Driving under the influence (DUI) is not a minor traffic violation in Hermosa Beach; it’s a serious criminal offense. Over the years, penalties for DUI have gotten tougher, and courts have become stricter in enforcing them. You face jail time, suspended driver’s licenses, DUI classes, and fines that can easily range into thousands of dollars.
One DUI conviction can affect you for the rest of your life. You need to fight your DUI charge. The smartest way to do that is to speak to a good Hermosa Beach DUI lawyer.
Your lawyer will advise you on how to approach your case, take on the prosecution, and work to get you an outcome you can be happy with.
Our team at Los Angeles DUI Lawyer can put you in touch with a criminal defense lawyer who will fight on your behalf. We have decades of combined experience helping people in situations like the one you’re facing now. Contact us today to take the first step on your legal journey.
Do You Need a DUI Lawyer Serving Hermosa Beach?
Fighting a criminal charge as complex as DUI is extremely hard without dedicated legal advice. You may need help from an attorney to understand the charges you face.
An attorney will act as more than just your legal representative; they will be the only person truly on your side in the criminal justice system.
Your criminal defense attorney will take a systematic approach to fighting your DUI charge. They’ll look at every piece of evidence against you and probe each one for weaknesses. Often, these are weaknesses that a person without legal training would not see. For example:
- Sobriety tests and blood test results may look convincing. Still, if the police don’t follow the procedures for chemical tests to the letter, the results may not be admissible at all, even if they show an elevated blood alcohol level.
- Police officer testimony is often considered reliable, but Hermosa Beach police officers sometimes misstate the facts of a case or hold outright biases that can discredit them.
- Statements or “confessions” may not be admissible in court if the police did not fully advise you of your rights in the United States.
- The police may not have conducted the arrest legally, in which case the court could dismiss the entire case.
DUI attorneys can get to work on your defense quickly, allowing you to get back your peace of mind. Your criminal defense attorney can:
- Explain the steps you should take after an arrest
- Represent you at all court appearances
- Dispute the results of a field sobriety test or a test of your blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
- Build a personalized defense
You can focus on getting criminal defense services today.
Strategies That Work for a DUI Defense
A criminal defense attorney can use several strategies to build your DUI defense. Depending on your situation, your DUI attorney may focus on:
Getting Your Criminal Charges Dropped
A judge may drop your charges if a DUI attorney can show that the prosecution has insufficient evidence or if the police violated your constitutional rights. You should not face any penalties if your criminal defense attorney gets your charges dropped.
Getting the Prosecution to Reduce Your Criminal Charges
The prosecution may reduce your charges through plea bargaining. However, taking a plea deal in a DUI case will require you to admit guilt for something else. You will face less severe penalties in this situation.
Fighting Criminal Charges in Court
Finally, a DUI attorney can fight the criminal charges you face in court, presenting your case in front of a judge and jury. Your lawyer will work tirelessly on your behalf.
Penalties for a DUI in Hermosa Beach
A DUI is a very expensive charge. Because the court sees drunk driving as a threat to public safety, fines have consistently gone up. A single conviction for a DUI offense in Southern California can now cost you as much as $15,000.
The consequences someone can face if convicted of DUI include:
- Time in jail lasting anywhere from two days to a full six months
- A license suspension for anywhere from four months to a year
- Use of an ignition interlock device (IID)
- Attending a mandatory traffic safety class known as DUI school, which lasts three months and costs $50 or more
- Paying fines and fees that add up to at least $1,800, and often much more.
Hermosa Beach DUI attorneys can help with your defense right away.
Additional Penalties for Second Offenses
These are just the first-time penalties for a drunk driving charge. Under California law, the penalties for repeat offenders are much harsher:
- Up to one year in jail or 16 months in prison (more in some cases)
- Losing your driving privileges for two to three years
- Attending up to 30 months of DUI school for $1,800 or more
- Fines and fees that can reach into the tens of thousands of dollars
Your sentence may also include alcohol/drug addiction treatment or permanent license revocation. In some cases, you could even face felony charges.
Felony offenses carry heavier consequences. A Hermosa Beach criminal defense lawyer with extensive experience handling DUI cases may be able to get your charges and penalties reduced.
The Three Deadlines of a Hermosa Beach DUI Case
Every DUI case is different. The Hermosa Beach Police, the LA County Sheriff, or the South Los Angeles division of the Highway Patrol could arrest you, and they could hold you at the Hermosa Beach City Jail after your arrest.
However, every DUI case follows the same legal process. This process involves three important deadlines, each of which could affect you for years.
These deadlines are:
The Arraignment
Your arraignment is a brief hearing where you appear before a judge and enter your plea. But it’s also your chance to stand up to the prosecutor. Prosecutors want easy victories, and they get them by pressuring people like you into pleading guilty.
They don’t want to fight a lengthy court battle for every DUI case. When they see you come in with a Hermosa Beach DUI attorney by your side, they know that the easy victory is off the table. They may give you a better offer simply because you have a lawyer.
The DMV Hearing
The California DMV has the power to take away your driver’s license before you even get a trial through an “administrative suspension.” You can challenge the suspension—but you only have 10 days to do it. Ask your DUI lawyer to handle your hearing for you.
Your Trial
The court will set your trial date within 45 days of your arrest. It is a full trial with a judge and jury. However, you may never have to go to court at all. Your lawyer will build a legal defense and work to beat the DUI charge before your court date ever comes.
Get Connected With Hermosa Beach DUI Lawyers Now
We believe you have a right to defend yourself. Let our team at Los Angeles DUI Lawyer help. We can connect you with a criminal defense law firm that has the resources and experience to help you.
We work only with lawyers who are 100% focused on DUI defense, and every attorney we work with offers a FREE consultation. You can take charge and get the help you need from a Hermosa Beach DUI attorney.
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