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www.shouselaw.com 888.327.4652 What penalties does a 1st time (offense) DUI trigger? A California defense lawyer explains. California DUIs are “priorable” offenses. This means that the punishment increases with each successive drunk driving conviction that takes place within a ten-year period.1 This ten-year timeframe is otherwise known as a “washout” or “lookback” period and also includes (1) California “wet reckless” convictions, and (2) out-of-state convictions that, if committed in California, would constitute a DUI. California DUI penalties can be severe, depending on whether you’re facing your first, second, third, or subsequent driving under the influence conviction. Most drunk driving cases are prosecuted as misdemeanors, although certain offenses will rise to the level of California felony DUI.2 Although there are a few charges that are commonly reduced from California DUIs during DUI plea bargaining (for example, a “wet” reckless,3 dry reckless4, orexhibition of speed or “speed ex”5), this article specifically details punishments and penalties that are for actual driving under the influence convictions. Please note that once you are arrested for any California DUI, you only have ten days to request a DMV hearing from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. This request postpones your license suspension until the resolution of the hearing and may even result in your license suspension being set aside. If you hire a California DUI attorney within that ten-day …