Facing a DUI in Glendale, CA, is not easy. Whether it is your first offense or you have previous DUIs on your record, the penalties are steep, and the prosecutor will throw the book at you. Being convicted of a DUI means losing your driver’s license, spending time in jail, and paying hefty fines.
The total cost of a DUI or DWI (driving while intoxicated) charge in Glendale can add up to thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. That is why we believe it is so important to go into your case with a good DUI lawyer in Glendale. A skilled criminal defense lawyer will counsel you as you go through the system and give you every fighting chance to win your case.
They may be able to get your sentence reduced, help you keep your license, get the DUI charge downgraded to something less serious, or even win your case altogether. And in many cases, a DWI lawyer will save you money.
How Bad Is a DUI?
Glendale takes DUI cases seriously and doles out harsh punishments. Every year there are over 900 DUI arrests in Glendale, and each of those arrests has the potential to bring in money for the Glendale city government.
It should be no surprise that 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 end up facing felony charges. Penalties for DUI include:
- Approximately $1800 minimum in fines and fees for a first 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
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.
What Happens When You Get a DUI
If you are arrested by the Glendale Police you will likely spend one to three days in the Glendale 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 booking, two things happen very quickly, and it is best to have a DUI lawyer in Glendale on your side before either one of them.
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 good lawyer will advise you to plead Not Guilty. Public defenders (the lawyers assigned by the state), however, will often tell you to plead guilty.
This is one of the many reasons you want an experienced Glendale DUI lawyer at your side during your arraignment.
Your DMV Hearing Deadline
You may not know it, but from the moment of your arrest, the clock is ticking. 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. A DUI lawyer can help you file the request and even represent you at the hearing, potentially winning you back your driving privileges until the trial.
Be Ready for Your Trial
A second, longer clock is also ticking: the time until your trial. During this time, a DUI lawyer will sift through the evidence against you, find holes in it, and gather evidence of their own. Their job is to make the prosecution’s job as hard as possible.
If the prosecutor does not think they have an easy win, they may offer you a generous deal. They may even drop the case against you.
If your case does go to trial, your lawyer can move to have key evidence thrown out—evidence like the breath test you were likely forced to take. They may be able to convince the jury that there is a “reasonable doubt” as to whether you were intoxicated. In other words, they will fight for your freedom.
How to Find the Best DUI Lawyer in Glendale, CA
By now, it should be obvious what a difference a DUI lawyer can make in your case. But that does not always mean it is easy to find one. Many lawyers say they are DUI attorneys in Glendale even if they take a wide variety of criminal cases.
They may not have the expertise and training that a dedicated DUI defense attorney has. Here is what you should look for to find a lawyer you can trust:
- Their entire practice is dedicated to DUI defense and related charges.
- They have special training, experience, or board certification relating to 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 your initial consultation for free.
We specialize in finding lawyers who meet these criteria and matching drivers like you with an attorney who will do the best job possible. They will work tirelessly to collect evidence that rebuts any claims of your guilt and protect your rights throughout the process.
How a DUI Law Firm Helps Your Case
All too often, drivers arrested for DUI think there is nothing they can do. After all, if the police made you take a blood or breath test, there is proof that you were intoxicated, right? How could you possibly win?
But Glendale DUI lawyers take on cases like that every day. They have developed methods to challenge even the most seemingly “scientific” evidence against you.
Police Officers Are Not Always Right
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 officer’s report might show an error.
Their own arrest report might be inconsistent with their testimony. They may also demonstrate unconscious biases in your arrest that can be successfully questioned to undermine their testimony.
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. 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?
Everything Is Negotiable
With an experienced DUI/DWI lawyer on your side, you may never even have to go to trial. Your attorney may be able to negotiate to have the charge reduced to reckless driving or be offered a lighter sentence than you would get in court. If you do go to trial, your lawyer will use a vast toolkit to sway the jury over to your side.
This includes showing inconsistencies in the arresting officer’s claims, calling in expert witnesses, and subpoenaing evidence that shows the holes in the blood alcohol test you were forced to take. If the evidence against you is weak, your Glendale DUI attorney can demonstrate to the prosecutor that they are ready to fight every step of the way. This could induce the prosecution to reduce or dismiss your charges.
The Clock Is Already Ticking on Your DUI Case
DUI cases move quickly and leave no room for error. From the time you are arrested, the prosecution is already preparing how to put you behind bars, take away your license, and get the largest possible fines out of you. Each stage of the pre-trial build-up contains opportunities for you to strengthen your case or get the charges dropped—and if you miss these opportunities, you cannot go back for them.
Do not let the prosecutor decide your fate. Go into your case with a qualified DUI lawyer at your side, and maximize your chances of success. We pre-screen DUI attorneys to make sure they are experienced, skilled, and dedicated to their clients.
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 for you, and arrange a free, no-risk consultation.
