Get a DUI Attorney Near Me
Monrovia takes DUI charges very seriously. No longer just a traffic violation, DUI is now a major criminal charge that carries steep penalties. Sentences even for a first time DUI include license suspension, mandatory DUI school, thousands of dollars in fines, and potential jail time. You need to defend yourself.
The best defense is to have a Monrovia DUI lawyer on your side. Your lawyer can provide the edge you need to successfully navigate the legal system, put pressure on the prosecution, and potentially even win your case without a trial. A Los Angeles DUI lawyer may be able to keep you out of jail or help you avoid the biggest fines.
Costs of a DUI in Monrovia
A DUI can be financially crippling. Fines are on the rise, and those fines are seen as a lucrative source of income by local government. The city of Monrovia participates in coordinated DUI crackdowns across the area, seeking to catch as many drivers as possible. In some cases the price tag of a first time DUI in southern California can be up to $15,649.
But fines are only part of the sentence. Every DUI offense carries severe consequences. The penalties for a first time DUI in Monrovia include:
- Jail time. You may face jail time even if you have no previous criminal record. The minimum sentence for a first time DUI is two days in jail, and it can range up to six months.
- License suspension. Your driver’s license will be suspended if you’re convicted. Suspension lasts from a few months to a year.
- DUI school. California State Law requires that all DUI offenders enroll in a special traffic safety course known as “DUI school.” This course is supposed to deter you from future drunk driving. It lasts at least three months and costs hundreds of dollars to enroll.
- Fines and Fees. The DUI fines are steep enough, but the court also adds administrative fees on top of every conviction. The lowest you’ll pay for a first time DUI is about $1,800. It can be far more.
In addition, you will be put on probation for at least three years and you may be required to install an interlock device in your car.
These are just the first offense penalties. If you have prior DUI’s on your record within the last ten years, the penalties increase dramatically. You may face up to a year in jail, or more than a year in prison. Fines may reach into the tens of thousands of dollars. License suspension will last two to three years, and your DUI could even be tried as a felony charge.
The Deadlines of a Monrovia DUI Case
Your arrest is just the beginning. After being taken in by Monrovia Police, the County Sheriff out of Temple Station, or California Highway Patrol out of Baldwin Park, you were likely processed at the Monrovia Police Department Jail—and eventually released. But being released does not put you in the clear. You already face three important legal deadlines, and each will come fast:
- DMV Hearing. The DMV automatically takes away the license of anyone arrested for DUI, even if you haven’t gone to trial yet. This is known as Admin Per Se suspension. You have a chance to fight it, but you have to act fast. You have only 10 days to request a hearing. The 10-day deadline starts from the date of your arrest. If you request the hearing before this window closes, your suspension will be put off until your hearing date. A DUI lawyer can help you file this request and show the DMV the evidence they need so you can potentially keep your license.
- An arraignment is a hearing before a judge where you officially plead Guilty or Not Guilty. It’s also an opportunity to confront the prosecutor, who will observe you to see if you’re an easy conviction. They don’t want to waste precious time and energy pursuing every DUI case, and they’re more likely to offer you a favorable deal if they can tell you’re going to put up a strong legal defense. You should speak to a good DUI lawyer and have them with you when you go to the arraignment.
- Your trial will be held at the Pasadena Courthouse—if your case makes it that far. Most DUI cases are resolved without the need for trial. Your lawyer will work to challenge the evidence before the trial ever begins, slowly weakening the case against you. Then they can either ask the judge to dismiss the case, or they can drive a hard bargain with the prosecutor. They may be able to get your charge reduced to something like Reckless Driving, or even dropped altogether.
How to Beat a DUI
A good drunk driving lawyer is the biggest advantage you can have. Your lawyer is not just your legal counsel, they’re your guide through a difficult process. They have training on the dozens of tactics that can be used in a DUI case, and they know how to choose the right ones. This is why they have such a high success rate in defending DUI’s, even seemingly “unwinnable” cases.
Strategies your lawyer can use include:
- Challenging the breath test. Breath, blood or urine tests are often the linchpin of a DUI case. They seem like hard scientific proof. In reality, they’re highly in accurate. Your lawyer will check for any inconsistencies or errors in the testing process, even pulling months of data for a single breathalyzer if need be. They may get this evidence thrown out.
- Challenging the arrest. Police have to follow rules at every stage of an arrest. They have to have a reason to pull you over, and they have to perform the arrest legally. There are rules around searching your car. Most importantly, they must read you your rights. Any violation of these protocols could get key evidence dismissed.
- Cornering the prosecution. As your lawyer knocks out key pieces of evidence, the prosecution’s case crumbles. Your lawyer will have experience negotiating and can often push the prosecutor to give you a way out.
Talk to a Monrovia DUI Lawyer for Free
Every driver accused of DUI should have a good defense. We can help you get one. We will match your case with a top Monrovia area DUI lawyer and get you a FREE consultation. This consultation is your chance to get a professional legal opinion and advice on next steps, with NO obligation.
Turn your case around before it’s too late. Fill out the form to the right or call (310) 896-2724 to get your FREE consultation today.
