DUI Lawyer in Alhambra | Free Consultation

If the police arrested you for driving under the influence (DUI) in Los Angeles or the San Gabriel Valley, you could face a criminal record, a suspended driver’s license, mandatory DUI school, and thousands of dollars in fines. It could haunt you for years if you do not fight against the criminal charges now.

The best way to fight your criminal charges is by having an Alhambra DUI lawyer on your side. A DUI lawyer with trial experience will defend tough cases every day – and they know which tactics to use to maximize your chances in the Alhambra Superior Court.

A criminal defense attorney can reduce your sentence, get the criminal charges knocked down to something less serious, like a minor traffic violation, or even win your defense case altogether. You can learn more about the benefits of hiring a DUI lawyer when you call or complete our online Contact Us form for a Free Consultation.

What Charges Can a DUI Lawyer Handle?

You can secure professional legal representation to help with any criminal charges you face in the court system at the Alhambra Superior Courthouse near Main and Garfield Streets or West Commonwealth. For example, your attorney may help handle charges for:

The above list contains only examples of California’s many DUI laws. A criminal conviction for any of these charges can have a major impact on your life, so contact an Alhambra DUI attorney fast for help.

Our Alhambra Practice Areas

No matter the circumstances of your arrest, our Alhambra legal team has the dedicated experience to fight for your rights and protect your future across a wide range of cases:

Alhambra Commercial DUI Lawyer: Commercial drivers face a strict 0.04% blood alcohol limit, meaning even a single drink can jeopardize a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and career. We vigorously defend your livelihood and driving privileges against these specialized, high-stakes charges.
Alhambra Felony DUI Lawyer: A DUI can escalate to a felony if it involves injuries, fatalities, or marks your fourth offense within ten years. We provide an aggressive, strategic defense to protect your freedom and prevent a life-altering felony conviction on your record.
Alhambra First Offense DUI Lawyer: A first-time DUI arrest is overwhelming and brings immediate threats to your driver’s license and clean record. We guide you through the complex court and DMV processes to minimize penalties and seek a reduction or dismissal of charges.
Alhambra Hit and Run DUI Lawyer: Leaving the scene of an accident while intoxicated combines two severe offenses that carry heavy jail time and prolonged license revocation. We meticulously challenge the prosecution’s evidence and build a strong defense to mitigate these compounded penalties.
Alhambra Marijuana DUI Lawyer: Law enforcement increasingly targets drivers for cannabis impairment, yet chemical tests for marijuana are notoriously unreliable indicators of active intoxication. We challenge faulty roadside assessments and toxicology reports to protect your rights.
Alhambra Misdemeanor DUI Lawyer: Even standard misdemeanor DUIs carry heavy fines, mandatory education classes, and significant license suspensions. We work tirelessly to uncover procedural errors by law enforcement and fight for a favorable resolution.
Alhambra Second-Offense DUI Lawyer: A second DUI within a ten-year window triggers harsher mandatory minimums, including potential jail time and extended license suspensions. We develop strategic defenses to challenge the initial traffic stop or chemical test results and fight these escalating consequences.
Alhambra Third Offense DUI Lawyer: California treats a third DUI strike with severe penalties, often pursuing extensive jail sentences and multi-year license revocations. We leverage our deep courtroom experience to aggressively contest the evidence and fight to keep you out of custody.

What Happens When You Get a DUI in Alhambra?

The California Vehicle Code sets DUI penalties at the state level. Your fines and penalties depend on whether you have previous DUIs on your criminal record. The sentences are different for the first time, the second time, and the third or subsequent offenders.

In the past ten years, all DUI convictions and related convictions count toward this number. As a baseline, let us look at the penalties for a first-time DUI with no complicating factors:

Fines

You will pay a minimum of about $1,800, including the minimum fine and the mandatory court penalties, and the numbers only go up from there. First-time DUI sentences are supposed to be light, but the total costs can exceed $15,600.

