Glendale DUI Lawyer

Facing a DUI in Glendale, CA, is not easy. Being convicted of a DUI means losing your driving privileges, spending time in jail, and paying hefty fines. An experienced DUI lawyer serving Glendale will protect your rights after being charged with driving under the influence.

Los Angeles DUI Lawyer can connect you with a skilled DUI defense attorney who will counsel you as you go through the system. They will give you every fighting chance to win your case.

Investing in a qualified DUI lawyer serving Glendale is an investment in your future. By enlisting a criminal defense attorney with decades of experience, you can protect your rights and secure a favorable outcome.

Why Hire a Glendale DUI Attorney?

A Glendale DUI attorney gives you the guidance and protection you need during this stressful process. A local DUI lawyer understands California DUI laws, Glendale courts, and how local prosecutors handle these cases, which can make a meaningful difference in the outcome.

A Glendale DUI attorney reviews every detail of your case, including the traffic stop, field sobriety tests, breath or blood test results, and whether law enforcement followed proper procedures. If your rights were violated or the evidence is flawed, your attorney can challenge it and work to have charges reduced or dismissed.

An experienced DUI lawyer can also represent you at DMV hearings, which are separate from criminal court and critical to protecting your driver’s license. Most importantly, a Glendale DUI attorney advocates for your best interests at every stage.

We Can Connect You With Many Types of DUI Lawyers serving Glendale

A DUI charge can be overwhelming and confusing, especially when you are unsure what to expect next. The legal process moves quickly, and the decisions made early on can have a lasting impact on your life. The right lawyer can protect your future.

Glendale DUI lawyers we can connect you with include:

• Glendale commercial DUI lawyers: Commercial drivers are held to higher standards than other motorists. A DUI involving a commercial driver’s license (CDL) can occur at a lower blood alcohol concentration and may lead to immediate license suspension, job loss, and long-term career consequences.
• Glendale felony DUI lawyers: Felony DUI charges are typically filed when a DUI involves serious injury, death, or multiple prior convictions. These cases carry severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and substantial fines.
• Glendale first offense DUI lawyers: A first DUI offense can still result in fines, license suspension, DUI classes, and possible jail time. Many first-time offenders are unfamiliar with the legal process and their options.
• Glendale hit and run DUI lawyers: A DUI combined with a hit and run is treated very seriously by the courts. These cases may involve property damage, injuries, or fatalities, and penalties can increase quickly.
• Glendale marijuana DUI lawyers: Marijuana DUI cases are based on impairment, not a specific legal limit, which makes them complex and often subjective. Law enforcement may rely on observations or drug recognition evaluations.
• Glendale misdemeanor DUI lawyers: Most DUI charges are filed as misdemeanors, especially for first or second offenses without injuries. While considered less severe than felonies, misdemeanor DUIs can still result in jail time, fines, and license suspension.
• Glendale second offense DUI lawyers: A second DUI offense carries harsher penalties, including longer license suspension, increased fines, and mandatory jail time. Courts treat repeat offenses more strictly.
• Glendale third offense DUI lawyers: A third DUI offense is considered a serious repeat violation and often involves significant jail time and lengthy license revocation. The consequences can be life-changing.

Possible Penalties for a DUI in Glendale

California takes DUI cases seriously and doles out harsh punishments to those convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol. A DUI has become one of the most expensive misdemeanors on the books.

Glendale’s DUI penalties are determined by California state law. They are stiff for a first conviction and get substantially more severe for each additional conviction.

If you get too many DUIs, you could face felony charges and criminal penalties, which include:

• Approximately $390 minimum in fines and fees for a first DUI conviction, and up to $18,000 for repeat offenders
• A minimum of three days in county jail for first-time offenders
• Mandatory education or alcohol treatment at your expense
• Loss of your driving license or driving privileges
• Community service

Jail Time

Jail sentences get longer for repeat violations, and a fourth DUI could put you in state prison for years. DUI convictions also mean forfeiting your license, from as little as just a few months to as much as several years.

