Being caught with a 3rd DUI in the State of California is a serious offense although it is not a felony. It can only be considered a felony if it resulted in serious injuries among other circumstances. Even though it is a misdemeanor, you can expect to face harsher penalties if you are charged with a 3rd DUI.
Here are a number of things that you can expect if you are charged with a 3rd DUI.
Loss of License
There is a high chance that your driver’s license will be revoked by the court if you are arrested. This means that you have to win the criminal case that you are charged with as well as the DMV hearing that typically accompanies this charge. Your lawyer can use a variety of arguments to ensure that you win the case and retain your license. These include arguing that the police had no reasonable reason to stop you and so on.
Although this may not be enough by itself, enrolling in an approved DUI school before the court compels you to might help to demonstrate remorse and perhaps lead to a lesser penalty.
Can You Avoid a Permanent Record?
According to the law in California, it is possible to have your criminal record due to a 3rd DUI charge. To get this done, you would have to complete the probation period successfully. Your lawyer would then file a separate application requesting the courts to expunge your record.
Jail Time
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your 3rd DUI charge, there is a chance that the court may impose a jail term on you. Aggravating circumstances include having a child in the vehicle at the time of the DUI arrest, being underage at the time of the DUI arrest, and so on. Jail term typically varies from 6 months to one year for a 3rd DUI charge. A jail term does not necessarily mean going to jail as courts have a wide variety of options. These include serving house arrest where an ankle monitor is used to monitor your movements. During such house arrests, police have the right to randomly check in to see that the terms of the house arrest are being complied with.
Another possibility is community service where the convicted person is required to perform a service to society.
DUI School
For people charged with 3rd DUIs, it is very common for courts to demand that the accused attend DUI classes as part of the penalty/rehabilitation process. Even those under house arrest are normally allowed a few hours to physically attend DUI classes. Depending on the severity of the problem, these classes may be group or individual sessions. Typically, experts in such schools will evaluate you and recommend what classes you need to take.
One of the top DUI schools in California is Jackson Bibby Awareness Group. We are fully state-approved, and our licensed counselors will swiftly get you on the road to getting your driver’s license back. We run online DUI classes for group and individual sessions. This offers you a safe and convenient way to comply with the court’s orders.
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