California DUI Laws

California DUI Laws are so strict that the state leads the nation in DUI arrests. These laws are meant to reduce the number of drunk driving cases. Victims and survivors of drunk driving crashes have supported the DUI Law. It is important to have strict DUI Laws so that drunk drivers are not allowed to put the lives of others at risk. Drunk driving is the most frequently committed violent crime in California. It is necessary to punish an offender under different DUI laws that try a person accordingly, including varying penalties if causing death, injury, or personal or property damage.

California DUI laws include specifics such as blood alcohol content level test, license suspension or revocation, checking of ignition interlocks device in the vehicle, field sobriety test to assess physical and mental alertness, etc. First time offenders charged under DUI law could be sentenced to jail with minimum fine. But second offenses occurring within seven years of the first are dealt with more harsh law. It could be minimum ten days of jail and fines up to $10,000. And suspension of driving license for not less than three years. DUI Laws have severe criminal penalties based on the severity of the outcome of DUI related crash. One must also consider the emotional aspect that can affect the passing of DUI laws.

California DUI laws have changed over the years in order to curb the increasing number of deaths and injuries occurring due to DUI related accidents. DUI laws have been argued to be unconstitutional in that by automatically finding drivers guilty, a person loses his/her right to have a trial by jury. But at the same time it has been argued to be \'legal per se\'. Unfortunately, DUI accidents take an innocent life every thirty minutes, so it is argued that DUI laws should allow for impartial jury trials.