A 28-year-old man was arrested recently and charged with five cases of DUI dating back three years, Fresno Police told The Fresno Bee.
DUI in Fresno can be a serious charge and can include penalties that can include jail or prison time, depending on the severity. Fresno DUI Lawyers are trained and have years of experience dealing with driving under the influence charges and the many ways prosecutors try to enhance penalties against our clients. We are prepared to fight by the side of defendants who pick up this type of charge.
According to the article, the man had a $1 million warrant out for his arrest, when police arrested him recently. According to police, his blood-alcohol content was 0.24 -- That's three times the legal limit of .08.
According to the California Vehicle Code, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is punishable by up to six months in jail on top of more than $1,000 in fines and a six-month driver's license suspension. You may be forced to pay for a DUI program, install an ignition interlock device and your car insurance will no doubt go up.
That's just for a first offense. In the case of the Fresno man recently arrested, he could face severe penalties, including the possibility of being labeled a habitual traffic offender. This could lead to longer stays in custody, larger fines and fees, more penalties that require you to spend money as well as the possibility of losing your driver's license for life. While each case is unique, a Fresno defense attorney can often reach a deal with prosecutors in cases that involve multiple DUI charges in rapid succession. However, it's always better to hire an attorney and face the charges, than to attempt to skip. You will likely be caught, eventually, and the state will be much less apt to make a deal.
Lawmakers will continue to make the penalties for DUI tougher because many people each year are killed or injured in drunk driving-related accidents. According to 2006 data, nearly 1,600 people were killed and 32,000 people injured in California in alcohol-related crashes, according to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
That's why fighting even a first DUI charge is so important. Some people react differently to being arrested. For some, one arrest scares them straight for life. But for others, picking up subsequent arrests is difficult to avoid. Some people also don't take the measures to avoid additional arrests. Having a drunk driving conviction on your record may also increase your chances of being stopped, questioned, and arrested again.
And California's laws are designed to punish people who are arrested multiple times for the same offense. That means that if a first DUI charge is dismissed altogether after fighting breathalyzer testing, field sobriety tests, the officer's testimony or other factors -- or even if your case is reduced in a plea agreement to reckless driving -- it could be very helpful in the future.
So, if you, a loved one or a friend is arrested and charged with DUI, whether it's their first offense or if they are considered a multiple offender, call Fresno DUI Lawyers. We will use our years of experience to fight all evidence the state is trying to use against our clients.
If you need a Fresno DUI lawyer, contact the Law Offices of Michael E. Mitchell at 559-222-2424 for a free consultation.