These penalties can potentially be reduced or dismissed if you have qualified Glendale DUI lawyers working for you. Your attorney can negotiate with prosecutors, challenge evidence, and advocate for the best interests of their clients.

What Happens When You Get a DUI?

If the Glendale Police arrest you, you will likely spend one to three days in jail. However, you may be taken to a different facility if you are booked by the LA County Sheriff or local California state troopers instead.

You will be released on bail or your “own recognizance” (a promise to return to court). In rare instances, you will be held in jail until your arraignment.

After your impaired driving booking, two things happen very quickly. It is best to have a DUI lawyer serving Glendale on your side before either of them. First, you must attend your arraignment, followed by your DMV hearing.

Your Arraignment

The arraignment is a short hearing before a judge at the Glendale Courthouse. At this hearing, you will be asked to officially enter your plea. In almost all cases, a Glendale criminal defense lawyer will advise you to plead not guilty. However, public defenders (the lawyers assigned by the state) will often tell you to plead guilty.

You have only ten days to request a hearing from the DMV. The hearing will be held at a nearby DMV office or over the phone. If you do not request a hearing, they will automatically suspend your driver’s license—even though you have not been found guilty yet. DUI lawyers serving Glendale are familiar with relevant time frames and can help you promptly file the request.

When you are facing criminal charges, a criminal defense attorney can represent you at the DMV hearing. During the DMV hearing, evidence and arguments can be presented to demonstrate the validity of your request to keep your license.

Be Ready for Your Trial

A second, longer clock is also ticking: the time until your trial. During this period, a Glendale DUI attorney will sift through the evidence against you, find holes in it, gather evidence of their own, and begin constructing a strong case on your behalf. Their job is to make the prosecution’s job as hard as possible.

As the trial approaches, the prosecutor will assess the strength of their case against you. If the prosecutor does not think they have an easy win, they may offer you a generous plea deal (such as a reduced charge) to resolve the case. In some instances, the prosecutor may even decide to drop the criminal charges against you entirely if they feel their case is particularly weak.

Your criminal lawyer will prepare for the courtroom battle if your case goes to trial. They may file motions to exclude key evidence, such as the breath test results, if there are valid grounds to do so. Their objective is to weaken the prosecution’s case and strengthen yours by preventing the introduction of potentially damaging evidence.

A Glendale DUI Lawyer Will Advocate For Your Rights

Throughout the trial, your attorney’s role is to advocate for your freedom and innocence. They will present compelling arguments and evidence to establish “reasonable doubt” in the jury’s minds.

By casting uncertainty on the accuracy of the prosecution’s evidence or the validity of the field sobriety tests, they aim to persuade the jury that you may not have been intoxicated at the time of the arrest.

Stay Calm During Your Arrest

Staying calm and composed during a DUI arrest is crucial for ensuring your safety and protecting your legal rights. Here are some tips to help you stay cool:

• Remain calm: Stay composed and avoid arguing or becoming confrontational with the arresting officers. Keeping a level head can prevent the situation from escalating.
• Be polite and cooperative: Follow the officer’s instructions politely. Cooperate with reasonable requests, such as providing identification or stepping out of the vehicle.
• Invoke your rights: You have the right to remain silent and the right to legal representation. Politely inform the officer that you wish to exercise these rights.
• Limit information: Avoid providing unnecessary information or explanations beyond basic identification details. Anything you say can potentially be used against you.
• Avoid resisting arrest: Resisting arrest can lead to additional charges and escalate the situation. Compliance does not imply guilt and is often in your best interest.
• Ask for clarification: If you don’t understand something or need clarification on why you are being arrested, you can ask calmly and respectfully.
• Document the arrest: If possible, take mental notes or discreetly record the events leading up to and during the arrest. This information can be helpful for your defense later on.
• Contact Los Angeles DUI Lawyer to get connected: As soon as possible after your arrest, seek legal advice from a qualified DUI attorney. They can provide guidance on how to proceed and protect your rights throughout the legal process.

