2nd Offense DUI | Los Angeles DUI Defense Attorneys Since 1987
DUI arrests represent the majority of crime in Los Angeles and are, therefore, prosecuted aggressively. As a priorable offense, the mandatory drunk driving punishment for a DUI arrest increases with each subsequent conviction within 10 years of your previous drunk driving offense. If you have been arrested for 2nd DUI in Los Angeles, it is imperative that you immediately speak with a DUI attorney with expertise defending 2nd offense drunk driving in Los Angeles. The mandatory punishment for a 2nd DUI is much more punitive than what you faced on your first offense, making the expertise of a skilled drunk driving lawyer all the more critical this time around.
The Los Angeles DUI attorneys at Sitkoff & Hanrahan, LLP, Eugene Hanrahan & Stephen Sitkoff, have each specialized in LA drunk driving defense since 1987. Each drawing from his 35 plus years of California criminal law experience as former senior DUI prosecutors and law enforcement academy instructors. Widely considered among the most experienced DUI lawyers in Southern California, Mr. Hanrahan and Mr. Sitkoff personally handle each of their cases with a genuine commitment to securing only the best outcomes for their clients. If you have been arrested for a 2nd offense DUI, contact our Los Angeles drunk driving attorneys now at (888) 579-4844 for a free no-obligation case analysis to learn how we can defend you and preserve your driving privilege.
Second Offense DUI Charges In Los Angeles: The Criminal Court And DMV
As was the case with your prior DUI, there are two legal actions separately taken by the criminal court and California DMV. If you are seeking the best resolution to your case without a driver’s license suspension, you must prevail in your DMV hearing and avoid a DUI conviction in court, either by way of a dismissal, acquittal in trial, or plea to a reduced non-DUI charge, such as Wet Reckless, Dry Reckless, or Exhibition of Speed. Given the mandatory jail time and 2 year license suspension you potentially face if convicted of a 2nd DUI, an experienced DUI attorney is crucial toward developing a winning strategy for both the criminal and DMV action.
Your Second Offense DUI | DMV License Suspension Hearing
Whether you have been arrested for a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd DUI, if your case DUI case involves blood alcohol above 0.08%, your license will be seized by the arresting officer. After your release from custody, you will receive a pink DMV document which will serve as your temporary license for the next 30 days. In addition to allowing you to drive for the next 30 days, the document also places you on notice of the requirement that you contact DMV within 10 calendar days of your arrest to request a DMV hearing to contest the DMV’s Admin. Per Se (APS) suspension. It is critical that your request be made within the 10 day period as your failure to do would result in the DMV automatically imposing 2 year license suspension once your 30 day temporary license expires. Obtaining a restricted driver’s license is an option. However, you must first complete a 90 day period of mandatory NO DRIVING, enroll into an 18 month DUI program, file an SR22, and install an ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle. The alternative route to restricted driving is to complete a 1 year mandatory or “hard suspension,” which once completed, would allow you to obtain your restricted license without an IID. However, you would still be required to show DMV proof of your 18 month DUI program enrollment and proof of an SR22. If your driving privilege has already been suspended by DMV, contact us now to learn the path toward obtaining your restricted license.
Your Second Offense DUI | Los Angeles Criminal Court
The second aspect of your DUI case involves the criminal court with the specific court location determined by which city you were arrested in. For example, drunk driving arrests in Van Nuys would result in your arraignment hearing being scheduled at the Van Nuys Courthouse, whereas a DUI arrest in Arcadia would result in your court hearing to being scheduled at the Pasadena Courthouse. The criminal court, in the second offense DUI process, imposes the criminal punishment, and among the mandatory penalties for a DUI conviction is a 2 year driver’s license suspension and a mandatory minimum jail sentence.
2nd Offense Drunk Driving Consequences And Punishments In Los Angeles
A 2nd DUI in Los Angeles is prosecuted under California Vehicle Code statute 23152 (misdemeanor) or VC 23153 (wobbler: felony or misdemeanor) if there are injuries involved. While most 2nd DUIs are charged as misdemeanors under VC 23152, those charged with a second offense involving injuries or death to another would face a more serious charge of DUI with injury under VC 23153. If the injuries are considered serious, you could be charged with a felony, whereas if you caused death to another, you would not only be charged with a 2nd offense felony DUI, you would face an additional more serious charge of 2nd degree murder otherwise known as a “Watson Murder.” The following are the punishments you face for a standard 2nd offense misdemeanor DUI:
First Offense VC 23152 | Misdemeanor DUI (non-injury)
- Up to 1 year in jail
- Up to 5 years probation
- Up to $1,000 fine
- 18 month SB38 program or 30 month SB1365 program
- 2 year driver’s license suspension
- 2 points on DMV record
- Attend Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) victims impact panel
- Attend Hospital and Morgue (HAM) program
- Community service or labor
- Install Ignition Interlock Device (IID) or breathalyzer in your vehicle
Call Now For A Free Consultation With Our Los Angeles DUI Attorneys
If you are facing a 2nd offense DUI, whether it is misdemeanor or felony, contact our West Los Angeles office now at (888) 579-4844 for a free case review. Given the enhanced punishment you face for a second DUI, it is paramount that you seek legal counsel from a top notch DUI attorney with a track record of success in Los Angeles County. For our clients’ convenience, we maintain satellite office locations in the following Los Angeles County cities:
Long Beach, Torrance, Pasadena, Glendale, Van Nuys, Pomona, West Covina, Burbank, Santa Clarita, Norwalk, Santa Monica, Alhambra, Downey, Bellflower, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Rancho Cucamonga, Corona, Huntington Beach, Orange, and Newport Beach.