Jail Time

Many DUI sentences include jail time, ranging from 48 hours to six months for a first offense. Professional legal representation may help you avoid incarceration.

Suspended Driver’s License

All DUI sentences include loss of driving privileges. A suspension can last at least several months and can be much longer.

DUI School Attendance

The judge can order you into DUI treatment at your own expense. You cannot get your license back until this is complete.

Other Penalties

California law may require you to install an ignition interlock device (IID) and remain on probation for some time after the end of your jail sentence.

Repeat DUI Convictions Have Harsher Results

Sentences for repeat DUI convictions are much more severe. You could be in jail for up to one year or even sent to state prison for up to 16 months. Fines and fees routinely run in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Both your DUI treatment and license suspension could last for years. A DUI lawyer in Alhambra, CA, can explain the law in clear terms so you understand what you are facing should you be convicted.

California increases the penalties for each subsequent DUI charge so that a third offense will result in more severe consequences than a second conviction. California generally uses a 10-year lookback period when determining penalties for prior DUI offenses.

Can You Remove a DUI from Your Record?

You may go through the legal process of expungement for some DUI charges. Expungement will partially remove a DUI from your record. However, it does not fully erase the DUI; the conviction can still be used as a prior offense if you are charged with another DUI in the future.

Therefore, legal professionals recommend that you address a DUI before a conviction by hiring a lawyer who can seek dismissal or negotiate reduced charges when supported by the facts.

What an Alhambra DUI Lawyer Brings to Your Case

You don’t have to try to face the Alhambra police department on your own. A lawyer can help you deal with law enforcement and may:

Challenge the admissibility or reliability of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test results.
Look for holes or inconsistencies in police reports.
Protect your rights.
Negotiation with the district attorney and prosecutor.

DUI lawyers may obtain not-guilty verdicts or favorable negotiated resolutions, depending on the facts of the case. In many other cases, they bring back extremely generous deals. A DUI attorney is here to examine your case thoroughly so you can focus more on your personal life.

You will not have to worry about learning the law to represent yourself at any of the court hearings when you work with an experienced criminal defense attorney.

What Parts of Your Case Can a DUI Lawyer Handle?

A qualified attorney can assist with every aspect of your legal case after an arrest for a drunk driving offense. Your lawyer may help with your:

DMV Hearing

When the police arrest you for a DUI, you have only 10 days to request a DMV hearing to challenge the suspension of your driving privileges. They will supply the evidence to show the DMV that you can drive safely until your court trial.

Do NOT miss this deadline! Ask your DUI lawyer to represent you at the hearing.

Arraignment

Within a few weeks of your arrest, you will receive a date for an arraignment. An arraignment is a court hearing where you enter your plea. It is not a trial.

However, this is your first time formally contacting the prosecutor in court. They will be sizing you up to see if they can push you into taking a bad plea bargain. What they do not want to see is a reputable DUI lawyer at your side.

You can make their job much harder by securing legal representation. Your main objective should be to retain the services of a skilled DUI attorney before the arraignment and have them speak for you at the hearing.

Trial

If your case proceeds to trial, it will occur at the Alhambra Courthouse. But your lawyer’s goal is to resolve your case in your favor before the trial ever happens. They can negotiate with the prosecutor to pursue a favorable resolution when appropriate.

A plea bargain could include very light penalties or even a lesser charge. In some cases, charges may be reduced or dismissed, depending on the facts and available evidence. You can discuss this option during a confidential consultation with an attorney.

Speak to a DUI Attorney for Free

Do not go to the courtroom alone. Fill out our online contact form or call our office for your FREE consultation today. The longer you wait to talk to an Alhambra DUI lawyer, the higher the risk of losing your driver’s license.

You have just 10 days following a DUI arrest to save your license. Do not delay. Make the call now.

We will match you with a pre-screened DUI lawyer who offers a FREE case consultation. At this consultation, you will learn everything you need to know to decide how you want to handle your case.