Maintaining composure during a DUI arrest can help mitigate potential consequences and ensure a smoother process during what can be a stressful situation.

Common Defense Strategies for Your DUI Arrest

Defending against a DUI charge involves various strategies aimed at challenging the evidence and procedural aspects of the case. These defenses seek to highlight inconsistencies, errors, or violations that may weaken the prosecution’s argument of impairment due to alcohol or drugs.

Common defense strategies in a Glendale DUI case include:

• Challenging the traffic stop: Asserting that the initial stop by law enforcement lacked probable cause or was conducted improperly.
• Questioning field sobriety tests (FSTs): Pointing out factors such as poor administration, environmental conditions, or physical issues that could have influenced test performance.
• Disputing breathalyzer accuracy: Contesting the reliability of breathalyzer results due to calibration issues, improper usage, or external factors affecting the test outcome.
• Arguing medical conditions or diet: Presenting evidence that certain medical conditions, medications, or low-carb diets can mimic intoxication symptoms or affect test results.
• Raising chain of custody issues: Challenging the handling or processing of blood samples, questioning whether proper protocols were followed.
• Asserting rights violations: Claiming that constitutional rights were infringed during arrest, questioning the legality of procedures conducted by law enforcement.

Each strategy aims to create reasonable doubt regarding the accused’s guilt, emphasizing the importance of skilled legal representation to handle the intricacies of DUI cases.

Police Officers are Not Always Right

Law enforcement officials are not infallible, and preconceived notions might cloud their judgment. Arresting officers may imagine signs of drunkenness because they have already decided a driver was DUI.

Reviewing the video footage, talking to other witnesses, or investigating the police report might uncover errors or inconsistencies that doubt the accuracy of their observations. In some instances, discrepancies may emerge when comparing the officer’s arrest report to their testimony, raising more questions about their credibility.

They may also demonstrate unconscious biases in your arrest that can be successfully questioned to undermine their testimony. Establishing an offer’s potential for error is often sufficient to create reasonable doubt in the jury’s mind.

Data Can Lie

Breath and blood tests are supposed to be scientific, but they are only as good as the equipment and personnel who carry them out. DUI attorneys serving Glendale, CA, are well-versed in the intricacies of discrediting blood test results in California DUI cases. They can easily identify potential flaws or inaccuracies that could have affected the test results.

A skilled DUI attorney will know how to uncover the answers to these very important questions:

• When was the breath test machine last calibrated?
• What is its margin of error?
• Does it have a history of erring on the high side?
• Were you on prescription medications that could affect the outcome of the test?

How to Find the Right DUI Lawyer Serving Glendale, CA

By now, it should be obvious what a difference an experienced Glendale DUI attorney can make in your case. But that does not always mean it is easy to find one.

Many criminal lawyers say they are experienced in DUI cases, even if they take a wide variety of criminal cases and do not focus on DUI law. They may not have a dedicated criminal defense attorney’s skills or training. Here is what you should look for to find legal representation you can trust:

• Their entire practice is dedicated to DUI defense and related charges.
• They have training, experience, or board certification for DUI cases.
• They treat you like a person, not a case file.
• They empathize with what you are going through and care about your outcome.
• They offer an initial consultation for free.

With an experienced Glendale DUI lawyer on your side, you may never even have to go to trial. Your attorney may negotiate to have the charge reduced to reckless driving or get you a lighter sentence than you would receive in court. If you go to trial, your criminal defense lawyer will use a vast toolkit to sway the jury to your side.

Work With an Experienced DUI Lawyer Serving Glendale

Do not let the prosecutor decide your fate. Go into your case with a qualified Glendale DUI lawyer to maximize your chances of success. We pre-screen DUI lawyers so you don’t have to.

We then match them with defendants like you—for free. Submit our contact form now and get a professional on your case. We will take down your case details, find the right DUI lawyer, and arrange a free, no-risk consultation.

Make use of this valuable time and contact us today to take advantage of the strong legal defense you are entitled to. The team at Los Angeles DUI Attorney is here to help.