You would have a difficult case if you were arrested for 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. DUI lawyers know 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. In recent years, DUI fines and court fees have risen substantially, making it one of the most expensive misdemeanors on the books. 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.
If there are aggravating factors or you have prior DUI convictions, the costs and penalties will soar. 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, of course, is not free.
These steep penalties mean you must understand the process before you and fight it from the beginning. Do not risk losing out on freedom and having to pay hundreds of dollars in fines. Talk to one of our experienced DUI attorneys in Hollywood, CA, today.
How the DUI Process Works in Hollywood
Most DUIs begin with either a roadside stop or a car accident. You may have been arrested in Hollywood by the LAPD, the LA County Sheriff out of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, or the Southern Division of the California Highway Patrol. You will most likely be booked and processed at the Hollywood Jail Facility and released the next day.
Once you are released, the legal road has only started. You now face multiple hearings and deadlines, each of which has a bearing on your future. You cannot afford to go to them unprepared.
An experienced DUI attorney in Hollywood, CA, will ensure that you are prepared for all of the hearings you must attend. Talk to our team today to schedule an appointment for a case review. They include:
Your DMV Hearing
The California DMV automatically suspends your license when you are arrested for DUI. This is called “administrative suspension” and occurs before you get your day in court. The only way to prevent this suspension is to file a request for a hearing—and you must do this within ten days of your arrest.
Your DUI lawyer can represent you at this hearing and will make a case for allowing you to keep your license.
The Arraignment
At your arraignment, you will appear before a judge and officially enter your plea—guilty or not guilty. 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. These deals are seldom better than the standard sentence for a DUI charge.
If you get a DUI lawyer, they will likely tell you to plead not guilty, knowing they can pressure the prosecution for a much better offer.
Trial Preparation
Your court date will be set one or more months out. This is the time a DUI lawyer can use to build your case.
The prosecution must share evidence with them, and they will begin to find their weak points. This is when they will most likely secure a favorable offer for you or get your case dropped.
The Trial
If you go to trial, it will most likely be at the Hollywood Courthouse, but many DUI cases never reach this point. If you choose to fight your case in court, your lawyer will convince the jury that the case against you is weak. If you win in trial, you have no DUI on your record and face absolutely 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
These tests are not as scientific as they look. Breathalyzers could be wrong if they were miscalibrated or not maintained properly.
Blood tests are questionable if lab procedures are not followed exactly. When this is the case, the results can sometimes be thrown out.
Spotting Procedural Violations
Police must follow rules to pull a citizen over, arrest them, search their vehicle, and question them. If your rights were violated, some of the evidence—or your testimony during interrogation—may not be valid.
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 of mistakes that can lead 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 and get your FREE consultation today. We will review your case and provide an honest assessment of what you can expect. Do not let the prosecution convince you to accept any deals without first talking to a Hollywood DUI lawyer about your options.
