If you have been charged with a DUI or DWI or have been arrested and/or charged with drunk driving, you will need a criminal defense lawyer or attorney who has a practice primarily based in drunk driving defense law.  He or she needs to be a qualified and experienced DUI and DWI lawyer or attorney.

Many of those who face a drunk driving offense are concerned about the possible jail time and stiff fines they may have to face, as well as the points, surcharges and huge insurance increases that come as a result of such an incident.

Recently, California passed some new, tougher laws concerning dui and drunk driving offenses.  The new pilot ignition interlock law requires dui and drunk driving offenders (including first-time offenders) to install an ignition interlock device on any and all vehicles owned and operated by the offender.  The new law is in effect for Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Tulare counties.  This law goes into effect on July 1, 2010.

It is highly recommended, that if you are in Orange county, for example, you should obtain the services of a qualified orange county dwi/dui lawyer or attorney.  In California, as in many other states, the penalties for being arrested with drunk driving can be severe, even if it is your very first offense.  However, with the proper legal defense, it is possible to have the charges reduced.  Do not go to court unprepared.

Even if you do not have the financial means to hire an attorney on your own, you should be entitled to a public defender to represent you in your case.  It is best to speak with a public defender and to keep silent and not to self incriminate in court.

The penalties for a DUI offense for first offenders could include a sentence of 3 to 5 years probation.  Fines could range upwards to $1800.00 and also, you could possibly lose your driver’s license for up to 6 months.  The judge hearing your case might ask you to attend DUI classes for anywhere from 12 hours to 45 days.  There is also a mandatory jail sentence that you must serve which is 48 hours.  In some cases it may be possible to have that changed to work service.

Second offenses could mean stiffer penalties, higher fines (up to $2800.00) and loss of license for 18 months.  You also will have to comply with a mandatory DUI program, most likely.  Jail time for 96 hours is also possible, but, again, this could be waived in favor of work service, instead.