California is a state that includes “enhancements” that can be added to a DUI charge. Rather than a separate charge, an enhancement basically worsens the penalties for a DUI. Typically, these enhancements make the prison sentence longer when added and the charged person is convicted. Some enhancements that can be added include repeat DUI offenders, excessive blood-alcohol above .15%, causing injury to another person, having a minor under 14 in the vehicle, and refusing to take a breath or blood test. Additionally, when it comes to injuring people, if more than one person is injured, the worse the penalties become.
NBC Los Angeles reports on a twice-convicted drunk driver who was sentenced to seven years after a DUI accident that injured three people.
Garciajimenez, who is 31, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury and driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08% or higher causing injury. He was also sentenced with the enhancements of inflicting great bodily injury to an elder and inflicting great bodily injury to a younger victim.
The charges stemmed from a May 4, 2018 crash where Garciajimenez’s blood-alcohol content was .11%. The crash involved four vehicles. Inside one of the vehicles was a 79-year-old man, a 78-year-old woman, and a 13-year-old boy.
Garciajimenez pleaded guilty in 2009 to a DUI. On July 14, 2014, he also pleaded guilty to another DUI and was placed on 5 years of probation.
Garciajimenez was sentenced to seven years in prison on Friday. April 26th.
