Getting pulled over for driving under the influence in Lancaster, CA, starts a complicated legal process. A DUI conviction can result in jail time, losing your license, and paying thousands of dollars in fines and fees.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way if you have good legal representation. That is why we work to connect people accused of drunk driving with an experienced attorney. A knowledgeable Lancaster DUI lawyer may help.
Our team at Los Angeles DUI Lawyer has decades of combined experience. We can put you in touch with a legal team that can immediately work on your DUI defense.
Do You Need a DUI Lawyer Serving Lancaster?
The professionals strongly advise you to hire a DUI law firm to represent you. A skilled criminal defense attorney serving Lancaster can use many tactics to help you win your case. These include:
Questioning the Arrest Process
Police are required to follow procedures, inform you of your rights, and handle your arrest correctly. If they ignore or break any of these rules, the court may throw out DUI charges. DUI lawyers know what to look for to identify these situations.
Investigating the Evidence
A breath test is supposed to give an exact reading of your blood alcohol concentration (BAC), but it may be calibrated incorrectly, the police may not have maintained the machine properly, or something else in your system could have triggered a false positive.
Finding Inconsistencies
What happens if the arresting officer’s statement today doesn’t match what he said in his report? What if he said you were staggering as you walked, but video footage shows you walking fine? A good lawyer will look for these inconsistencies and exploit them on your behalf.
Striking a Deal
Sometimes, your Lancaster DUI attorney just has to show the prosecutor that it will be a complex trial to win. Suddenly, the prosecutor may offer to downgrade your charge to a lesser offense or even drop the charges completely.
What Charges Can a DUI Lawyer Handle?
A criminal defense law firm can assist with many types of DUI charges. You can get help from a:
- Lancaster First Offense DUI Lawyer: Even a first DUI can lead to harsh penalties, like requirements to use an ignition interlock device (IID) and fines. You can get immediate legal counsel after a drunk driving arrest to protect your rights.
- Lancaster Misdemeanor DUI Lawyer: You deserve help from a lawyer with experience handling misdemeanor charges. An attorney can help you handle these criminal charges while offering the support you need.
- Lancaster Felony DUI Lawyer: California can charge you with a felony DUI if you have past DUI convictions or if the police accuse you of causing an accident. You can get help handling these criminal offenses from a skilled legal team.
- Lancaster Commercial DUI Lawyer: A commercial DUI can impact your ability to work. Make sure you get help from a criminal law firm in Los Angeles County that takes these charges seriously.
- Lancaster Marijuana DUI Lawyer: A criminal lawyer can help you handle charges for driving under the influence of drugs. Your attorney will explain these charges and work on your defense.
Any of these charges can result in harsh penalties, including the loss of your driving privileges, jail time, and steep fines. Fortunately, you can increase your chances of getting a positive outcome for your charges by contacting a DUI attorney serving Lancaster.
How to Find the Right DUI Lawyer
The Lancaster criminal defense lawyer you choose makes a difference. Many attorneys say they take DUI cases, but that does not mean they have experience with those cases or know the tactics that win.
Here is what to look for to find the right DUI defense attorney:
- They have experience with DUI and DUI-related cases.
- They have board certification or special training related to defending DUI cases.
- They listen to you when you talk, express interest in your case, and care about you.
- They offer their initial consultation free of charge.
Your attorney can help with any traffic offenses you face after being accused of driving while over the legal limit.
What Are DUI Penalties?
California state law sets a complex set of penalties for DUI charges. The penalties are tough, even for a first-time conviction, and get tougher for each subsequent conviction.
That means the more DUIs you have, the worse the sentence is. A fourth DUI in 10 years actually becomes a felony case. The penalties for DUI include:
- Expensive fines and court costs
- The loss of your driver’s license
- Time in jail or prison
- Enrollment in a DUI school
- Community service hours
Additionally, you may face increased insurance premiums and other penalties after a conviction.
What to Expect After Your DUI Arrest
You can be arrested for DUI in Lancaster by the Lancaster Police Department, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, or the local branch of the California State Police out of the Antelope Valley office.
In most cases, you will then go to the jail facility at the Sheriff’s Lancaster Station.
You will usually be processed within 24 hours and then released, either on bail (a payment you make that you can get back when you appear in court) or your own recognizance (you promise to come back for the court date).
Arraignment
If you cannot make bail, the court will hold you until the date of your arraignment. The arraignment is one of two critical deadlines in your case. At the arraignment, you will see a judge and must enter a plea for your case.
Often, your lawyer will tell you to plead Not Guilty to push for an offer from the prosecution. On the other hand, a state-appointed defense lawyer may just tell you to plead guilty.
The other critical deadline comes ten days after your arrest, which is the deadline to file for a DMV hearing.
License Suspension Hearing
At your arrest, the authorities took your driver’s license and gave you a pink document as a temporary license. If you do not request a DMV hearing by the 10-day deadline, this document will expire, and the DMV will suspend your license.
Getting the hearing is the only way to keep your license until your trial. Your greatest chance of succeeding at this administrative hearing is to have a DUI lawyer with trial experience represent you.
Trial and Bargaining
At the arraignment, you will receive a trial date. Your trial will likely occur at the Antelope Valley Courthouse. Get a DUI lawyer as early as possible before your trial.
Your lawyer can use the time to gather evidence, request documents from the prosecution, and poke holes in the evidence they plan to bring against you. Taking these steps may allow your attorney to push for a plea bargain from the prosecution.
Get Help After a DUI Arrest from Legal Professionals
You do not have time to lose if the police have arrested you for driving under the influence. The prosecution is already preparing the case against you, and if you cannot defend yourself, the prosecutor will push for the heaviest penalties possible.
Every day you delay hiring a lawyer is one less day to prepare for your trial in Los Angeles County.
Fill out the form to the right or call Los Angeles DUI Lawyer right now. We will set you up for a 100% free case evaluation with a Lancaster DUI attorney. Contact us and protect yourself today.
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