could lead to mandatory jail time under the DUI penalty chart.  Courts often have mandatory sentencing guidelines they must follow based upon the frequency and type of offense.  Usually this applies only to felonies, but in a case involving Los Angeles DUI law, multiple DUI convictions could lead to fines, prison time, license suspension, community service, probation and much more.

If you are facing serious DUI penalties in Los Angeles, you need a qualified Los Angeles DUI defense attorney who will represent you effectively and successfully.  Contact the Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP today for your initial consultation at 877-781-1570.

Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys will strongly urge their clients to pay close attention to the penalties for DUI convictions.  Usually people think that a DUI conviction in Los Angeles will simply result in a slap on the wrist, however Los Angeles judges have come down hard on DUI defendants lately, and only a qualified Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer can assist in keeping you out of jail and in your car.

It has become unpopular lately to be seen as "soft" on people charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI). Because of the efforts of organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) to raise public awareness of the dangers that driving while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol can pose to the public at large, politicians, local law enforcement and those in the legal community are arresting, convicting and punishing more people than ever. M.A.D.D., with its nearly prohibition-style stance even hands out awards to police officers that write the most DUI and DWI citations. Legislators in Los Angeles and the rest of California have drafted ever-tougher penalties for those convicted of DUI and DWI, and prosecutors and judges have jumped on the collective bandwagon and begun doling them out. How much prison time can you serve for a DUI or DWI conviction? Depending on the case, years.

One of the easiest ways to stick convicted Los Angeles DUI offenders with tougher penalties is through sentence enhancements. Sentencing enhancements serve to increase whatever penalties are eventually assessed through factoring in other criteria. Prior convictions in a DUI case make a big difference. Drunk driving is generally assessed as a misdemeanor offense, but having three or more prior convictions of DUI within the past ten years will make a fourth offense a felony, punishable by time in a state prison. Having a blood alcohol concentration of .15% or higher, as well as refusing to submit to a chemical test also carry enhanced penalties if a conviction is reached.

Speeding, reckless driving and carrying a passenger in the car under the age of 14 all also warrant enhanced penalties. Accidents that involve damage to another person's property or bodily injury to another person while driving under the influence not only merit tougher sentences, but are also generally classified as felony offenses. For first time offenders that don't meet the enhanced sentencing criteria, heavy fines and alcohol education classes may be imposed as punishment, but the option of up to one year in a county jail is available depending on the circumstances of the case.

For felony cases of DUI that involve the death of another person, up to 10 years in a state prison can be handed down as punishment for a conviction. Being charged with a DUI can easily be a life-altering experience. A good criminal defense attorney with extensive experience in DUI and DWI cases can help you safeguard your future.

The Los Angeles DUI attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP have experience will all types of DUI charges and penalties. We will do whatever we can to help you receive alternative or lessened sentencing or have your DUI charges dropped altogether. We have included a DUI penalty chart for your convenience, so you can see what approximate charges you may be facing.