California is no longer lenient on drunk drivers. A first conviction for drunk driving can result in a suspension of your driver's license, imprisonment, or probation as well as thousands in fees, fines, and mandatory alcohol education classes. Some areas have even harsher penalties. Los Angeles County DUI first-time offenders must now install an ignition interlock system at their expense. Several counties also require that police hold inmates in jail for up to 24 hours. After your release, expect to pay ten years of high auto insurance rates. If you are not convicted of intoxicated driving, you will not be subject to any of these sanctions. The Law Offices Joseph M. Tysel offer many options to help people charged with DUI/DWI. The accuracy of blood-alcohol concentration tests is lower than most people think. Field sobriety test results are not reliable enough to be admissible in evidence. It is also important to consider the behavior of police officers. Any violations of your rights or negligent handling of chemical BAC tests can contaminate the evidence and cause it to be thrown out. You should not plead guilty to BAC tests that are higher than the law.