You would have a difficult case if arrested for a DUI in Hollywood. DUI carries extremely stiff penalties, including jail time, loss of your driver’s license, and thousands of dollars in fines and fees—sometimes more. It also has a longer-term effect on your life, raising your insurance rates and potentially affecting your employment.
The best way to fight your DUI is to speak to an experienced Hollywood DUI lawyer. A Los Angeles DUI lawyer knows that no case is unwinnable, and they have the legal knowledge and courtroom experience to back it up. Although no lawyer can promise a victory, they will dramatically improve your chances in your DUI case.
They may be able to help you get the charge dismissed, reduce it to a lesser charge, or even win outright. Talk to our Hollywood DUI attorney today about your case. We are ready to tackle your case so you do not have to fight alone.
The Cost of a DUI in Hollywood, CA
Hollywood is not a good place to be arrested for a DUI charge. It’s a high-profile neighborhood and one that serves as an attraction to tourists, so law enforcement is aggressive in looking for impaired drivers. Los Angeles has nearly 8,000 DUI arrests a year, and they’re prosecuted with a vengeance.
The penalties for DUI are set by California state law and are steep even for a first offender and worsen for repeat violations. DUI fines and court fees have risen substantially in recent years, making it one of the most expensive misdemeanors. A single first-time DUI can cost up to $15,649.
Minimum Penalties for DUI in Hollywood
The minimum penalties for a first offense include the following:
- Mandatory suspension of your driver’s license.
- Jail time—anywhere from two days to six months.
- A minimum fee of $390 rises to nearly $2,000 when the mandatory “court assessments” are thrown in.
- Three-month traffic school, which you pay for out of pocket.
- Probation long after your sentence is served.
The costs and penalties will soar if there are aggravating factors or you have prior DUI convictions. Fines can reach tens of thousands of dollars; jail time can become more than a year in state prison; and license suspension and traffic school can drag on for years. You may also be required to install an interlock device in your car, which is not free.
These steep penalties mean you must understand the process before you and fight it from the beginning. Do not risk losing freedom and paying hundreds of dollars in fines. Today, talk to an experienced DUI attorney in Hollywood, CA.
How the DUI Process Works in Hollywood
A significant number of DUI cases begin with either a roadside stop by law enforcement officers or as a result of a car accident. Depending on the specific jurisdiction in Hollywood, your arrest might have been carried out by the LAPD, the LA County Sheriff from the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, or the California Highway Patrol’s Southern Division. Subsequently, you will likely be booked and processed at the Hollywood Jail Facility and released the following day.
Fortunately, with the assistance of an experienced DUI lawyer in Hollywood, CA, you can rest assured that you will be thoroughly prepared for all the hearings you must attend. A skilled attorney will meticulously review the details of your case, gather evidence, and devise a robust defense strategy tailored to your circumstances. Talk to our team today to schedule an appointment for a case review.
Alongside your attorney, there are three main stages you will potentially need to prepare for: your DMV hearing, your arraignment, and, if your case remains unresolved, your trial.
Your DMV Hearing
When you’re arrested for DUI in California, the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) enacts an “administrative suspension” of your driver’s license. This suspension occurs independently of any criminal court proceedings and takes effect before your day in court. To avoid this automatic suspension, you must take swift action and request a DMV hearing within ten days of your arrest.
This DMV hearing is your opportunity to challenge the administrative suspension and fight for the retention of your driving privileges. Enlisting the help of an experienced DUI lawyer is vital during this process. Your lawyer will represent you at the hearing and present a compelling argument for your license to remain valid while you await further proceedings.
The Arraignment
Your arraignment is the next stage in the legal process and represents a pivotal moment in your DUI case. At your arraignment, you will appear before a judge and officially enter your guilty plea.
If you’re using a state-appointed attorney, chances are high that they’ll urge you to plead guilty and take the first deal offered. This is often due to heavy caseloads and limited resources, and the deals they secure for their clients are seldom better than the standard sentence for a DUI charge.
On the other hand, enlisting a dedicated DUI lawyer to represent you can be a game-changer. If you opt for this route, your attorney will likely tell you to plead not guilty, knowing they can pressure the prosecution for a much better offer.
