The prospect of facing a DUI charge in Inglewood, CA, can be overwhelming. The penalties for a DUI conviction are very serious and include jail time, steep fines, and a mandatory suspension of your driving license.
Many DUI defendants decide not to fight their DUI charge, only to deal with the legal fallout for the rest of their lives. This does not have to be you.
Instead, you should speak to a DUI lawyer in Inglewood immediately. These Los Angeles DUI lawyers are skilled at identifying weaknesses in the prosecution’s case against you. A criminal defense attorney may be able to negotiate a favorable deal on your behalf or work to achieve the best possible outcome in your case.
How a DUI Lawyer in Inglewood Can Help You
Many people believe that results from breath, blood, or urine tests are conclusive, but they aren’t. Regardless of these test results, some DUI cases may be reduced or dismissed depending on the facts. Experienced Inglewood DUI lawyers can challenge different types of evidence depending on the facts of your case.
The DUI defense tactics your lawyer may use include:
- Challenging chemical tests: Reviewing and, when appropriate, challenging chemical test results is often a key part of a DUI defense. Many things, including diet, mouthwash, and simple lab errors, skew blood and breath tests and can mean a reading of higher blood alcohol content. If your lawyer finds any reason to call the chemical test results into question, they may be able to have this evidence tossed out.
- Protecting your rights: You are entitled to certain legal rights during an arrest and questioning, even if there is reasonable suspicion of criminal activity or even traffic violations. If these rights are not respected, your statements to the police might not be admissible.
- Finding errors in testimony: The Inglewood Police Department can make mistakes. A criminal defense attorney can cross-examine an officer or a witness’s statements and try to find where the story is inconsistent, thereby casting doubt on its validity. They can also review police reports for their defense strategy.
- Alternative explanations: There are a variety of reasons a person might appear to be intoxicated even if they aren’t, including stress, distraction, or just plain making a mistake. The fact that a police officer believes you were driving drunk doesn’t mean that you were.
Your criminal defense attorney’s highest priority is to win your case and help you challenge or limit license suspension. They work to pursue the best possible outcome based on your situation, whether it’s drunk driving or driving under the influence of another drug.
Variations of Inglewood DUI Attorneys
The more experience that an attorney has with the nuances that come with DUI cases, the better strategy they may be able to come up with. Below are some of the Inglewood DUI attorney types to consider:
- Inglewood misdemeanor DUI lawyer: A misdemeanor DUI is not as serious as a felony DUI, but it can still have consequences. An Inglewood misdemeanor DUI lawyer is equipped with the knowledge to help with this specific charge.
- Inglewood first offense DUI lawyer: If it’s your first DUI offense, things can be confusing, and deadlines can be tough to meet. The good news is that a knowledgeable attorney who knows how to work with first-time offenders can ensure you stay in the loop and get everything you need done on time.
- Inglewood second offense DUI lawyer: An Inglewood second offense DUI lawyer can help you figure out the ins and outs of a second DUI, which can come with more penalties and consequences than your first.
- Inglewood third offense DUI lawyer: A third offense DUI can be serious. For the best outcome with your case, a lawyer experienced with third DUI processes will be essential for a stronger outcome than handling the case on your own.
- Inglewood commercial DUI lawyer: An Inglewood commercial DUI lawyer can help you protect your commercial driver’s license (CDL).
- Inglewood felony DUI lawyer: A felony can impact the rest of your life. A felony DUI lawyer may be able to help you bring down a felony charge or help you navigate things around it.
- Inglewood hit and run DUI lawyer: A hit and run and DUI are actually two different charges with two different processes. An experienced Inglewood hit-and-run DUI lawyer can help you through the legal process that comes with handling two different but overlapping charges.
- Inglewood marijuana DUI lawyer: An Inglewood Marijuana DUI lawyer can help build a defense for you if you’ve been driving under the influence of marijuana.
The Penalties for DUI in Inglewood
The price tag for a DUI is constantly going up. The courts in Inglewood have an aggressive prosecution policy where DUIs are concerned. Because of this, Inglewood police routinely conduct city-wide DUI crackdowns.
