California felony DUI charges usually rest on an injury under Vehicle Code section 23153, a fourth DUI within 10 years or a prior felony DUI. Learn which statutes allow prison or felony jail, how wobblers can become misdemeanors, how great bodily injury and extra victims add time and what the preliminary hearing and plea limits mean.
A DUI that injures someone else requires proof of more than impaired driving. Read what the prosecution must prove under Vehicle Code section 23153, how causation works, when the case is a felony or a misdemeanor, how priors and great bodily injury allegations raise the range and what license, restitution and civil consequences can follow.
California sets no blood limit for THC, so a cannabis DUI case turns on proof of impairment. Read how the drug DUI statutes and jury instruction work, why legal use is no defense, how blood, breath and urine testing apply, what a THC result can show, how the DMV responds and which license, sentencing and vehicle rules follow.
A prior conviction within 10 years changes a new DUI case in California. Read which priors count, how the court confirms them, the jail and fine range, probation terms, the 18 or 30 month program, add-on penalties, the two year court suspension, the DMV action at arrest, refusals, the 12 month interlock and injury cases.
Many California DUI complaints list two alcohol counts for one drive. One says the driver was under the influence, and the other says the driver was at 0.08 percent or more. This covers what each count requires, the three hour rule, why both are filed, the one punishment rule and how the DMV case differs.
Where Federal Property DUI Cases Arise Military bases, national parks and some federal facilities sit inside California. An arrest on that land can follow a federal path instead of a state one....
How California Boating DUI Rules Work Lakes and rivers draw crowds every summer, and many boats carry coolers. California boating DUI law makes it unlawful to operate a vessel while impaired. It...
The Basic California Bicycle DUI Rule Riding a bicycle after drinking can lead to a citation in California. A California bicycle DUI is its own offense, separate from the car DUI statute. It covers...
Why an Out of State DUI Still Matters A trip to Nevada or Oregon can end with a DUI arrest far from home. An out of state DUI case runs under the other state's law and court. Yet the result can...
What a Watson Murder DUI Charge Means Most fatal DUI cases lead to manslaughter charges. However, some lead to murder charges based on implied malice. People often call this a Watson murder DUI...
Why Medication Driving Safety Deserves a Conversation Most medicines do not affect driving, but some do. Medication driving safety depends on the drug, the dose and the person. So a short talk with...
Why a Prior Felony DUI Changes a New Case A felony DUI conviction follows a person for years. A prior felony DUI can make a new DUI case a felony even without other priors. The rule comes from a...
The Rideshare Driver DUI Limit Drivers who carry paying passengers face a lower alcohol limit than other drivers. A rideshare driver DUI case can rest on 0.04 percent instead of 0.08. The rule...
How DUI Vehicular Manslaughter Is Defined A fatal crash involving impairment can lead to a manslaughter charge. DUI vehicular manslaughter in California falls under a specific Penal Code section....
Why DUI Medication Records Matter Drug DUI cases often turn on what a person took and when. DUI medication records can help answer those questions. They may support or complicate the defense, so...
How Multiple Pending DUI Cases Interact Sometimes a person faces a second DUI arrest before the first case ends. Multiple pending DUI cases create questions about priors, release terms and license...
Why a California CDL DUI Hits Harder Commercial drivers face tighter rules than other drivers. A California CDL DUI case can affect the commercial license even when the arrest happened in a personal...
Why DUI Multiple Victims Cases Carry More Weight A crash that injures several people raises the stakes in a DUI case. DUI multiple victims cases can bring an added prison term for each extra injured...
Drug Detection Versus Impairment Explained A lab report can show that a drug is present in blood or urine. However, presence and impairment are different things. Drug detection versus impairment is...
Why a Wet Reckless Prior Matters Many first DUI cases resolve with a plea to reckless driving involving alcohol. People call that a wet reckless. A wet reckless prior can count against a person if a...
How a Juvenile DUI California Case Differs When the driver is under 18, the case often runs through juvenile court instead of adult criminal court. A juvenile DUI California case still carries real...
How a DUI Hit and Run Case Starts Some crash cases involve a driver who left the scene. A DUI hit and run case combines an impairment claim with a separate duty to stop. Each part carries its own...
What a DUI Drug Recognition Evaluation Is Drug DUI cases need proof of impairment, not just detection. A DUI drug recognition evaluation is one kind of officer observation that may appear in that...
How an Out of State Prior Can Count People move, travel and drive in many states. An out of state prior DUI conviction can count in a new California case. The rule comes from a short section of the...
How California Underage DUI Rules Work Drivers under 21 face stricter alcohol rules than adults. California underage DUI law has three layers: a 0.01 zero tolerance rule, a 0.05 rule and the adult...
What DUI Victim Restitution Covers When a DUI causes harm, the court can order repayment to the person hurt. DUI victim restitution aims to cover economic losses tied to the crime. California law...
What a Combined Alcohol Drug DUI Charge Means Some DUI cases involve both alcohol and a drug. A combined alcohol drug DUI charge covers impairment caused by the mix of the two. California treats...
What the California DUI Lookback Means California law raises DUI penalties when a person has recent priors. The California DUI lookback is the 10 year window that decides which priors count. Each...
What High BAC DUI Consequences Mean A test result well above 0.08 can change how a court views a case. California law names 0.15 as a level the court must consider at sentencing. High BAC DUI...
How DUI Civil Criminal Cases Differ A DUI crash can lead to two kinds of cases. The state brings the criminal case, while an injured person may bring a civil claim. DUI civil criminal cases run on...
How an OTC Medication DUI Can Happen Store bought medicines seem harmless to many drivers. Even so, an OTC medication DUI can arise when a nonprescription product affects driving. California law...
Why a California Fourth DUI Can Be a Felony Three priors within 10 years open the door to a felony charge. A California fourth DUI may be punished as a felony or as a misdemeanor with a long jail...
Yes, a DUI Below Legal Limit Is Possible Many drivers think 0.08 is a safe line. It is not. A DUI below legal limit charge can follow when evidence shows impairment, or when a lower limit applies to...
Why DUI Crash Fault Is a Separate Question After a crash, many people assume the impaired driver is at fault. However, DUI crash fault and impairment are different questions. The law treats them as...
Why a Prescription Medication DUI Is Possible Many people assume a valid prescription protects them. However, a prescription medication DUI can still happen in California. The law focuses on...
How a California Third DUI Is Handled Two priors within 10 years change a DUI case sharply. A California third DUI carries a longer minimum jail term, a license revocation and a special designation....