One of the first questions that goes through a person's mind when they're charged with a San Diego DUI is: What are the penalties? California DUI penalties are somewhat complex and a DUI sentence depends on many factors such as:

* Any prior DUI convictions

* Refusing to submit to a Breathalyzer test

* Whether or not the DUI led to a death

* Having a child in the car

If you are caught with a DUI in San Diego, there are basically two types of criminal charges. You could be charged with a DUI (Driving Under the Influence or be charged with driving with a blood-alcohol level at or greater than .08%. There's a chance you could be charged for both.

What happens to your drivers license?

Depending on your prior convictions, your drivers license could be suspended anywhere from 90 days to a year for a first or second offense. If it is your third or fourth offense you could have your license revoked for 3-4 years. It's best to talk to a DUI lawyer to help save your license.

Other punishments if you are caught drunk driving in San Diego include:

* Mandatory alcohol or drug programs

* Fines up to $1,000

* Public work service

* Time in jail

As you can see from the punishments listed above, drunk driving in San Diego - or anywhere in California for that matter - is not something you should take lightly. I do highly recommend talking to an experienced and professional San Diego DUI lawyer to help you with your case.