If the police charge you with driving under the influence (DUI), you can fight the arrest with an experienced Carson DUI lawyer who knows the system and what methods work to beat a DUI.
An attorney can handle all legal matters on your behalf, helping you avoid severe penalties like jail time, fines, and restrictions on your driver’s license. You can immediately take charge with a Carson criminal defense lawyer.
When to Contact a DUI Lawyer for Help
You can get legal advice about building a strong defense immediately after any DUI arrest. For example, a criminal defense law firm can help after an arrest for:
- CA Vehicle Code 23152 (a) – Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
- CA Vehicle Code 23136: Underage Drinking
- CA Vehicle Code 23152 (d) – Commercial Vehicle DUI
A lawyer can use professional DUI strategies to help you face any DUI charges used in California.
Penalties You Face if You Are Convicted
State law sets the penalties for a DUI conviction, depending on your previous convictions. You will face different sentences for a first, second, third, or subsequent DUI in ten years. None of the sentences are light.
A first-time DUI conviction can include the following penalties:
- Fines and fees can total at least $1,800 and can add up to much more.
- Jail time lasts anywhere from two days to six months.
- The suspension of your license for several months or much longer.
- A requirement to attend “DUI school” for at least three months, at the cost of $500.
The penalties can soar much higher if the judge is not feeling generous. Even a first-time DUI conviction can end up costing you over $15,000 in total.
If you have had previous DUIs, the penalties swell to include up to a year in jail, more than a year in prison, years of license suspension, and a court-ordered treatment program that drags on for 30 months.
In some cases, the court treats DUI charges as a felony. After a conviction, you may have to install an ignition interlock device on your car and remain on probation, possibly for years.
The Difference a DUI Lawyer in Carson Makes
Having an experienced DUI lawyer behind you is the best thing you can do for your case. Judges see countless DUI defendants come and go, most of them making the same mistakes. Defendants may go into a case without legal knowledge of what they face.
Prosecutors and defense lawyers know that only specific, time-tested DUI defenses will likely work and that you must choose the right one based on your case. Examples of what a DUI lawyer does include:
- Challenging the breath or blood test: The case against you will stay intact with this evidence.
- Challenging the arresting officers’ testimony: Lawyers often spot inconsistencies others would miss.
- Challenging the arrest: Was it legal to pull you over? Were you appropriately treated? Were you read your rights?
- Driving a hard bargain: A DUI lawyer can talk to the prosecutor on their terms and show them why it makes sense not to pursue your case.
The ultimate goal of your lawyer is to get your case dropped or have you acquitted of all charges. Even when that is not possible, they may be able to improve your outcome. They could save thousands of dollars or help keep you out of jail.
What to Expect After a DUI Arrest
DUI cases start differently depending on who arrested you and the circumstances of the arrest. Carson is policed primarily by the Los Angeles County Sheriff, but the California Highway Patrol handles many DUIs out of the South Los Angeles office.
Either way, the police will likely book you at the Carson Sheriff Station, and you may need to pay bail to be released. The legal process before you is complicated, and it moves quickly.
You face legal deadlines that will affect you for the rest of your life. It is essential to make intelligent and informed choices before these deadlines. The deadlines in the legal process include the following:
DMV Hearing
Did you know you will lose your license if you do not request a DMV hearing within ten days of your arrest? The arresting officers are supposed to tell you this, but they do not always clarify it.
You automatically lose your license just for being arrested for DUI, without even having your day in court. You can request an administrative hearing to prevent this automatic suspension.
The only way to stop it is to have a hearing with the state DMV, and you must request it within ten days. The best way to handle this hearing is to ask a DUI attorney to represent you.
Arraignment
Within 14 days of your arrest, you must attend a hearing before a judge known as the arraignment. You enter your plea (Guilty or Not Guilty) at this short hearing. It is also your first chance to make an impression on the prosecutor.
Prosecutors have a lot of cases, and they usually prey on easy targets. They will size you up in terms of whether you have a lawyer and whether that lawyer has a strong reputation as a DUI attorney.
If they think it will be hard to prosecute your case, they are more likely to offer you a bargain.
Trial
Carson DUI trials may occur in the Compton Courthouse within 45 days of your arrest. However, many cases do not go to trial. Instead, your attorney will work to resolve your case in your favor before the trial even happens.
A DUI lawyer in Carson may be able to get the charges reduced, secure a light sentence, or even have the charges dropped altogether. If you go to court, they will fight to have you found Not Guilty.
How to Defend Yourself Against DUI Allegations
Having a powerful defense strategy is essential if you hope to avoid the devastating consequences of a DUI conviction.
Pretrial Diversion
Before going to trial, you may want to consider talking with your DUI attorney in Carson, CA, about entering a pretrial diversion program. Here, you can avoid going to trial and work out a plea agreement with the prosecuting attorney in your case.
When you enter a pretrial diversion program for a DUI, you will need to meet specific requirements. For example, you might have to attend regular meetings with a probation officer, abstain from drug and alcohol use, pass random drug tests, and attend DUI school.
Once you fulfill the terms of your pretrial diversion program, the district attorney drops the charges against you or reduces them to a lesser offense, depending on the specific terms of your agreement. However, not everyone will qualify for pretrial diversion.
Crafting a Defense Strategy
If you are a habitual DUI offender or someone suffered severe bodily injury or death due to your drunk driving, you may not be eligible for a pretrial diversion. Some potential defenses that could clear your name of the charges against you include:
- Prosecutorial misconduct
- Unlawful stop
- Inaccurate field sobriety test results
- Inaccurate chemical blood alcohol content test results
- Laboratory mistakes
- Unlawful search and seizure
- Violations of your constitutional rights
Your criminal defense attorney can help if you face a misdemeanor or felony charge. Your lawyer can help you navigate the criminal justice system and protect your rights.
Speak to a DUI Attorney for Free
Everyone accused of DUI deserves a good defense. Our website exists to help you get one. We take drivers like you and match you with an experienced Carson DUI lawyer.
Every attorney in our network offers a free case consultation to discuss what they can do for your case and what to expect. There is no better step you can take.
Do not let a DUI arrest take over your life. Get the legal help you need. Please fill out our secured online contact form or call our office to get your free consultation today.
