Irvine DUI Lawyer

Our Irvine DUI attorneys can help if you are facing Orange County DUI criminal charges and a license suspension at the Irvine DMV office. Each Irvine DUI lawyer is highly experienced and specialized in Orange County DUI defense.

The Law Offices of Taylor & Taylor, with Irvine offices near Harbor Court in Newport Beach, is a nationally-known firm of DUI lawyers specializing in DUI defense exclusively: no clients but those charged with drunk driving are accepted. Our Irvine DUI attorneys average 21 years of experience and each Irvine DUI lawyer has the support of the firm’s expert staff: a former DUI Task Force officer, a former Crime Lab alcohol testing supervisor and a former California DMV license suspension hearing officer.

The firm is guided by the “Dean of DUI Attorneys”, Lawrence Taylor. Mr. Taylor is a UC Berkeley and UCLA Law School graduate, a former Deputy District Attorney and a Fulbright Professor of Law. He is the author of the standard treatise in the field, Drunk Driving Defense (now in its 7th edition after 30 years of publication). He has lectured to DUI defense attorneys at over 200 seminars in 41 states and in 2001 was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National College for DUI Defense.

California DUI Laws

In California, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits are designed to ensure road safety. For general drivers aged 21 and older, the BAC limit is set at 0.08% or higher. Commercial drivers have a stricter limit of 0.04% or higher due to the nature of their job. Additionally, drivers under the age of 21 are held to a very low BAC limit of 0.01% or higher, adhering to a zero-tolerance policy for underage drinking and driving.

Penalties vary depending on whether it is a first, second, or subsequent offense.

First Offense

• Fines: $390 to $1,000.
• License Suspension: 6 months.
• Jail Time: Up to 6 months.
• Probation: 3 to 5 years.
• DUI School: 3 months.
• Other: Installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) may be required.

Second Offense (within 10 years)

• Fines: $390 to $1,000.
• License Suspension: 2 years.
• Jail Time: 96 hours to 1 year.
• Probation: 3 to 5 years.
• DUI School: 18 to 30 months.
• IID: Mandatory installation for up to 1 year.

Third Offense (within 10 years)

• Fines: $390 to $1,000.
• License Suspension: 3 years.
• Jail Time: 120 days to 1 year.
• Probation: 3 to 5 years.
• DUI School: 30 months.
• IID: Mandatory installation for up to 2 years.

Certain factors can lead to harsher penalties:

• High BAC: 0.15% or higher.
• Refusing a Chemical Test: Enhanced penalties for refusal.
• Driving with a Minor Passenger: Additional penalties for having a child under 14 in the vehicle.
• Causing Injury or Death: DUI causing injury or death is a more serious felony with severe penalties.

Additionally, by driving in California, drivers automatically consent to chemical testing (breath, blood, or urine) if suspected of DUI.

Refusal can result in:

• First Refusal: 1-year license suspension.
• Second Refusal: 2-year license suspension.
• Third Refusal: 3-year license suspension.

California has been updating its DUI laws to incorporate more technology-based deterrents like the ignition interlock device (IID). As of January 1, 2019, IID installation became mandatory for most DUI offenders.

Free Consultation: Protect Your Driving Privileges in Irvine

We invite you to contact us at our Irvine offices for a free consultation about your Orange County DUI criminal case and Irvine DMV driver’s license suspension hearing. We also invite you to visit the firm’s main website, and review the many informative pages addressing such helpful subjects as Breathalyzer Accuracy and DUI License Suspensions —  as well as answers to such frequently asked questions as “What will happen if I refuse to take the breathalyzer test?” and “What does it cost to retain a DUI attorney?”.