Drunk driving charges are serious. You face hefty fines, license suspension, DUI schooling, and even jail time. It is not a slap on the wrist. A DUI is a criminal offense with severe consequences.
But you can fight your DUI charge. An El Segundo DUI lawyer can help guide you through the legal system, challenge the evidence against you, bargain with the prosecution, and work to get you a favorable outcome.
You could avoid trial and might even get your charge reduced or dropped entirely. A good DUI lawyer in Los Angeles could even save you thousands of dollars. There is no cost to learn more about your defense options. Contact Los Angeles DUI Attorneys today for a free initial consultation.
Penalties for a DUI
A DUI is costly. Between fines and administrative fees, you will pay at least $1,800. In many cases, it will cost far more—up to a total of $15,649 for a first-time offense. These massive penalties are income for the city.
The city holds all-night DUI checkpoints, which can catch dozens of drivers at a time, and shows little leniency to those caught.
But the penalties for a DUI in Southern California aren’t just financial. The consequences someone can face for a DUI include:
- Driver license suspension: You will lose your license for a period from four months up to one year.
- DUI school: You must complete alcohol education classes lasting at least three months. This may cost you more than $500.
- Jail time: You will spend at least two days in jail or up to six months.
- Probation: Your probation period will last three to five years. The judge or DMV may also order you to install an interlock device in your vehicle. This prevents the car from starting if you are intoxicated. It may require further breath samples during driving as well.
- Car insurance rates: Even after the government is done with you, a DUI can affect your insurance rates in California for years to come.
A DUI can also impact your job. Many DUI convicts have a hard time getting to work with no driver’s license, and court dates and jail time disrupt your work schedule. Employers can even choose not to hire you because of your DUI.
Repeated Offenses
These penalties are already strict, but California state law is even more harsh when doling out penalties for repeat offenders. If you have had a previous DUI in the last 10 years, your consequences will be worse:
- Longer license suspension: Repeat offenders lose their license for several years. They may even face permanent revocation.
- Rehab and more DUI school: You may have to undergo addiction treatment, and your DUI school can last up to three years.
- Longer incarceration: You may spend as long as one year in jail or up to sixteen months in a state penitentiary.
- Felony status: You could face felony charges. That means the DUI will remain on your criminal record for life and affect your basic rights.
- Heavy costs: Fines and fees for repeat offenders may be crippling. They often reach tens of thousands of dollars.
Three Deadlines in a DUI Case
A DUI arrest can be intimidating. You may have been arrested by the Police Department, the LA County Sheriff, or a state trooper from the West Los Angeles office. You might even have spent a night in jail at the Police Station.
But the arrest is only the beginning. You now face a long legal battle with three fast-moving deadlines. How you prepare for each of these deadlines will help determine your future. They are:
DMV Hearing
If you want to keep your license during the period leading up to trial, you must request a hearing at the DMV within 10 days of arrest. This “administrative suspension” is separate from court sentencing and happens even if your charge is later dropped.
Your drunk driving defense attorney in El Segundo will help you file the request and show the DMV why you deserve to keep your driving privileges.
Arraignment
This brief hearing is the moment you plead Guilty, Not Guilty, or No Contest. It happens less than two weeks from your arrest, but it’s arguably the most important date in your case. This is because it is your first opportunity to show the prosecution your conviction will be difficult.
Their resources are limited, and they don’t want to waste time and money on tough cases. If you have a strong DUI lawyer in El Segundo, it shows you plan to fight. This alone may get a much better deal from the prosecutor.
Trial
If you go to trial it will be at the Airport Courthouse. But it’s possible to resolve your case without trial. Your criminal defense lawyer will fight for an out-of-court deal by attacking the evidence against you and pushing the prosecution for a bargain.
Use the time to your advantage here—trial typically happens within 30-45 days from arrest, and the sooner you get a lawyer on your case, the better your odds will be.
How to Fight A DUI
The best way to win your case is with a DUI lawyer. An experienced lawyer will use proven tactics to turn the prosecution’s own evidence against them:
- Blood alcohol content tests: Blood samples and breath tests are often inaccurate. Your lawyer can challenge the blood alcohol concentration results on grounds of validity and get them thrown out.
- Arrest procedure: You are guaranteed certain rights under the law. If the arresting officer violated these rights or failed to follow procedure, your lawyer can turn this in your favor.
- Errors in testimonies: Police and witness reports often conflict. Sometimes the police are just wrong. Your lawyer will find the inconsistencies and use them to build your case.
