• Driving under the influence may result in jail time in CaliforniaBottle with beer beer on a white reflecting surface image by Alexander Oshvintsev from Fotolia.com
  
  In California, an individual can be charged with driving under the influence if he has clearly been drinking or using drugs, has chosen to drive, but refuses to submit to chemical testing. According to Lawrence Taylor, a California attorney, an individual with his first DUI charge may be sentenced to serve anywhere from four days to six months in jail. A fine of up to $1,500 is also imposed and his license may be suspended. Not all individuals convicted of a DUI will receive a jail sentence, and alternative forms of punishment may be given.
  
  

Alcohol Treatment

• According to the California DUI guide, putting an individual who has been convicted of driving while intoxicated in jail may not solve the problem. A judge may assign a sentence that promotes rehabilitation. An individual with a DUI conviction may be required to attend a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program or live in a specialized sober living environment for a certain amount of time. He may also be required to attend diversion classes or to participate in Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) Victim Impact Program.
  
  

Alternative Forms of Confinement

• In some cases, California judges may sentence an individual convicted of driving under the influence to house arrest instead of confinement in jail. Another alternative to jail time is electronic monitoring that tracks a convicted person in all his movements. This usually occurs along with a treatment program or therapy. Some individuals may be allowed to work during the day so there is not a risk of losing employment, but he may spend nights and weekends in jail for an extended period of time.
  
  

Community Service

• Instead of being sentenced to jail time, an individual convicted of a DUI may be put on supervised probation and told to complete hours of community service. Californians convicted of a DUI with community service must provide service for civic organizations, nonprofit organizations or charities. One form of community service California imposes upon individuals convicted under California Vehicle Code Sections 23152 to 23229.1 is freeway cleanup. This type of service involves picking up litter and trash along highways. The hours of community service an individual completes, is usually equal to the hours he would have had to spend in jail.