If you’re facing DUI charges, you should know that a single drunk driving conviction can result in jail time, a suspended driver’s license, mandatory alcohol treatment, and fines that range into the thousands of dollars. It’s a serious charge and one that you need to defend yourself against.
The most effective way to do that is to hire a Norwalk DUI lawyer. Los Angeles DUI Attorneys routinely deal with even the toughest cases. They know how to guide you through the legal system and achieve the best possible outcome. No matter how serious your case is, we’ll work hard to get your charges reduced or dropped.
Penalties a DUI Lawyer in Norfolk Can Help You Avoid
Over the years, DUI penalties have risen to the point that drunk driving is now one of the most expensive misdemeanors you can get in California. In fact, the maximum cost of a single first time DUI conviction is now estimated at over $15,000.
With fines and fees so high, you’ll want to hire an experienced law firm to help you fight the charges you’re facing. The exact penalties for a DUI depend on whether you have previous alcohol convictions on your record.
California state law sets down different sentences for a first-time, second-time, and third (or more) DUI conviction. You’ll want to hire a skilled Norwalk DUI attorney to help you avoid the following penalties:
- Massive fines: On paper, the minimum fine for a first-time DUI is $390, but the court adds a variety of “assessments” or fees on top of this, making the bare minimum about $1,800. It can easily be far more if the judge is not feeling generous.
- Jail time: Most first-time DUI offenders will face at least 48 hours in jail and can spend up to 6 months behind bars.
- License suspension: Your license will be suspended if you’re convicted of DUI. For a first DUI, this suspension will range anywhere from a few months to a year.
- Mandatory DUI school: All DUI sentences include “DUI school,” which is a classroom-style program. These classes last at least three months and cost you another $500 out of pocket.
- Other penalties: Depending on your unique situation, you may also have to pay to put an interlock device on every vehicle you own. You may also be placed on probation after your initial sentence.
Penalties for a DUI Criminal Charge Can Increase After Your First Offense
These penalties escalate quickly if you have prior DUI’s or if there are aggravating factors in your arrest. You could spend a year in jail or more than a year in state prison, have your license suspended for years, face 30 months of DUI treatment at a cost of $1,800, and pay tens of thousands of dollars to the court.
If you’re facing these consequences for driving under the influence of alcohol, you’ll want to hire a skilled criminal defense attorney to build a strong legal defense on your behalf. A lawyer can use reports from police officers, witness testimonies, and other forms of evidence to fight your criminal charges.
What to Expect After Your DUI Arrest
The DUI legal process can be incredibly complicated and fast-paced. From the second you’re arrested and taken to the police station, the timer starts counting down toward a number of hearings and legal deadlines, each of which will affect your future.
The legal process will most likely begin with you spending a night in jail at the Sheriff’s station. But this is only the beginning of your case. To make the right choices throughout your case, you’ll want to hire a DUI lawyer from Norwalk.
An attorney can help you pursue a favorable outcome and guide you through the following steps of the legal process:
The DMV Hearing
If you’ve been arrested for driving while over the legal limit, your license will be suspended unless you request a DMV hearing. You have only 10 days from the date of your arrest to request your hearing. Your best bet is to speak to a DUI lawyer before then and ask them to handle it for you.
The Arraignment
At your arraignment, you will be brought before a judge and asked to enter a plea. Prosecutors will likely offer a quick plea bargain for you to plead guilty to. Beware: these initial deals are rarely good offers. It’s best to work with a reputable DUI lawyer who can work with the prosecution to improve their offer.
Your Trial
If you go to trial, it will be before a jury of 12 people drawn from the community. However, most DUI cases don’t ever go to trial. Instead, your lawyer will work to secure you the best offer possible beforehand. This could include a reduced sentence or a dismissal of the charges you’re facing.
These steps can be confusing, especially if this is your first offense. An attorney can explain how to avoid administrative license suspension, mandatory jail time, and any other consequences you’re facing.
How a Norwalk DUI Lawyer Can Help Your Case
DUI lawyers do a lot more than offer legal advice and represent you in the Norwalk municipal court. Their job is to build a successful defense for you and shred the prosecution’s evidence to pieces.
One of the most important ways they do this is by challenging the evidence from a blood test or breath test. These tests appear scientific but can be skewed for many reasons. In some cases, the equipment itself, the way equipment is handled, lab procedures, and the way police administer the test can lead to misleading blood alcohol content test results.
A DUI lawyer is trained to review this evidence for errors and inconsistencies. If DUI attorneys from Norwalk find issues with your tests, they can have the evidence thrown out, and it will be as if you were never tested in the first place.
Other tactics an experienced attorney can use include:
- Comparing police reports and police testimony to other witnesses and video evidence
- Exploring alternate explanations for your driving or the appearance of drunkenness
- Seeking a medical explanation for a breath chemical test score
- Examining arrest procedures to see if your rights were violated
- Review the standardized field sobriety test that was conducted to find errors
All of these tactics are difficult for a layperson to pursue on their own, but any of them could be the one that saves you from months in jail, a lost license, and a DUI on your record. Even something as minor as reviewing a breath test sample could make the difference between a conviction and dismissed charges.
Talk to a Norwalk DUI Lawyer for Free
If you’ve been arrested for reckless driving or a DUI, the best thing you can do is talk to an experienced Norwalk DUI lawyer. A skilled lawyer can build an aggressive defense case on your behalf and pursue the results you need to move forward with your life.
Contact Los Angeles DUI Attorney today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your legal options. We’ll provide the information and resources you need to avoid serious consequences and put this unfortunate incident behind you.
