Driving under the influence (DUI) carries harsh penalties in California. You will face license suspension, possible jail time, fines, and more. There are many complicating factors and issues to consider that can impact your case.
DUI defendants do not want to lose their entire life over a mistake or misunderstanding. A Hawthorne DUI lawyer can work to help clients lower or beat them. You can reach out to a lawyer to go over your defense strategies after an arrest.
How Does a DUI Lawyer in Hawthorne Help?
A criminal defense lawyer can help with all your legal needs after an arrest. DUI arrests result in criminal charges, so it’s essential to get assistance quickly with every step of the legal process. An attorney may help by:
- Getting your DUI charges reduced
- Having your DUI charges dismissed
- Representing you in court with solid legal defenses
A criminal defense law firm can help with a wide range of DUI charges, including:
- Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
- Driving With a Blood Alcohol of .08% or Greater
- Drinking in a Vehicle
- Underage Possession of Alcohol in a Vehicle
You can discuss the specific charges you face with a criminal defense attorney after a Hawthorne DUI arrest. Your lawyer can help during your arraignment hearing, bail hearing, and during all legal questioning.
A DUI arrest can lead to misdemeanor or felony charges, and a conviction can impact your life for years to come, so get help quickly from a Hawthorne criminal defense lawyer.
Do You Need a DUI Lawyer After an Arrest?
Legal professionals recommend that you get professional help from a criminal defense law firm after an arrest for drunk driving. Handling these charges alone can feel overwhelming and may result in severe penalties.
Additionally, California considers DUI convictions as priorable offenses. Therefore, each conviction for impaired driving can have harsher penalties.
Minimum Penalties for a DUI
California treats a first-time DUI differently than a second or subsequent DUI, which impacts your minimum penalties. Other complications can lead to harsher penalties. DUIs stay on your criminal record for ten years.
A subsequent offense that happens within a decade can significantly impact your freedom. If you get another DUI 11 years after your first offense, it counts as a first offense. Minimum penalties for DUIs include:
- Fines reach $1,800 for first, second, and third offenses
- 48 hours in jail for a first offense, 96 hours for a second offense, and 120 days for three or more offenses
- License suspension for a first and second offense and revocation for a third offense
- Short-term alcohol treatment program for a first offense. Long-term alcohol program for second and third offenses
While the above list contains minimum penalties, maximum penalties can be more than twice these penalties or more. Complicating factors can increase your fines, lengthen jail time, and extend your license suspension.
Probation is also possible, usually applied to a first offense, lasting three years or longer. A DUI lawyer in Hawthorne, CA, can advise you on the penalties that apply to your case.
Driver’s License Suspensions
The possibility of losing your license is common, whether it is a first or fourth offense. The time you can be without a license will vary depending on your charges, additional penalties, and hearing results.
Sometimes, you can get limited driving privileges, so there is a minor interruption in your daily schedule.
There are different types of license suspension, and a DUI attorney in Hawthorne, CA, can help you understand what you are facing.
The Department of Motor Vehicles May Suspend Your License
You may face an administrative suspension from the DMV for driving under the influence. Administrative suspension happens automatically 30 days after your arrest. The DMV can suspend your license even if the court does not find you guilty of a DUI.
The DMV allows you to request a hearing within ten days to plead your case and avoid suspension. The hearing can also result in a longer suspension. A license restriction can shorten your license suspension.
You can hire a criminal defense law firm to help protect your driving privileges after an arrest for drunk driving. A lawyer can also focus on building a successful defense for your criminal charges.
DUI Complications
DUI laws and defenses can be more complicated when certain elements are present. While there are minimum and maximum penalties, these complicating factors can add more penalties to your case.
When officers test your BAC, they are looking for anything over .08%, but if it is incredibly high, there are stricter penalties. A BAC of .15% or .20% is considered exceptionally high, and you will contend with different rules for each.
Refusing to take a chemical test is a crime, and that can bring additional penalties for DUIs. You will have penalties for your DUI and for refusing a test. Many defendants are unaware that they have given implied consent to the state when they apply for a driver’s license.
DUI Crashes and Injuries
Another complication of a DUI in Hawthorne is a collision that results in injury or death. You can face felony charges for getting into an accident while under the influence. Sometimes the best strategy is to lower your charges to misdemeanors.
A felony conviction can carry one to five years in prison. You can lose your right to vote when you have a felony conviction and might be liable for damages the other party incurs from the accident. Your car insurance rates will also increase, and finding work will be difficult.
The Prosecution’s Case
A criminal defense lawyer can find weak spots in the prosecutor’s case and gather additional evidence to help you. Chemical and field sobriety tests are critical evidence, but they are finicky and unreliable.
Driving patterns and driver behavior are the basis of many DUI cases. Police have a list of driving patterns and behaviors to look for that can be signs of intoxication but can also be attributed to other causes.
Erratic driving and your behavior during the traffic stop are significant parts of the prosecution’s case. You can build a defense against impaired driving allegations with legal professionals today.
Speak with a DUI Lawyer Today
A Hawthorne DUI lawyer knows that your life is in purgatory after a DUI arrest, and time is not on your side. You must work with an experienced DUI law firm in Hawthorne. Contact us to schedule a consultation with a professional legal team immediately.
An attorney may listen to your concerns through video conferencing in some situations. Your attorney can stick with you throughout each step of the legal process.