The prospect of facing a dedicated DUI lawyer can prompt the prosecution to consider the strengths and weaknesses of their case more carefully. The prosecution may recognize that a trial could be time-consuming, costly, and uncertain, making them more willing to negotiate a plea deal that offers much better terms for you.
Trial Preparation
After your arraignment, the court will set a date for your DUI trial, typically scheduled one or more months ahead. This period between your arraignment and trial date is a critical window that a skilled DUI lawyer can leverage to build a strong defense on your behalf.
During this time, the prosecution must disclose the evidence they plan to present against you to your DUI attorney. Armed with this evidence, your lawyer will conduct a thorough review to identify any weaknesses, inconsistencies, or potential violations of your rights that can be exploited in your defense. This is when they will most likely secure a favorable offer for you or get your case dropped.
The Trial
Taking your DUI case to trial is a significant decision, but it’s worth noting that many DUI cases are resolved before reaching this stage, often through negotiations or plea deals.
If you go to trial, your Hollywood DUI attorney will present compelling evidence and advocate aggressively on your behalf. They will skillfully cross-examine witnesses, challenge the accuracy and reliability of the prosecution’s evidence, and present counterarguments to establish reasonable doubt in the jury’s minds. If your attorney wins your case and acquits you, you will have no DUI on your record and face no penalties.
How to Beat a DUI in Hollywood
DUI lawyers use a range of tactics to fight a DUI charge. The goal of all of these tactics is to undermine evidence against you.
Weakening the prosecution’s case makes it more likely that your case will be solved favorably before trial. This is done with the help of a DUI lawyer in Hollywood, CA, from our firm.
Disputing the Blood/Breath Test
The apparent scientific nature of breathalyzers and blood tests can be deceiving, as these methods have limitations and vulnerabilities. Breathalyzers are sensitive instruments that require regular maintenance to generate accurate results. When not properly calibrated or maintained, breathalyzer readings can be inaccurate, leading to misleading conclusions about a person’s blood alcohol concentration.
Though blood tests are often considered more reliable, they can still be questioned if proper lab procedures are not followed precisely. Blood samples must be handled, stored, and analyzed with utmost care and adherence to strict protocols. Any deviation from the correct procedures can compromise the integrity of the blood test results, and this evidence may be thrown out.
Spotting Procedural Violations
Law enforcement officers must adhere to specific rules and procedures when interacting with citizens in the criminal justice system. This extends to pulling someone over, making an arrest, conducting a vehicle search, and conducting interrogations. These rules are designed to protect your constitutional rights, and any violations can have significant implications for the admissibility of evidence.
For example, if the police pulled you over without a valid reason, any evidence obtained during that traffic stop, such as the results of a breathalyzer test or a vehicle search, may be deemed invalid. Similarly, if the police failed to inform you of your Miranda rights before questioning you, any statements or admissions you made during interrogation could be suppressed as evidence.
Experienced DUI lawyers are well-versed in identifying potential rights violations and unconstitutional practices by law enforcement officers. If they can create a solid legal basis, they may be able to file motions to suppress the tainted evidence, seeking to exclude it from being used against you in court.
Disputing Police Testimony
Like all of us, law enforcement officers have their own biases. They have to make snap decisions when approaching a suspected drunk driver. If their statements can be shown to be inaccurate or inconsistent, their testimony may not be credible.
Representing yourself against a DUI charge is not advisable. You can make the simplest mistakes, leading to a conviction and subsequent jail time. Talk to our Hollywood DUI lawyers today about your case so you can focus on your life and not the law.
Don’t Face Your DUI Charge Alone
Legal deadlines are looming from the day of your arrest, and you have limited time to build a defense. The way to do that is to have an expert who knows how to fight for the best possible outcome. A DUI lawyer can change the course of your case.
Our site will match you with a qualified Hollywood DUI lawyer for free. All you need to do is give a few basic details of your case, and we will connect you with an attorney with the experience to take it on. They will give you an in-depth case evaluation at NO charge.
Fill out the form to the right or call our office for your FREE consultation today. We will review your case and honestly assess what you can expect. Do not let the prosecution convince you to accept any deals without talking to a Hollywood DUI lawyer about your options.
