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An Overview of California’s DUI Laws

On Behalf of | Feb 19, 2020 | DUI

Allegations of drunk driving can result in criminal convictions. When California residents are stopped for suspected DUI they may be asked to submit to certain tests that may later be used as evidence of their alleged intoxication while driving their vehicles. When this happens, drivers can be subject to fines, incarceration, and other serious penalties if they are found guilty.

Individuals facing DUI charges can always seek the counsel of attorneys that work in the criminal defense field of law. As this post provides no legal advice, readers should not rely on its contents as guidance for their own legal situations. Individual DUI cases can have very different legal outcomes.

That is because there are several different DUI charges that Californians can face. Many readers may know that a person is considered per se intoxicated while driving if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reaches .08%. Per se intoxication means that even if a person does not exhibit traditional signs of alcohol consumption they are still in violation of the law due to the level of their BAC.

For drivers who are under the age of 21, the zero tolerance law may come into play if they are suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. An underage driver with a BAC level of .02% may be considered drunk driving because the state does tolerate alcohol consumption for those under legal age limit for drinking.

Drunk driving charges can change depending upon other circumstances that are present at the time a person is stopped, and may even be subject to enhanced penalties if the driver’s BAC is double the per se limit of .08%. To this end, individual DUI charges should be met with individualized defense strategies that may help individuals improve their chances of overcoming their legal problems.