You need professional help after an arrest for driving under the influence (DUI). You can get knowledgeable legal representation from an experienced Mission Viejo DUI lawyer immediately after your arrest.
An attorney can walk you through the legal process, challenge the evidence against you, and work to get you reduced charges – or even, in some cases, dropped entirely.
Our team at Los Angeles DUI Attorney can put you in touch with a criminal defense law firm in Orange County that understands your situation and can take charge. Contact us now to learn more about what you should do after an arrest.
How a Mission Viejo DUI Lawyer Can Help Your Case
A DUI lawyer serving Mission Viejo, CA, knows how to look at all the evidence and identify holes that an untrained eye would not catch. The following are some tactics an experienced lawyer might use in your case.
Examining How You Were Arrested
A DUI lawyer will look at the police report from your arrest and determine if the police violated any of your rights. Some statements or confessions made might not be allowed in court if they were.
Scrutinizing Officer Testimony
Sometimes, the officer who arrested you might say one thing in their report and another during your DMV hearing. Your lawyer will find any areas that conflict with each other or other pieces of information that do not match up, such as a witness testimony differing from the officer’s.
Challenging Breath or Blood Test Results
To determine your blood alcohol content (BAC), the arresting officer might administer a breath test during a DUI traffic stop or after your arrest. Blood tests are another way of testing the amount of alcohol in your system.
Law enforcement likes to think their roadside and other DUI tests are scientific and foolproof – but this just is not the case in many situations. Several things can go wrong with breath or blood tests, such as:
- Improper administration of the test
- Equipment malfunction
- Miscalibration of a machine
- Improper handling of evidence in the lab
In many cases, these types of details can allow your lawyer to get test results suppressed in your case. You can learn more about handling DUI charges and your drunk driving defense by reaching out to a criminal defense law firm immediately.
Types of DUI Charges a Lawyer Can Handle
You can get professional help after an arrest from a:
- Mission Viejo Commercial DUI Lawyer: A commercial DUI can disrupt your career and lead to harsh penalties. Fortunately, a criminal defense lawyer can help you handle these allegations.
- Mission Viejo Felony DUI Lawyer: Generally, motorists only face felony charges for DUIs if they have multiple past drunk driving convictions or the police accuse them of causing an accident. A lawyer can help with these allegations.
- Mission Viejo First Offense DUI Lawyer: A first DUI can result in fines, jail time, and other penalties. Your attorney can build a drunk driving defense for a first-time arrest.
- Mission Viejo Marijuana DUI Lawyer: You can get professional legal help if the police accuse you of driving under the influence of drugs.
- Mission Viejo Misdemeanor DUI Lawyer: Misdemeanor charges are less serious than felony-level offenses, but they can still impact your life in many ways.
What Happens When You Get a DUI?
Once the California Highway Patrol pulls you over, you will likely have to undergo a field sobriety test and submit to a breathalyzer test that measures your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). If you are beyond the legal limit, you could face an arrest.
The police may also ask for a blood sample.
After an arrest, you should contact a DUI defense attorney to prepare a strong defense case and fight for your rights. The following are some things you will need to keep in mind and some actions you will need to take after your DUI arrest.
Within 10 Days of the Arrest
You will lose your driver’s license almost immediately unless you act within ten days of arrest. Something called an “admin per se suspension” kicks in, and unless you try to prevent it, your license will be suspended 30 days after your arrest.
To try to fight a loss of license, you must contact the California DMV and request a hearing. You only have one chance at this hearing to get your license back. Appeal or review options may be limited.
You can contact the DMV for this hearing or have your DUI lawyer serving Mission Viejo, CA, do it for you.
Within Weeks of the Arrest
You must appear at your arraignment hearing, where you will enter your plea. Typically, your plea will either be Guilty or Not Guilty.
If a criminal defense lawyer was appointed to you by the state, that lawyer will often instruct you to plead guilty – but this is rarely the best option for you. If you have a DUI attorney on your team, they will use this arraignment hearing to challenge the prosecution and seek a better deal instead.
Within 45 Days of the Arrest
During this time, a trial will usually be scheduled at the courthouse. However, if you have a DUI lawyer building a DUI defense to resolve your case in your best interest, you will probably not need to appear at this trial.
The time after a DUI arrest is precious, and every decision can positively or negatively affect your outcome. Having an experienced DUI lawyer can make all the difference in several ways.
How to Get Your License Back After a DUI
Unfortunately, there is no handy trick to getting your driver’s license back sooner after a DUI. You will have to jump through all the hoops set out when convicted of your offense. After a DUI, to get back your valid license, you will have to:
- Wait for your license suspension to end
- Serve any required jail time or another prison sentence
- Finish DUI Education Classes or an alcohol treatment program
- Get a specific type of car insurance
- Apply to get your license reinstated
These steps to getting your license back after a DUI in California sometimes are complicated. A DUI attorney serving Mission Viejo can help you through the process. They can also lessen your sentence, so you have less of a burden to reinstate your license.
Getting Approval for Pretrial Diversion
One of the best ways to avoid bringing your DUI case to court is by entering a pretrial diversion program. However, not every person accused of drunk driving will be eligible. In fact, generally only first–time and non–violent offenders will be eligible.
Upon entering a pretrial diversion program, there are specific requirements you must meet before the district attorney reduces the charges against you to a lesser offense or dismisses your case altogether.
Some examples of these stipulations could include the following:
- Completing an alcohol or drug treatment rehabilitation program
- Attending alcohol education courses
- Attending regular meetings with a probation officer
- Agreeing to random drug and alcohol testing
- Installing an ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle
- Attending regular sessions with a counselor or group therapy
- Paying court fines and restitution to any victims
An experienced attorney can help you understand the eligibility requirements and push to get you approved.
How Attorneys Handle DUI Charges
Your attorney can explore all options to handle a DUI arrest in Orange County. Depending on your circumstances, a lawyer could focus on:
- Negotiating a plea bargain to reduce your charges
- Getting the judge to drop your DUI charges
- Fighting your charges in court
The prosecution may agree to drop your charges to a wet reckless in some cases, especially if you face misdemeanor DUI charges instead of felony allegations.
What to Expect if You Are Convicted
If the police accuse you of drunk driving, it is essential to discuss the potential consequences if you are convicted. Every person’s case is different, but the penalties you could face are relatively the same.
You can expect to pay fines, have your driver’s license suspended or revoked, and potentially spend time in jail or prison. However, if you are a first-time offender, the court may be willing to allow you to forgo jail time and instead enter a mental health or pretrial diversion program.
Habitual offenders may not be so fortunate. For this reason, if you hope to reduce a conviction’s impact on your life, getting an experienced DUI lawyer working for you could be in your best interests.
How Much Does a DUI Lawyer Cost?
Most DUI attorneys in California work hourly, but the amount they charge can depend on the details of your case and the services they provide.
Be wary if you see a DUI lawyer with a very low rate. They could have less experience and, therefore, would be less likely to win your case.
Lawyer fees also depend on expenses like medical tests, rides to and from the courthouse, and subpoena fees. After a free consultation with a criminal defense attorney, we can tell you what extra expenses you might encounter in your case.
Get Help From a DUI Law Firm
Criminal charges are serious and can be incredibly stressful. Whether your charges involve alcohol, prescription drugs, or another substance, do not assume all hope is lost when you’re facing a DUI charge.
You need an experienced defense attorney on your side, and you would be surprised just how much of a difference it can make in the outcome.
Call us today or fill out our online contact form. We can put you in touch with a criminal defense team that can address all of your legal concerns.
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