DUI Probation – How It Works in California

If you get convicted of DUI, you will likely be granted probation. DUI probation allows you to stay out of jail by agreeing to abide by certain terms and restrictions.

These terms usually include payment of a fine and completion of DUI school. You must also agree not to drive with any measurable blood alcohol concentration (“BAC”) during the probationary period (usually three years).

Failure to comply with such terms and conditions may result in a DUI probation violation (also known as a “PV”). The judge can then revoke probation and sentence you to jail.

To help you better understand DUI probation, our California DUI lawyers discuss:

• 1. What are the conditions of probation in a DUI case?
• 2. What is California’s zero-tolerance law?
• 3. When is an ignition interlock device (IID) required?
• 4. Are there driving restrictions while on DUI probation?
• 5. What is alternative sentencing?
• 6. Am I required to attend special classes or programs?
  • 6.1. California DUI School
  • 6.2. Alcoholics Anonymous
  • 6.3. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) “Victim Impact Panel” (VIP)
  • 6.4. Hospital and Morgue (HAM) Program
• 7. Do I have to show proof of compliance to the court?
• Additional Resources

If, after reading this article, you have additional questions, we invite you to contact our DUI attorneys for additional help. You may also find helpful information in our articles on California DUI penalties and DUI plea bargaining.

1. What are the conditions of probation in a DUI case?

California imposes certain conditions whenever you are sentenced to DUI probation. Some of these depend on whether it is your first-, second-, third-, or subsequent DUI or “wet reckless” conviction. Others are imposed no matter how many prior drunk driving or “wet reckless” convictions you have.

The following are examples of the range of conditions the court can impose. The precise terms will vary depending on whether you are a first-time or repeat offender.¹

Conditions that vary based on whether it is a first or subsequent “wet” offense

• A base fine of $390-$1,000. Depending on the county in which the conviction occurs, this amount will typically double or triple after penalties and court assessments are added in.
• A driver’s license suspension of six months to four years.  In many cases, you can continue driving to any location as long as you install an ignition interlock device. Otherwise, after a set period of time, you can get a restricted license to drive to and from (1) school, (2) work, (3) DUI school, or (4) any other court-approved location.
• A twelve-hour to thirty-month alcohol program (otherwise known as DUI school).
• A set number of days of county jail time.

General terms of all DUI probations

There are also probation conditions that are imposed regardless of whether it is your first or subsequent conviction.² This includes:

• Three to five years of informal (“summary”) probation (which does not require a probation officer).
• No commission of any additional criminal offenses while on probation (excluding traffic infractions, which are not “criminal” offenses).
• Agreement to submit to a DUI breath test or DUI blood test if arrested on suspicion of drunk driving (such tests may also include a preliminary alcohol screening (PAS) test).³
• Refraining from driving with any measurable BAC (California’s “zero tolerance” law for people on DUI probation).

2. What is California’s zero-tolerance law?

California Vehicle Code 23600 VC prohibits you from driving with any measurable amount of alcohol in your system while on DUI probation. This is referred to as California’s “zero-tolerance” law.

If you are caught violating this law (or refusing to submit to a chemical test while on probation), you can have your probation revoked. This will occur if your BAC is measured at 0.04% or greater. You can usually avoid having probation revoked, however, by spending at least 48 hours in county jail.⁴

A more serious consequence of violating California’s zero-tolerance law is an automatic one-year driver’s license suspension.⁵ To fight this suspension, you must request a DMV hearing within ten (10) days of your zero-tolerance arrest and then win it.

3. When is an ignition interlock device (IID) required?

Ignition interlock devices (IIDs) allow a car to start only if you provide an alcohol-free breathalyzer sample. A judge typically orders you to install an IID (at your expense) as a condition of DUI probation when:

• You have a particularly high BAC (0.15% or greater),
• You refused to submit to a chemical blood or breath test,
• You want to continue driving during your license suspension period, and/or⁶
• It is your second or subsequent DUI.⁷

The period in which the device must remain installed varies from four months to four years, depending on:

1. Whether it is a first, second, third, or subsequent conviction, and
2. Whether you were convicted of a “standard” DUI under Vehicle Code 23152 VC or for a DUI causing injury Vehicle Code 23153 VC.⁸

The California DMV will also automatically require an IID for a period of one to three years if you are caught driving with a suspended license while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.⁹

4. Are there driving restrictions while on DUI probation?

One mandatory term of drunk driving probation is that you do not commit any additional criminal offenses while on probation. This includes vehicle code violations such as:

• Driving without a license, or
• Driving without valid auto insurance.

Also make sure not to drive while your license is suspended in violation of Vehicle Code 14601.2 VC, which carries a mandatory jail sentence and heavy fines. It is also what’s known as a “priorable” offense, which means that the penalties increase with each subsequent VC 14601.2 conviction.

Doing any of the above can lead to charges for the probation violation itself as well as the other criminal offense.

5. What is alternative sentencing?

A variety of probation conditions may be imposed instead of jail or prison. These are typically referred to as “alternative sentencing” options.

