In California driving without insurance is a violation of California's Compulsory Financial Responsibility laws. Violating this section of the CA vehicle code can result in fines up to $500 plus penalties such as impoundment of the vehicle and suspension of the driver's license. If your vehicle was impounded you, the owner, will have to pay for all storage and tow charges as well.

The consequences can be far more serious if you are involved in an accident and do not have insurance. You may have to comply with the financial responsibility laws (SR22, SR22s, SR16) including having to pay for any injuries or damages from the accident out of your own pocket.

So that covers being uninsured and being in an accident but since you were also arrested for a DUI there will be other penalties put on your if you are convicted of this offense.

First the DMV can take an administrative action against your driving privilege after you are arrested for a DUI. The court may take a separate action (suspend, revoke or delay the license) for the same offense. DMV’s action is related only to your driving privilege. The court’s action may involve payment of a fine, jail time, suspension or revocation of your driving privilege, and completion of a DUI program.

If you are convicted of driving with excessive BAC or while under the influence of either alcohol or drugs or both (DUI), you may be sentenced to serve up to six months in jail and to pay a fine between $390 and $1000 (plus about three times the fine in penalty assessments) the first time you are convicted. Your vehicle may be impounded and subject to storage fees as well.

The California Driver's manual states that on the first conviction of a DUI the court will suspend your driving privilege for six months and require you to complete a DUI program before you can be reinstated. The length of the program may vary. If your BAC was .15% or higher and you already had a record of violations for other reasons or refused to submit to a chemical test, the court may order you to complete a nine-month or longer program. If your BAC was .20% or higher and the court refers you to an enhanced DUI treatment program, your license will be suspended for 10 months.

All DUI convictions will remain on DMV’s records for ten years and the courts and the DMV may impose more stringent penalties for subsequent violations during that period.

Generally, if you are over 21 and enroll in a DUI program, file a California Insurance Proof Certificate (SR 22), pay the restriction and reissue fees, DMV will issue you a restricted driver license which allows you to drive to/from work and during the course of employment (unless you hold a commercial driver license) and to/from a DUI program. However, if you would be considered a “traffic safety” or “public safety risk” if permitted to drive, the court may order DMV not to grant you a restricted driver license.

Since the penalties are severe for a first time DUI offense, even if your record was clear up until this point, you may want to seek legal advice of if there are ways in which to reduce any of the penalties. To find out more about our citations and associated penalties you can read through information on the CA DMV site and/or contact the court listed on your tickets.