About 2nd, 3rd, and 4th DUI Arrests

If you have been arrested and charged with DUI and have one or more prior DUI convictions on your criminal record, you are facing serious consequences. The law provides for increased penalties for those considered to be repeat DUI offenders. A previous DUI conviction within 10 years of a new DUI offense constitutes a prior conviction for the purpose of subjecting you to the increased penalties for repeat DUI offenders. For example, a second DUI conviction within a 10 year period is punishable by up to 1 year in jail instead of 6 months. The driver's license suspension is also longer for a second DUI offense, resulting in a 2 year suspension instead of a 6 month suspension, and the required DUI class is increased from 30 hours to either 18 or 30 months.

Punishment for a third DUI conviction within 10 years is even more severe. Your driver’s license will be revoked for 3 years if you are convicted, and the law requires a minimum of 120 days in jail, although it is sometimes possible to get an alternative sentence such as alcohol or substance abuse treatment and avoid actual jail time.

A fourth DUI conviction within 10 years will, in almost all cases, be charged as a felony. A felony charge is an extremely serious legal situation and requires the assistance of a highly skilled Fresno DUI defense lawyer to immediately begin fighting for your rights and defending you against the charge. Not only is there a possibility of being sentenced to up to 3 years in state prison if convicted of felony DUI, but a felony record may have a significant impact on your life for many years, if not forever.

If your prior DUI conviction is charged as a sentence enhancement in your current DUI case, attorney Brian Andritch may be able to challenge the prior conviction and have it dismissed. The process of challenging a prior DUI conviction is known as a “Motion to Strike an Unconstitutional Conviction.” If the proper procedure was not followed in taking your guilty plea on the prior DUI charge or if the prosecution does not have the proper documentation, your prior DUI conviction may be challenged. Mr. Andritch understands this process and will fight to protect your rights.

DUI Defense Lawyer in Fresno

Attorney Brian Andritch is a former Deputy District Attorney for Fresno County and for two years was assigned to a special grant prosecuting repeat felony DUI offenders. He has hands on experience handling repeat offender DUI cases and has personally dealt with over 200 felony DUI cases in court over the years. Mr. Andritch will immediately review the charges and the case against you, and advise you on the strategies available to defend against the DUI charges you are facing. Individuals with multiple DUI conviction are often unaware of all the available options, and with his years of experience, Mr. Andritch can ably assess the strengths and weaknesses of the prosecution's case against you. To safeguard your rights and protect against being unfairly and harshly treated by the system, call Mr. Andritch as soon after your arrest as possible.

Which attorney to hire is a crucial decision. Brian Andritch is exceptionally qualified to defend DUI cases. His years of experience as a Deputy District Attorney, his specialized knowledge gained from prosecuting repeat felony DUI offenders while on special assignment, and now his proven track record in defending those charged with DUI make him uniquely qualified to defend your case. A repeat offender DUI conviction is an extremely serious matter and every effort must be made to fight the charge or negotiate alternatives for the client.

Contact a Fresno DUI Defense Attorney Brian Andritch if you or have been arrested for a 2 ^nd, 3 ^rd, or 4 ^th DUI charge in the Fresno area.