The three-strikes laws in California have become notorious not just in the state but in the country as an example of good intentions having terrible consequences. While the idea was to prevent repeated offenders from continually cycling through the system without real consequence, the result is that judges often have their hands tied and cannot take special circumstances into consideration when sentencing defendants.
It means that people who committed three relatively minor crimes can end up spending their lives in prison under technicalities. One of the worst things about these laws is that they affect many other aspects of the law than many realize. For example, consider the laws regarding DUIs in California. Though there is no official law on the books regarding three strikes and DUI, the truth is that there is a three strikes de facto law in place. Read on to learn more. If you are in trouble and need an attorney, contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 now for a free legal consultation.
The reality of DUI charges
The truth is that if a person is convicted of a DUI several times, then the minimum penalty will increase with each conviction. If a person is a repeat offender, they could end up facing a significant amount of time in jail. Note that this doesn’t apply to arrests – only to convictions – and it does not begin to be an issue until after the first conviction.
As a result, the best way to avoid this two- and three-strike DUI issue from being an issue for you is to avoid getting a conviction for your first DUI. Ideally that would mean not driving while drunk but if you have already made that mistake, then you can talk to an attorney who could help you get a deferred judgment. For example, you may be able to complete classes instead of being found guilty of a DUI.
It takes ten years for a strike count to reset
Of course, if you are convicted of a first DUI offense and then convicted against twenty years later, the first conviction will not count as a strike. In most cases, it takes about ten years for a strike count to reset. The reason that penalties increase with each conviction is due to the California legislature’s attempts to boost penalties in an effort to lower DUIs.
Your best bet is to contact a criminal defense attorney right away
No matter the specifics of the situation you are facing, there is one step you should take to fight it: Calling an experienced criminal defense attorney. The good news is that you have found an aggressive, experienced attorney who knows just how to handle the situation. Contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 today and ask for your free legal consultation.