California Vehicle Code 23152 covers driving under the influence. Subsection (a) is impairment regardless of blood-alcohol level; (b) is a BAC of 0.08% or higher (0.04% for commercial drivers, 0.01% for under 21). Standard first-offense DUI is a misdemeanor. It becomes a felony with injury, with three prior DUI convictions in 10 years, or under certain enhanced circumstances.
What the charge means for bail
Bail follows the county schedule. In Riverside County a first-offense DUI typically lands between $5,000 and $7,500. With a prior, an injury, or a BAC above 0.15%, the schedule jumps — we’ve seen $25,000 with three priors, and felony-injury DUIs running higher. Each of Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Orange uses a slightly different schedule with different enhancements; we post in all four.
How we handle a DUI
When you call, a bilingual agent confirms where the defendant is being held, the exact bail amount, and which rate tier fits the situation. Paperwork is handled by e-signature in most cases — usually finished in fifteen minutes, with no drive-in required. From there a licensed Justice agent walks the surety bond to the jail desk in person.
From the jail’s side, release timing depends on intake queue and shift. We stay in touch with you throughout, and once release is processed we move directly to the vehicle impound — DUI almost always means the car is at a tow lot under a 30-day hold (CVC 14602.6).
The impound — what happens to the car
The towing agency holds the vehicle under CVC 14602.6 for thirty days. To retrieve it, the registered owner needs the agency’s release form, proof of ownership and insurance, and the impound and storage fees. We help you sequence this so the car isn’t sitting longer than it needs to.
Watch the rate
California Insurance Code § 1800 caps the bail premium at 10% of the face amount of the bond — that’s the legal ceiling, not the minimum. Anything above 10% is illegal. Walk away from any bondsman who quotes above the cap, demands wired money before paperwork is signed, has no California Department of Insurance license number visible, or pressures you to decide in under a minute. A real bondsman walks the family through the math.