What is the definition of driving under the influence?
The act or crime of driving a motor vehicle while over the legal limit of alcohol or drugs (including prescription drugs). Each state specifies the level of blood alcohol content allowed in a person before being considered illegally intoxicated.
What is the legal blood alcohol limit for California?
The legal blood alcohol (BAC) limit for California varies depending on several variables.
If you are age 21 or older driving a passenger vehicle, the BAC is 0.08% or higher.
If you are operating a commercial vehicle, the BAC is less sympathetic at 0.04%.
Anyone younger than 21 should not have a BAC any higher than 0.01% and this includes any type of medications (ie: cough syrup, prescription medicines, etc).
Depending on your age and other motor vehicle factors, penalties can vary from fines to jail time. With the help of Bradley Corbett, San Diego criminal defense attorney, you can rest assured that you will have a better chance of fighting the charges.
*Note: Starting July 1, 2018, the new blood alcohol limit will be 0.04% for those who “drive a motor vehicle when a passenger for hire is a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the offense.” (Cal. Veh. Code § 23152 (2017)
What are the laws regarding driving while high?
As of September 11, 2017, a new bill was passed by Governor Jerry Brown in regards to marijuana. The bill makes “drinking an alcoholic beverage or smoking or ingesting marijuana or any marijuana product while driving, or while riding as a passenger in, a motor vehicle being driven upon a highway or upon specified lands punishable as an infraction” See Bill SB-65. This basically means that one cannot consume marijuana or any marijuana products while driving or being driven in a vehicle. This offense will be punishable with a fine of $70.
Even though California is legalizing the recreational use of marijuana (starting 2018), there are stringent laws when it comes to the relationship between marijuana and motor vehicles. Here are all the laws regarding marijuana and motor vehicles:
It is unlawful…
- For someone who is under the influence of any drug to drive a vehicle
- For someone to drive a vehicle while under the combined influence of drugs and alcohol
- For someone who is “addicted to the use of any drug” to drive
- To drink alcohol, smoke or ingest marijuana while driving or be driven as a passenger in a vehicle.
- To have an open container of cannabis or alcohol in a vehicle
How much will my California DUI cost me?
Did you know that California is the number one state for drunk driving offenses?
This video shows the top 10 worst offending states for DUIs and breaks down what the price would be in each state.
California DUIs In The News
-In October 2016, a drunk driver was arrested for a DUI in San Diego. The driver, 24 year old Richard Sepolio, was stationed in Coronado with the Navy. He drove off the Coronado Bridge killing four people and injuring a total of nine people that were spending time at the local La Raza biker festival.
-In November 2016, Troy Hill from the Los Angeles Rams was booked for $15,000 bail for drunk driving.
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