Some of the most popular alternative sentencing options that a judge can impose in connection with DUI probation include:

• Cal-Trans roadside work;
• Community service;
• House arrest / electronic monitoring, possibly with the SCRAM device (SCRAM stands for Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor and is a tamper-resistant ankle bracelet that checks for alcohol. It is typically only issued in cases involving multiple DUIs and/or alcohol addiction);
• Victim restitution to anyone who suffered injury or damages in connection with the offense; and/or
• Alcohol education classes (discussed below).

6. Am I required to attend special classes or programs?

Often as a condition of drunk driving probation, the judge and/or prosecutor will require you to attend special alcohol-related classes. Some of these classes, such as California DUI school, are required by law.

Other programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (“AA”), are to help with a perceived addiction. Still others are designed to act as a deterrent to prevent subsequent drunk driving.

Examples of such preventative programs include MADD’s Victim Impact Panel (“VIP”) and Los Angeles’s Hospital and Morgue (“HAM”) program.

Let’s take a closer look at these programs.

6.1. California DUI School

California DUI school consists of any of five court-approved alcohol programs. The precise program you will be sentenced to depends on whether the conviction is for a first or a subsequent offense.

These five “drinking and driving” programs are:

1. A twelve-hour program. This is typically imposed in connection with a first “wet reckless” conviction, or sometimes with a “dry reckless” conviction.
2. A three-month program (commonly referred to as the AB541 program). This program is usually imposed for a “standard” first-time DUI.
3. A nine-month program. The judge will order this class if your BAC is particularly high on a first offense OR if you are convicted of a “wet reckless” and have a prior “wet” or DUI conviction within the prior 10 years.¹⁰
4. An 18-month program (commonly referred to as the SB38 program). The judge will impose this class for a “standard” second DUI.
5. A 30-month program (currently only offered in Los Angeles and Stanislaus Counties).  The judge orders this treatment program if your BAC is particularly high in connection with a second DUI OR if it is your third DUI and you have already completed the 18-month program.

While enrolled in any of these programs, you must refrain from using alcohol and/or drugs. If a program leader suspects that you are “under the influence”, you face expulsion from the program and, as a result, a probation violation.

6.2. Alcoholics Anonymous

Even if you are not an alcoholic, prosecutors and/or judges will often require you to attend Alcoholics Anonymous (“AA”) meetings once or twice a week. The court will give you an attendance verification form, and the meeting director must “sign off” on each session you attend.

Failure to attend meetings or to obtain a valid signature on the verification form can be charged as a probation violation.

6.3. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) “Victim Impact Panel” (VIP)

The MADD VIP program is a “scare tactic” that may be imposed as a DUI probation condition.  Depending on the county in which you are convicted, the court may require attendance at this program by first-time offenders.

California’s MADD VIP program lasts about two and one-half hours. It includes a presentation by at least one person whose life has been affected by drunk driving.

It may also include a video presentation and/or a slide show. Depending on the county, there may also be a presentation by

• a police officer and/or
• a drunk driving offender.

6.4. Hospital and Morgue (HAM) Program

Los Angeles County sometimes refers first-time DUI offenders to its Los Angeles’s Hospital and Morgue (“HAM”) program, which is run by the coroner’s office. Other counties (including Orange County) may run similar volunteer programs, often aimed at younger drivers (although anyone may be referred).

The HAM program consists of:

• a four-hour visit to the hospital (usually an emergency room) and
• a four-hour visit to the morgue.

The goal is to prevent drinking and driving by showing you first-hand the injuries it can cause.

While not all of the people who are brought into the E.R. or morgue will be victims of drunk driving, some will. The HAM program also includes a PowerPoint presentation and tour of both locations.

You will observe bodies being:

• processed (photographed, fingerprinted, and undressed) and
• autopsied.

Some courts may additionally require you to write a 1,000-word essay about your experience.

7. Do I have to show proof of compliance to the court?

Judges require proof of enrollment in any and all programs that are conditions of DUI probation. This includes:

• classes,
• community service,
• Cal-Trans, etc.

You must also provide proof of compliance with other terms of probation, such as payment of fines and/or restitution.

Failure to provide such proof can result in the issuance of a California bench warrant for your arrest.¹¹ In addition, once you appear before the court, the judge will likely sentence you for a probation violation for disobeying a court order.

Common reasons a bench warrant is issued in cases of DUI probation include failure to:

• show proof of enrollment,
• show proof of completion,
• attend court-ordered alcohol programs or community service or labor,
• pay fines,
• pay victim restitution, and/or
• appear for any post-conviction appearances.

Additional Resources

For more information, refer to the following:

1. Alcoholics Anonymous – 12-step program for overcoming alcoholism.
2. Drunk Driving Overview – NHTSA page on drunk driving statistics and prevention.
3. Impaired Driving: Get the Facts – CDC fact sheet on impaired driving.
4. Driving Under the Influence (DUI) – California DMV page on driver license suspension for DUIs.
5. MADD – Non-profit organization devoted to stopping drunk driving.

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