California is the largest and most populated state in the continental United States. As a result, it has some of the highest standards for laws that protect its citizens from harm.
Unfortunately, with the Californian lifestyle comes a high propensity to drink and drive – something that can have terrible consequences for both drivers and victims of accidents.
After working as a DUI Defense Attorney in Los Angeles for over 47 years, I have aggregated quite a bit of information about some highly relevant California DUI statistics that can help drivers to stay safe and out of harm’s way.
In this guide, I will explain some of the most important DUI stats in California, and shed some insights as to what fuels them, what you can learn from them, and how to use them to stay safe while on the roads.
California DUI Statistics – By the Numbers
If you look at the numbers, there is a lot to be learned about DUIs in California, specifically the likelihood of repeat offenders and the effectiveness of post-conviction programs and the overall fluctuations throughout the years in arrests and convictions.
- In 2014, drunk driving fatalities where drivers had a blood alcohol content of .08% or higher reached a total of 882 in California. This represents a total 7% of all car accident-related deaths.
- In California, San Francisco has some of the lowest arrest rates for DUIs, at .3 per 1,000 residents. This is followed by Santa Clara County and Contra Costa County which both have .6 arrests per 1,000 residents, and Orange County which has .7 arrests per 1,000 residents.
- The highest DUI arrest rate is Alpine County with 4.2 per 1,000 residents. Alpine County is very sparsely populated.
- For 2015, only 9.9% of total crash injuries were related to DUIs which was slightly lower than the previous year which reported 10.4%.
- The total number of DUI arrests between 2005 in 2010 grew incrementally on an annual basis and then declined incrementally. Reported DUI statistics from the California DMV indicate that 2015 had the lowest rates of total DUI arrests over the last 10 years.
- Misdemeanor arrests still make up 75% of arrests on average, with felonies making up the remaining 25% of total DUI arrests.
- The total DUI conviction rate based on percentage was 78.1% in 2005 and remained between 78 and 79% for the next five years. From 2010 until 2015 that figure hovered between 73% and 72%.
- The median age of a DUI arrest was 31 years. 72.4% of those arrested were 40 years or younger. Less than 1%, 0.4% of all DUI arrests were juveniles who were under the legal drinking age.
- Proportionally, Hispanics comprise 47.2% of DUI arrestees, the largest racial and ethnic group and they have remained the largest for the last decade.
The total number of arrests for DUIs has dropped over the last few years along with it the total number of convictions. Both statistics seem to move in tandem with one going up as the other does, and vice versa. However, there exists good changes in terms of the media and drinking age such that underage drinkers are less of a concern than they were.
These figures indicate that the lowest and highest arrest rates for DUIs is not necessarily an indication of low or high numbers of drunk drivers or County initiative success stories against drunk driving but rather a reflection upon the total population. Consider that some of the most heavily populated cities have the lowest arrest rates per capita while sparsely populated counties have the highest.
The arrest figures pertaining to racial and ethnic groups with Hispanics constituting the largest number of arrestees for the last 10 years could be a simple reflection upon the substantially higher percentage of the adult population that Hispanics have in California.
What Can Be Learned from These California DUI Statistics?
Some of the key takeaways here reflect upon the success of various programs and government plans to reduce drinking especially among younger children. Being safe on the road is the responsibility of every driver.
A big part of that safety is knowing not to drink and drive. With so many alternatives for getting home today be on public transportation with the advent of ride-sharing services, it is significantly easier for people to find a safer way home without putting themselves and others at risk.
If you are involved in an accident or you see an accident, it’s important that you report it immediately so help can be sent to the scene immediately. Conversely, if you were the cause of an accident not only should you report it, but you should know how to defend yourself and that starts with getting a California DUI attorney on your side.
Are You Facing a California DUI Charge? Work With One of the Best DUI Lawyers in Los Angeles Today!
DUIs aren’t like other charges – they are a major blemish on your personal and work life, and can lead to major fines, penalties, and even jail time.
If you are facing a California DUI, you need legal representation, there’s no way around it. Whether you are a first-time offender, or have multiple offenses, this is a serious incident that needs to be handled properly to give you the best chance to reduce what you are facing and help get back on your feet.
As one of the Best DUI Lawyers in Los Angeles, I have over 47 years of experience helping my clients to get the representation they deserve. Don’t settle for a less experienced lawyer and leave your legal fate up to chance, work with The Law Offices of Jon Bryant Artz and get top-notch legal representation for this very serious legal situation.
Contact me today in order to schedule a one on one consultation. I would love to learn more about your case, explain to you the next steps, and help guide you towards a reduced sentence or penalties to get you back on your feet. My highly experienced legal team has all the resources you need to get the best defense available to you.