The penalties for DUIs in California are set by California state law, and they get stiffer for each successive DUI charge on your record. But even first-time convictions can be expensive, often totaling several thousand dollars once fines, fees, and program costs are included.
The comprehensive list of penalties for a first-time DUI includes the following:
Fines
These start at about $1,800 minimum. This includes the $390 minimum fine and a stack of mandatory court fees in every DUI case. If the judge does not choose the minimum fine, the total can cost thousands more.
Potential Jail Time
A first offense may include jail time, although courts sometimes impose alternatives such as probation depending on the circumstances.
Losing your License
A conviction means your license will be suspended for at least four months and potentially much longer.
DUI School
If convicted, you will be ordered to take a three-month class on the dangers of driving under the influence, at $500, on top of the other fees you must pay.
Paying for an IID (ignition interlock device)
If ordered, you’ll be responsible for installation and monthly fees of an IID, which can add up to several hundred dollars over time.
How a DUI Affects Your Car Insurance in California
Insurance companies can also punish you for a DUI conviction. You may not be eligible for special driver discounts when applying for insurance. Your insurance rates may also increase.
You may be considered a high-risk driver, no matter what insurance company you go through. In some cases, your policy may be canceled, and you may have a harder time searching for the right insurance policy in the future.
The penalties only get harsher from here. If you’ve had other DUI convictions in the past 10 years, driver’s license suspension, reckless driving charges, or other traffic-related offenses, this new charge could cost you tens of thousands of dollars in fines, lead to increased jail time or, in some felony cases, a state prison sentence, a driver’s license suspension, and require extended DUI education programs, which may last many months. Beyond all this, you will be placed on probation.
Understanding the DUI Process in Inglewood
DUI cases can begin differently depending on whether you were arrested by the Inglewood police, the LA County Sheriff’s Department, or the West Los Angeles office of the California Highway Patrol. No matter which department arrests you, you may be held in a local detention facility for a period of time, depending on the circumstances of your arrest.
As soon as you are released, there are several important deadlines you have to prepare for, including:
- The DMV hearing: Under California Vehicle Code §13558, you must request an administrative hearing with the DMV within 10 days of the notice of suspension, or the administrative (APS) suspension will take effect automatically.
- Arraignment: At your arraignment, you will appear in court to enter a plea and receive a trial date. If you already have legal representation, this will signal to the prosecuting attorney that you take your defense seriously, which may be enough for them to offer you a favorable deal.
- Trial preparation: There will be several months between the arraignment and the trial, and your lawyer will spend this time preparing your case. They will examine the evidence against you, looking for things like irregularities in the analysis of blood tests or breath tests that they can use to strengthen your position, which is often when negotiations may occur.
- Trial: Your case will be heard by a judge and jury at the Inglewood Courthouse. If you are going to trial, it helps to have the most reputable DUI attorney in Inglewood possible representing you. An experienced DUI attorney can identify defenses and challenge the prosecution’s case.
A Police Officer’s Evidence Is Not Always Credible
Many drivers accused of a DUI automatically assume that they cannot defend their actions. But the actions of the police officer can be questioned throughout the case. There are occasions where the results of field sobriety tests (including the ones at sobriety checkpoints) and drug tests are unreliable.
If the police officer violated your Fourth Amendment rights to unreasonable searches and seizures during a traffic stop, that can be used against them, and a criminal defense attorney can help. If the police officer fails to follow proper protocol when administering a field sobriety or drug test for suspected drunk driving, that can be used against them.
These actions can cause the police officer’s evidence to be inadmissible. They won’t be allowed to use that evidence against you during your case, even with felony DUI instances.
Get Help from an Inglewood DUI Lawyer Right Away
You deserve the best defense possible, but must act quickly to get it. The legal process moves quickly with drunk driving or driving under the influence; the first deadline is only ten days after your arrest. The earlier you hire a lawyer, the more they can do for you.
Our site exists to match you with an experienced Inglewood DUI attorney. We have cultivated a network of experienced local attorneys in Inglewood and the greater Los Angeles area. Each of these attorneys focuses exclusively on DUI cases, including felony DUI cases, and offers a free consultation.
Contact us, and we’ll help connect you with an Inglewood DUI lawyer from our network.
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