You can face many challenges after an arrest for driving under the influence (DUI). Hiring an attorney means you’ll have someone there to help you face these challenges head-on, potentially getting your charges dismissed or reduced.
You should discuss your options with a Huntington Park DUI attorney. Our team at Los Angeles DUI Lawyer can help you get in touch with a criminal defense law firm that can address all of your legal concerns.
You can get peace of mind now by turning to us for help after an arrest.
Why Hire a DUI Lawyer Serving Huntington Park?
Having a DUI lawyer on your side gives you options and strategic solutions. An attorney can get to work right away on your DUI defense, focusing on your unique needs while:
- Giving you fast answers to your legal questions after a drunk driving arrest
- Explaining what to do when you face DUI charges
- Protecting your rights during legal questioning
- Focusing on resolving the charges you face without a DUI conviction
Your attorney can help with either misdemeanor or felony DUI charges, adjusting their services to meet your specific needs. Learn more about how a drunk driving defense lawyer can help by contacting us for a free consultation.
The Hidden Costs of DUIs
Some DUI convictions result in fines exceeding $20,000. Fines usually start at $1,800 for a first or second offense and increase if you have repeat DUIs. Your Huntington Park DUI lawyer can work to reduce them as much as possible.
You will also have court costs to contend with, which are fixed fees. The court implements these costs, and they are non-negotiable. The upside is that you are only responsible for court fees if the court convicts you after an arrest by a traffic officer.
Impounding
If the police impound your vehicle, it may stay on the lot for 30 to 90 days, and you will pay for all related storage fees. A judge can also order the installation of an ignition interlock device as a condition of your driving privileges. You must pay for the installation and maintenance of the device.
These devices measure your blood alcohol level each time you try to start your car.
Accidents and Injuries Can Impact Your DUI Case
Sometimes, defendants are arrested for a DUI when a collision happens. Injuries from a crash will significantly impact your case and can result in steeper penalties. Judges will try to give you the maximum penalties for an injury or death.
The charges you face are felonies that stay on your criminal record and impact your future employment opportunities and rights. Defendants can also face prison time. If an accident occurs, you must speak with a DUI attorney serving Huntington Park, CA, to assess your case in DUI court.
Building a Defense for Your DUI Case
Your Huntington Park DUI lawyer will review your case and look for discrepancies, rights violations, and alternative explanations for a crash. Video and audio from the arresting officer and other sources can also be vital to contradict the prosecution. The goal is often to get evidence thrown out and weaken the case against you.
Your lawyer can start working on your drunk driving defense immediately.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest?
During the arrest, the police may have given you a chemical test and taken your license before booking you into a county jail. The next step in the legal process is speaking with a Huntington Park DUI lawyer to assess your case. Once you have a lawyer, they can prepare for DMV hearings, arraignments, and pretrial and trial proceedings.
The DMV can act separately to suspend your license through an Administrative Per Se (APS) hearing. This hearing usually goes through the Los Angeles-area DMV Driver Safety Office. You have to act fast to request a hearing. Usually, you only get 10 days from the time the police arrest you.
If you wait too long, the DMV will automatically suspend your license. Your lawyer will handle both the courtroom case and the DMV hearing from day one.
What Charges Can You Face for Drunk Driving?
The court uses California Vehicle Code 23152(a) and 23152(b) to prosecute most Huntington Park DUI charges. However, you could face a range of other criminal accusations after an arrest in Huntington Park.
Your lawyer can immediately challenge the charges you face, often focusing on the reliability of field sobriety tests.
If you have prior DUI convictions, a lawyer can tell you more about ignition interlock device (IID) requirements and other potential complications. Reach out now to get started on your drunk driving defense.
Find a Lawyer Ready to Help with Your Defense
You can find an attorney ready to defend drivers arrested across Huntington Park and the surrounding Gateway Cities, including the Pacific Boulevard corridor, the area around Salt Lake Park, and the neighborhoods along Slauson Avenue, as well as neighboring Bell, Maywood, and Vernon.
Whether the police stop you on the 710 (Long Beach Freeway) or the 110 (Harbor Freeway), pull you over along Pacific Boulevard or Slauson Avenue, or arrest you near the Pacific Boulevard shopping district, we can help you find a lawyer who handles DUI cases throughout the greater Huntington Park area.
DUI Frequently Asked Questions
We know a DUI arrest can be frightening, and we want to help put your mind at ease. While you should contact our team for more specific information about your situation, here are the answers to questions we frequently see from those who turn to us for assistance.
What Is the Best Defense for a Huntington Park DUI?
The defense your lawyer chooses to handle your DUI charges will depend on your unique circumstances. No defense works for every driver accused of drunk driving. However, lawyers often take steps to:
- Challenge the reasons the police carried out a traffic stop
- Question the steps the police took when completing a breath test
- Review the blood-draw chain of custody
- Dispute the results of field sobriety testing
Your defense attorney will look for all potential weaknesses after an arrest under California Vehicle Code 23152 or another DUI law.
Will Three Beers Put You Over California’s 0.08% Limit?
The amount of alcohol it takes to get you over California’s legal limit varies. Your gender and weight play a large role in how alcohol affects you. Alcohol will also affect you differently if you eat before drinking.
Generally, drinking three beers in a quick amount of time will cause you to exceed the limits established by California Vehicle Code 23152(b).
Additionally, you can face charges even if your blood alcohol concentration is under 0.08% if the police believe that you were impaired while behind the wheel.
Do You Really Need a Lawyer for a DUI in Huntington Park?
While you can try to handle DUI charges without a criminal defense attorney, you improve your chances of successfully resolving the allegations you face by getting a lawyer on your side.
Your lawyer can handle your criminal charges, help at your DMV hearing, get to work on your DUI defense right away, focus on getting your charges dismissed, handle plea bargaining to reduce your charges, or fight for you in court.
Is It Worth Fighting a Huntington Park DUI?
It’s generally in your best interests to dispute DUI charges. A lawyer can dispute breath and blood test results. Fighting your impaired driving charge can lead to a dismissal, an acquittal, or a reduction to a lesser offense with lighter penalties.
Get the Help You Need After a DUI Arrest in Huntington Park, CA
You can get help handling misdemeanor or felony DUI charges after an arrest. Our team can help you get in touch with a criminal defense law firm that will put you first and focus on your legal needs.
Working with a Huntington Park DUI attorney means you’ll have someone there to build your DUI defense, helping you to avoid penalties like fines, a license suspension, and jail time.
Get the guidance you need in Southern California by contacting Los Angeles DUI Lawyer right now for a free consultation.