All state have laws prohibiting driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol. Whether the offense is labeled “DUI,” “DWI” (driving while intoxicated), or “OUI” (operating under the influence), the consequences are generally severe. The maximum penalties for a misdemeanor first DUI conviction in California is a $1,000 fine plus over $2,600 in penalty assessments, six months' imprisonment in the county jail, a six-month license suspension ; ten months for blood alcohol level of 0.15% or more, having your vehicle “impounded” (stored at your expense) but the punishments and fees differ depending on the state. There are two types of punishment resulting from being convicted of a "Driving under the Influence" (DUI) (also known as an OWI, DWI, or OVI in different states). The conviction goes on your criminal record and whether you can later remove (or "expunge") it depends on the charges and your state's laws. Whether you plead guilty or are found guilty by a court, the consequences for a DUI conviction are significant. All states provide that DUI convictions are misdemeanors punishable by up to six months in jail and the imposition of substantial fines. Actual sentences are much less in first time non‑injury DUIs. A number of states provide for a minimum number of days to be served in jail (typically from one to three days), while many others have no minimum sentence. If you have prior DUI convictions all bets are off. Judges are much more likely to look at the individual case when priors are present than when it’s the first time. If your BAC is just a little above .08, or your driving and field tests didn’t indicate serious impairment, the judge will sentence you to the minimum required by your state’s laws. But if the BAC is .15 or more, or you clearly evidenced bad driving that might have hurt someone if you hadn’t been stopped, he or she may throw the book at you.
Finally, you will be required to attend DUI school. They say that in every crisis, there is an opportunity. Such is the case with DUI school. When you are convicted of a DUI, you are set up for much harsher sentence and fine if you are convicted of a subsequent DUI within the next 7 to 10 years. In that case, there will be no reasonable question about attorney representation—you will need it. But the best way to handle a second DUI is to not get one. That’s what DUI school is all about. If you take it seriously, the likelihood of a repeat offense will go way down.
Almost all states now require people convicted of repeat or high-alcohol content DUI’s to install interlock ignition devices in their cars that will disable the car if the device senses alcohol in your breath. See Ignition Interlock 101 for more information about these devices, and look up the DUI laws in your state.
http://dui.drivinglaws.org/resources/dui-and-dwi/the-consequences-a-dui-conviction.htm