The Lasting Consequences of a DUI | California Laws
It’s likely that you already know that the first time you’re convicted of a DUI in California, you will lose your driving privileges for a period of time, be required to pay some hefty fines and have to take some substance abuse classes.
What you may not have considered is the long-term impact that a single DUI will have on your life.
The first thing you need to consider is how your employability will change following your DUI. The biggest challenge comes right after you’ve been sentenced and have your driving privileges revoked. How are you going to get to work? How will you get home? If you’re unable to make the commute to your current job because you are no longer able to drive, will your employer give you a leave of absence and allow you to return to work once your driving privileges are reinstated, or are you going to have to look for another job?
The DUI conviction could also impact your ability to get another job. Some employers specifically ask if you have a criminal conviction on your record when you apply. Whether you have to disclose your DUI depends on how the question is worded. If they are only asking about felony charges, you can avoid mentioning the conviction. However, if they ask about any criminal offenses, including misdemeanors, it’s in your best interest to mention the DUI. This protects you if the potential employer runs a background check that turns up the DUI conviction. At least they won’t think you’re dishonest.
Be prepared for the DUI to play a painful role in your budgeting for a long time to come. Not only will you have to deal with the court fines connected to the conviction, but it’s also going to have a seriously negative impact on your car insurance. Many insurance companies will drop you after you’ve been convicted of a DUI. Even if your insurance company does decide to keep you on as a customer, you should be prepared for your premiums to skyrocket and for them to stay high for a very long time.
The first time you’re convicted of a DUI in California, you’re potential sentence could include a six-month suspension of your driver’s license, a $390-1000 fine, DUI school, and up to six months in a county jail.
When Does California Permanently Revoke a Driver’s License for DUI?
It’s no secret that if you’re caught driving while under the influence of an illegal amount of drugs or alcohol in California, you’ll not only be arrested and fined but you’ll also be convicted of a misdemeanor and have your driver’s license suspended. In most cases, the hassle of losing their driver’s license and finding alternative means of travel is the worst part of having a DUI conviction. Even for a few months, not being able to drive convinces most drivers to be mindful of how much they imbibe before sliding behind the wheel.
While most people learn their lesson after a single DUI, there are always exceptions. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, some drivers make the same mistake a second time. At this point, many panic about the long-term impact the second conviction will have on their driving privileges and start worrying about just how many DUIs they can have on their record before they permanently lose their California driving privileges.
Anyone who has passed their 21st birthday and is pulled over for suspicion of DUI and has a blood alcohol content (BAC) that is 008% or more will have their driving privileges revoked. The first time this happens, your driver’s license will be suspended for four months. Each time after that initial charge during a ten-year period, the suspension will last a full year.
The situation goes from bad to worse if you refuse to take a BAC or breath test when you’re pulled over by a patrol officer. In this situation, your driver’s license suspension will last for an entire year following your first DUI experience. If this is the second time you’ve been arrested for a DUI offense and refused the test, you’ll be suspended for two full years. The third and subsequent time this happens, your driver’s license will be suspended for a full three years.
Suppose you’re charged with a DUI while you’re currently on probation for a DUI offense. In that case, your driver’s license will be suspended for an additional year in addition to the traditional suspension period. You will also face the serious legal consequences of driving on a suspended license and probably some other traffic violations as well.
The best way to ensure you don’t lose your driving privileges is to be smart and always have a designated driver or ride-share plan when you go out for a night of fun and drinking.