Here are approximate monetary costs for a first-time driving under
the influence (DUI) misdemeanor:
When you drive in California, you consent to take a test of your blood, breath, or urine if you are arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both. A Preliminary Alcohol Screening (PAS), or other chemical test, is also required if you are under 21 years of age and detained because the officer believes you have been drinking any amount of alcohol (see Zero Tolerance information). If you have a BAC of 0.08% or more, or you refuse, or fail to complete a test, the peace officer will take away your license, and at the same time serve you with an order of suspension or revocation. The suspension or revocation takes effect in 30 days. Within that 30-day period, you can request a hearing. However, a stay of the action will be granted only if the hearing is requested within 10 days after the date on the order and the department cannot provide a hearing before the effective date of the action. The issues at the hearing are only the facts related to the arrest or detention and the tests, not whether or not you need a driver license.
If you are arrested because a police officer suspects you have alcohol or drugs in your body, you will be required to take a test to see if it is true. You must choose which one of the three kinds of tests will be used. (But if you are suspected of being under the influence of a drug, you may be required to take a blood or urine test.) If you are taken to a clinic or hospital for medical reasons and it does not have all three tests, you must take one of the tests available. You do not have the right to talk to a lawyer or to have one present before deciding on the test, or during the test.
The suspension or revocation is independent of any jail, fine, or other criminal penalty imposed in court for the driving under the influence offense.
If you took a chemical test and the test showed 0.08% BAC or more:
If there is no PAS device immediately available, the person can choose between a blood, breath, or urine test.
If the person's BAC is 0.01% or higher or the person refuses to take, or fail to complete, a PAS test or other chemical test, DMV will suspend the person's driving privilege for one year.
You may obtain a restricted license for driving to and from a state licensed DUI program or you may obtain a five-month restricted license to operate to and from work and driving during the course of employment and to and from the activities of a DUI program if you:
When you are stopped by a police officer and cited for a traffic law violation, you sign a promise to appear in traffic court. There you may plead guilty or not guilty, or you may forfeit (pay) bail. Paying bail is the same as a guilty plea.
If you ignore the traffic ticket and don't keep your promise to appear in court, the failure to appear (FTA) goes on your driver record. If you fail to pay a fine (FTP), the court will notify DMV and this will also show on your driver record. Even one FTA or FTP will cause the department to suspend your license. Ending the suspension will cost you a reinstatement fee of $15.
Each time you are convicted of a moving traffic law violation, the court notifies the DMV. A record of this conviction is placed in your driver license file.
A traffic conviction for driving unsafely counts as one point.
Any "at fault" accident is normally counted as one point.
Two points are charged against you if you are convicted of reckless driving, of driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, of hit-and-run driving, of evading a peace officer, of driving while suspended or revoked, or of driving on the wrong side of the road. This list is not all-inclusive.
If you get too many "points," you will lose your driver license.
Remember, the more traffic convictions you have, the more likely you are to have an accident.
You may be considered a NEGLIGENT OPERATOR of a motor vehicle when your driving record shows any one of the following "point count" totals regardless of your license class:
4 points in 12 months
6 points in 24 months
8 points in 36 months
If you receive certain convictions while operating a commercial vehicle, you will be charged 11/2 times as many points.
Before you go to a party, designate someone in your group who will stick to non-alcoholic beverages and drive everyone else home safely. Your judgment is the first thing to go once you start to drink, so don't wait until you get to the party. If everyone in your group wants to drink, call a taxicab to take you to the party as well as bring you home. The fare is a real bargain compared to the dangers and costs of drinking and driving.
If you're giving a party, ask your guests for the name of their designated driver the minute they come in the door and don't serve alcohol to that person. Serve food to buffer the alcohol, don't over-serve, pour standard drinks instead of doubles and serve non-alcoholic beverages and snacks during the last hour of the party so people can start to burn off the alcohol.
Call 911 if you see a drunk or impaired driver or any other crime in progress. The dispatcher will direct your call immediately.