California Public Intoxication Defense Lawyers

Public Intoxication Sentencing & Punishment – California Penal Code Section 647(f)

There are several public intoxication penalties. Public intoxication is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for up to six months and by a fine. The public intoxication fine can be up to one thousand dollars ($1,000). In addition, you may be placed on probation, with various terms and conditions.

A public intoxication conviction can result in more than just jail time and fines. A conviction for public intoxication for a defendant who is under the age of 21 will result in a suspension of the defendant’s driver’s license for a year. If the defendant does not have a driver’s license, the court will order the DMV to delay issuing a driver’s license to the defendant for a year subsequent to the time the defendant becomes legally eligible to drive. See California Vehicle Code Section 13202.5.

A conviction for public intoxication can negatively affect your current or future status of employment. In jobs that require driving, persons under the age of 21 may be terminated due to a suspended driver’s license.

The law on public intoxication in California also states that if the defendant facing a public intoxication charge has had two or more prior convictions of the same crime within 12 months, the defendant shall be imprisoned in county jail for no less than 90 days.

If you get arrested for public intoxication or if you are facing public intoxication charges, you’ll need an experienced public intoxication attorney. At Wallin & Klarich, our attorneys have the knowledge and skill that comes with over 30 years of experience in handling all types of alcohol/drug related matters. We will aggressively represent your interests and keep you well informed on your case. Call us at 888-749-0034 or visit us at our website at www.wklaw.com. We will be there when you call.