Los Angeles Drunk Driving

Los Angeles DUI

If you are stopped for a DUI in Los Angeles County, you could be facing serious penalties, even for a first offense, with no previous record. Los Angeles County courts and prosecutors have given in to pressure from groups, such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and are caving into political pressure to show that they are tough on Los Angeles County DUI cases, by increasing punishments, regardless of individual circumstances.

Laws:
California laws applicable to Los Angeles DUI cases can be found in our site at DUI Laws

Prosecutors:
Los Angeles County Drunk Driving or DUI violations within the city of Los Angeles, as well as infraction or municipal code violations within Los Angeles are handled by the Los Angeles City Attorney Office.

All other Los Angeles DUI or criminal cases are handled by the Los Angeles County District Attorney.

Court Locations and Phone Numbers:
The Los Angeles County Court System Website

Los Angeles County has many Locations where Los Angeles County DUI cases may be prosecuted, depending upon which court had jurisdiction over the location where the arrest took place:

		Los Angeles County Court System
		Airport Courthouse Alhambra Courthouse Antelope Valley or Palmdale Courthouse Bellflower Courthouse Beverly Hills Courthouse Burbank Courthouse Catalina Courthouse Central Arraignment Court Central Civil West Courthouse Chatsworth Courthouse Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center Compton Courthouse Culver City Courthouse David V. Kenyon Juvenile Justice Center (Delinquency) Downey Courthouse East Los Angeles Courthouse Eastlake Juvenile Court Delinquency Edmund D. Edelman Children's Court (Dependency) El Monte Courthouse Glendale Courthouse Hollywood Courthouse Huntington Park Courthouse Inglewood Courthouse Inglewood Juvenile Courthouse (Delinquency) Lancaster Courthouse Long Beach Courthouse Los Angeles Criminal Courthouse Los Padrinos Juvenile Courthouse (Delinquency) Malibu Courthouse Mental Health Courthouse Metropolitan Courthouse Monrovia Courthouse Norwalk Courthouse Pasadena Courthouse Pomona Courthouse North Pomona Courthouse South Redondo Beach Courthouse San Fernando Courthouse San Pedro Courthouse San Pedro Courthouse Annex Santa Clarita Courthouse Santa Monica Courthouse Stanley Mosk Courthouse Sylmar Juvenile Courthouse (Delinquency) Torrance Courthouse Van Nuys Courthouse East Van Nuys Courthouse West West Covina Courthouse West Los Angeles Courthouse Whittier Courthouse

The Punishment: What is the punishment for a DUI?
Typically, each court has a different policy and procedure for DUI arraignments. You truly should talk to someone that knows the local court where your matter is pending. In general, the maximum penalties for a First Time DUI, below .20% blood alcohol level, no accident, misdemeanor, drunk driving case includes all of the following:

• Informal, or summary, probation for three to five years;
• Six months in the county jail;
• Six months license suspension;
• A fine of $1,000 plus penalty assessment, or a total of $2,710, (the minimum is $390 plus penalty assessment); (The "penalty assessment" is a state tax created by statute in the late 1960s, and is now larger than the fine. Currently, the penalty assessment is 171% of the fine, meaning that on a $100 fine, the total payment is $271 - almost triple the original fine. Current legislation pending will increase the penalty assessment).
• Contribution of $100 to the California State Restitution Fund;
• Proof of enrollment in, and proof of completion at, a Level 1, or AB-541 Alcohol Education Program;
• An "Alcohol Abuse Prevention" fee of $50.00
• A "Blood Alcohol Content" testing fee of $37.00
• A $20.00 Court Security Fee

In addition, there are additional penalties for being above a .20, being involved in an accident, or having a child in the vehicle.

Second time DUI:
The potential maximum, and all other penalties increase, in addition to all of the above, to one year in the county jail, having your car impounded for 30 days, an 18 months license suspension, part of which can be restricted if you participate in an 18 month alcohol abuse treatment program. The minimum includes 10 days in jail.

Third or Fourth time DUI:
The potential maximum and all other penalties increase, in addition to all of the above, to a mandatory license revocation for up to 4 years by the DMV. Even after the revocation, you still cannot get a license until you've completed a 30 month long alcohol treatment program. As mentioned above, a fourth or higher DUI can be prosecuted as a felony, and the minimum of 120 days for third offenses, or 180 days for fourth offenses, up to the maximum of 16 months in state prison, or the maximum of 3 years, applies to felonies.

You may also suffer consequences with the DMV. For more information see the Drunk Driving Los Angeles section.

You should strongly consider retaining the services of a professional experienced with Los Angeles DUI cases, courts, and prosecutors. More information on Los Angeles DUI lawyers here.

For other links related to Los Angeles DUI cases see the Drunk Driving Los Angeles County section.

Information on Orange County California, DUI Charges.
Information on San Diego, California, DUI Charges.

Los Angeles Drunk Driving > Los Angeles DUI