Multiple Driving Under the Influence Offenses

If you have sustained a prior conviction or multiple prior convictions for driving under the influence within the last ten years (including “wet reckless” convictions within the state of California, or other driving under the influence convictions suffered outside of the state of California), you will be treated as a multiple offender and subject to enhanced penalties and fines through the criminal process, as well as administratively at the Department of Motor Vehicles. It is important to remember that the Department of Motor Vehicles hearing is an administrative proceeding that is an entirely separate proceeding from the criminal court case.

Second and third time offenses for driving under the influence are taken very seriously. You will face a maximum custody sentence of up to one year in county jail, base fines, fees and penalties totaling over $2,000 in most instances, if not more, a longer, required alcohol education program, as well as a two or three-year suspension on your privilege to drive. You may also be required to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) on your vehicle for a specified time period. The Ignition Interlock Device checks the driver's breath for any alcohol content and will prevent the vehicle from starting if any alcohol is detected.

It is important to remember that the Department of Motor Vehicles will automatically suspend your driver’s license for a period of four months thirty days after arrest, unless you specifically request an administrative hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles within ten days of the date of your arrest. Additionally, if you are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol in court, meaning you plead guilty to the charge(s) in court, a separate license suspension will also be imposed once the court gives notice of the fact of the conviction to the Department of Motor Vehicles. To add to the mess, the suspensions imposed by the courts are almost always different from the suspensions imposed by the Department of Motor Vehicles. They will often vary in terms of not only the length of the suspensions, but also as they pertain to the specific terms of the restrictions related to your license.

Remember, the Department of Motor Vehicles hearing is an administrative proceeding that is an entirely separate proceeding from the criminal court case. You need an experienced advocate fighting for you in both the criminal and administrative arenas. When you hire the Law Office of Julie Ann Baldwin, APC, we believe that full service legal representation includes defending you in the criminal courtroom, as well as at the administrative hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles. When you hire us, we will put our skills to work for you in both arenas at no additional charge outside of the initial retainer agreement.

These cases require intense scrutiny by a skilled Murrieta DUI lawyer who knows how to quickly spot the issues and act accordingly. As a former prosecutor at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, California for the better part of fifteen years, Ms. Baldwin has worked hard to establish her reputation as a trusted, knowledgeable and effective advocate and looks forward to the privilege of putting her skills and experience to work of you.

If you have already been charged or anticipate being charged with a second or third-time DUI in the Murrieta area, contact your Murrieta DUI lawyer at the Law Office of Julie Ann Baldwin, APC for your free, confidential case consultation now. Your future and your freedom deserve to be taken seriously by an experienced attorney who is committed to quality representation and compassionate advocacy, every step of the way.