California DUI Plea Bargaining

The penalties for a California DUI conviction can be life-altering—offenders face jail time, probation, alcohol education classes, community service, expensive fines, and a driver’s license suspension. In some drunk-driving cases, the defendant may get the choice between going to trial or California DUI plea bargaining. An experienced DUI lawyer can evaluate your case to determine whether taking your case to court or accepting a plea bargain is the best option.

A qualified San Diego DUI lawyer focusus exclusively on DUI defense and has continuing education in the field. Because of this they can offer more insight on your case than a general practitioner of law and can help you weigh the pros and cons of taking a plea bargain or taking your case to trial.

Depending on the circumstances, accepting a plea bargain can be a better option than going to trial. This is especially true in cases where the prosecution has strong evidence and a solid case and the defense has a slim chance of winning.

In some cases, the prosecution may allow you to plead guilty or no contest in exchange for negotiated consequences. In the case of a felony, the prosecution may reduce the drunk-driving charge to a misdemeanor, thus reducing the amount of penalties. Your defense attorney will negotiate the penalties with the prosecution to come up with a punishment that has the least impact on your life.

Another option is to reduce your DUI to a reckless driving charge. There are two types of reckless driving charges: wet and dry. For a wet reckless charge, you will not be sentenced to alcohol education classes or license restrictions. This charge is also more appealing for those who have a professional license, such as a doctor or psychologist. The drawback is that if you are arrested for another DUI offense within 10 years, you will be considered a habitual offender and punished accordingly. Your insurance company may also regard a wet reckless charge the same as a DUI charge and raise your premiums.

A dry reckless charge is preferable to a wet reckless charge, as it does not count as a prior DUI offense should be charged with a similar crime in the future. The penalties for a dry reckless offense may include a fine and probation, though some court will also order alcohol education classes.

If you are interested in learning more about California plea bargaining, contact a San Diego DUI lawyer today. Our skilled attorneys may be able to negotiate a lesser charge as well as reduced consequences.