You can face a DUI charge in Citrus, California. In this instance, you should hire a Citrus DUI lawyer right away. Failure to do so can lead to a DUI conviction.
As soon as you are charged with a DUI in Citrus, seek legal help. At this time, get in touch with a Los Angeles DUI lawyer. Next, your attorney can review your charge and help you find the best way to defend against it.
What It Means to Get Charged with a DUI in Citrus
A Citrus police officer can pull you over while you are driving and request a preliminary alcohol screening (PAS) test at any time. This can ultimately lead to a DUI charge. Once you receive this charge, you may be forced to deal with many consequences that come with a DUI.
The penalties for a DUI in Citrus vary. If you are charged with a first-offense DUI, you may have your driver’s license suspended and face jail time or fines. For a second or third-offense DUI, the penalties escalate.
A Citrus DUI attorney can explain California’s laws relating to DUI charges. If you get a DUI charge, your attorney can help you figure out if any laws were violated. Plus, your lawyer can help you build a legal strategy.
What to Expect from a DUI Lawyer in Citrus
A DUI attorney in Citrus gives every case their undivided attention. The lawyer considers their client’s perspective and searches for ways to get this individual’s DUI charge reduced or dismissed. In addition, the lawyer may propose one or more legal strategies, including:
The Defendant Did Not Receive Their Miranda Rights
Police officers are required to read an individual their Miranda rights before an arrest. Doing so ensures a person knows their constitutional rights. Yet, there can be times when a police officer fails to deliver a person’s Miranda rights prior to arresting them.
If you are not read your Miranda rights before you are arrested for a DUI in Citrus, some of the evidence the prosecution tries to use against you may be impermissible. For example, if a police officer questioned you before they provided you with your Miranda rights, they may not be able to use the testimony you provided against you. Also, you can say that you were never read your Miranda rights, which the court will consider when they review your DUI charge.
You can notify a Citrus DUI lawyer that you were not provided with your Miranda rights, and they can tailor your legal strategy accordingly. The attorney may make the fact that you were not read your Miranda rights the centerpiece or one part of your legal strategy. In either scenario, the lawyer can use this information to strengthen your case.
A Police Officer Lacked Probable Cause
You can get pulled over on the suspicion that you are driving under the influence. However, a police officer must have probable cause that you are violating California’s DUI laws. Proving this can be difficult.
A police officer may claim they pulled you over since you were swerving or violating other California laws. The officer may also find that you are slurring your speech or showing other signs of being intoxicated. In this scenario, the officer may require a roadside breath test or field sobriety test to verify you are intoxicated.
If you do not complete a roadside breath test or field sobriety test, it can be challenging for a police officer to show they had probable cause to charge you with a DUI. Or, even if you complete either of these tests, neither is 100% accurate. Thus, you may be able to contest a DUI on the grounds of a lack of probable cause.
You Were Not Driving When You Were Charged with a DUI
There can be instances when a Citrus DUI attorney recommends a “no-driving defense” for their client. With this defense, the defendant claims they were not actually operating a motor vehicle at the time they were charged with a DUI. The defendant may use this defense in any of the following scenarios:
- They were found asleep while behind the wheel.
- They own a car but someone else was driving it at the time of their DUI charge.
- Someone reported that the defendant was driving their car erratically but was actually at home when police found them in their vehicle while intoxicated.
- They were involved in an accident and charged with a DUI since they were standing next to a car, even though they did not drive the vehicle.
There are times when police may assume you were driving a vehicle while intoxicated but were not. In some cases, an individual faces a DUI charge while they are asleep or resting in their car while it is running. Although a police officer may assume this individual was operating the vehicle, they must be able to prove it in court.
A Los Angeles DUI lawyer leaves no stone unturned in their quest to help you contest your DUI charge. The lawyer learns the facts of your case and reviews all of the evidence against you. Then, the attorney can help you decide how to dispute the charge in the hopes of getting it dismissed or lowered.
Why You Need to Hire a DUI Lawyer in Citrus
A Citrus DUI attorney makes no assumptions regarding your case. The lawyer understands your point of view and works with you to resolve your case. This attorney encourages you to ask questions and makes sure your legal rights are protected, too.
If you are charged with a DUI in Citrus, do not wait to hire an attorney. Your DUI charge will not go away on its own. If you wait too long, you risk a DUI conviction that hurts you long into the future.
Your Citrus DUI lawyer communicates and collaborates with you until your case is resolved. Over the course of your litigation, your attorney explores every legal avenue to dispute your DUI charge. If your attorney succeeds, you can resolve your charge with little to no ramifications.
Get Started with a Citrus DUI Attorney
You can start working with a DUI lawyer in Los Angeles and its surrounding areas at any time. For more information or to speak with a DUI attorney, please contact us online.