- Bargaining with the prosecution: Negotiating with the prosecution is often the best way to beat a DUI charge. Your lawyer’s job is to bring the prosecutor to the table and force them to give you a way out.
Criminal defense attorneys routinely win good outcomes for their clients, both in and out of court. An El Segundo DUI attorney may be able to get your DUI reduced to a lesser charge or even win your case outright.
Serving Drivers Across El Segundo and the Surrounding Area
We defend drivers arrested throughout El Segundo and the South Bay, from Main Street and Downtown El Segundo to the Smoky Hollow district and the aerospace and office corridors along Rosecrans Avenue and El Segundo Boulevard. Whether you were stopped on the 105 or the 405 (San Diego Freeway), pulled over along Sepulveda Boulevard (Pacific Coast Highway), Imperial Highway, or Aviation Boulevard, or arrested by El Segundo Police or the CHP near the LAX, Hawthorne, or Manhattan Beach borders, we handle DUI cases across the 90245 ZIP code and the rest of the beach cities.
A El Segundo DUI moves on two tracks at once. El Segundo DUI cases are heard at the Airport Courthouse, part of the court’s Southwest District. At the same time, the DMV opens a separate Administrative Per Se (APS) action through the Los Angeles-area DMV Driver Safety Office — and you have only 10 days from your arrest to request a hearing before your license is automatically suspended. We handle both the courtroom case and the DMV hearing from day one.
Most El Segundo DUI charges are filed under California Vehicle Code 23152(a) and 23152(b) — the standard 0.08% BAC offenses — with felony exposure under VC 23153 when someone is injured. We challenge the basis for the traffic stop, the calibration and 15-minute observation period behind the preliminary alcohol screening (PAS) breath device, the chain of custody on any blood draw, and the reliability of field sobriety tests. For repeat cases, we address prior convictions, ignition interlock device (IID) requirements, SR-22 insurance filings, and DUI-school terms — and on injury cases, the Watson advisement.
El Segundo DUI cases are handled by trial attorney Michael A. Simmrin (California State Bar No. 238092), a University of Miami School of Law graduate who has tried more than 100 jury trials. Consultations are free and available 24/7 — call (310) 906-4672 to speak with an attorney directly. Learn more about Michael Simmrin →
El Segundo DUI FAQs
What is the best defense for a El Segundo DUI?
There is no single best defense – the right strategy depends on the facts of your stop and arrest. In El Segundo DUI cases, common defenses include challenging the reason for the traffic stop, questioning the calibration and 15-minute observation period behind the breath (PAS) test, scrutinizing the blood-draw chain of custody, and disputing field sobriety test results. A defense attorney reviews the police report, body-camera footage, and chemical evidence to find the weakness that fits your case under California Vehicle Code 23152.
Do I really need a lawyer for a DUI in El Segundo?
You are not legally required to hire one, but a DUI triggers two separate cases at once: the criminal case, prosecuted at the Airport Courthouse, and a DMV Administrative Per Se action that can suspend your license unless you request a hearing within 10 days of arrest. A lawyer handles both, requests the DMV hearing on time, and can spot defenses most people would miss. For a charge that affects your record, your license, and your job, experienced representation usually makes a meaningful difference.
Where do El Segundo DUI cases go to court?
Criminal DUI cases from El Segundo are heard at the Airport Courthouse on South La Cienega Boulevard, part of the Los Angeles Superior Court’s Southwest District, usually beginning with an arraignment within 30 to 45 days of arrest. The DMV license case is separate: the Administrative Per Se hearing is held through a DMV Driver Safety Office, is usually brief, and can often be done by phone. An attorney can appear for you at many of these hearings.
Is it worth fighting a El Segundo DUI?
In most cases, yes – even when the evidence looks strong. Breath and blood results do not always hold up, and fighting the charge can lead to a dismissal, an acquittal, or a reduction to a lesser offense with lighter penalties. At minimum, a thorough review of your case gives you the information to make an informed decision instead of simply accepting the first offer. Consultations are free – call (310) 906-4672 to discuss your options 24/7.
Talk to an El Segundo DUI Lawyer for Free
It can be a big challenge to face criminal charges for driving under the influence of alcohol. We believe every driver deserves a good defense. We can connect you with an experienced criminal defense firm in your area.
Learning about your legal options doesn’t cost anything. Every attorney we work with focuses exclusively on DUI and offers a free case consultation.
Turn your case around before it’s too late. Contact Los Angeles DUI Attorneys for a FREE legal consultation today.
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