You have options to build a defense if the police arrest you for driving under the influence (DUI). A Palos Verdes Peninsula DUI lawyer can help you, providing fast advice after an arrest and potentially taking steps to have your charges reduced or dismissed.
Your attorney can help you during legal questioning and take steps to protect your rights. You should not discuss your charges with the prosecution or police officers until you’ve spoken to a lawyer who can represent your best interests.
Find out more about how an attorney can help by calling or completing our online contact form. Los Angeles DUI Attorney has decades of experience helping people with DUI charges.
Why Hire a DUI Lawyer in Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA?
Hiring a Palos Verdes Peninsula criminal defense lawyer can improve your chances of successfully resolving these charges. An attorney can immediately review the charges you face and answer any questions you have about your next steps.
It’s pivotal that you talk to a lawyer before talking about your charges with law enforcement or any members of the prosecution. Remember, these individuals can use everything you say against you and primarily want to secure convictions.
Getting help quickly may help you avoid the harsh penalties for a DUI conviction, including fines, jail time, and restrictions on your driving privileges.
Types of DUI Charges a Lawyer Can Handle
Your DUI attorney in Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA, can help with a wide range of DUI accusations. Depending on your situation, you may need help from a:
- Palos Verdes Peninsula First-Offense DUI Lawyer: You can get professional help after a first arrest for a DUI. Even an initial CA Vehicle Code 23152 (a) – Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol charge can have serious effects on your life, so reach out immediately.
- Palos Verdes Peninsula Second-Offense DUI Lawyer: California considers DUIs priorable, so each offense stacks. You face harsher penalties for every subsequent DUI you get in a 10-year period. Fortunately, a lawyer can help you face these charges.
- Palos Verdes Peninsula Third-Offense DUI Lawyer: A criminal defense law firm can help you after a third arrest for driving under the influence. The court often treats drivers accused of repeated DUIs harshly, so reach out for help now if the police charge you under CA Vehicle Code 23546 – Third DUI Conviction Within Ten Years.
- Palos Verdes Peninsula DUID Lawyer: The police may accuse you of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID). These charges have the same serious effects as accusations of driving under the influence of alcohol.
- Palos Verdes Peninsula Underage DUI Lawyer: California has zero-tolerance laws for drivers under the age of 21, including those found in CA Vehicle Code 23136: Underage Drinking. An attorney can help if you face these accusations.
How a Lawyer Can Help After a DUI Arrest
Your attorney can help with all legal matters after the police accuse you of a DUI in Palos Verdes Peninsula. Depending on your situation, a lawyer may focus on:
Supporting You During Your Arraignment
The court will share information about the charges you face at your arraignment hearing. You’ll also have to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. A lawyer will ensure you know exactly what to expect at this hearing.
Helping with Your Bail Hearing
In some cases, you may get a bail hearing after a DUI arrest. Paying bail generally allows you to stay out of jail until the beginning of your criminal trial. An attorney can push the court to require minimal bail. In some cases, an attorney may even get the court to waive a bail requirement.
Assisting with Your DMV Hearing
The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can automatically suspend your license after a DUI arrest, even before you go to court. You must request an administrative hearing quickly to prevent this automatic suspension.
An attorney can explain the process of requesting this hearing and help you as you work to maintain your driving privileges.
Getting Your Charges Dismissed
In some cases, the court system will dismiss a DUI allegation, especially if your lawyer can show that the prosecution lacks evidence that you committed a crime or if the police stopped you without reasonable cause.
You do not face legal penalties if the court dismisses a DUI allegation.
Reducing Your DUI Charges
Sometimes, the prosecution will offer a plea bargain after the police arrest you for a DUI. Plea bargains reduce the penalties you face, but in return, you have to admit fault to a less serious criminal charge.
Your lawyer will review the deal provided by the prosecution and help you determine if it’s in your best interests to accept.
Fighting for You in Court
Your DUI charges may go all the way to court. An attorney can aggressively represent you in this situation, doing everything possible to call the prosecution’s case into question and to establish reasonable doubt.
A conviction may require you to spend time in jail, pay fines, and install an ignition interlock device (IID) on your vehicle. In some cases, you can face additional penalties, like a requirement to attend DUI traffic school.
You can take immediate steps to avoid these penalties by hiring an attorney to construct a personalized defense.
Talk to a DUI Lawyer After an Arrest in Palos Verdes Peninsula
You can get professional legal support from a Palos Verdes Peninsula DUI lawyer. Working with an attorney means you’ll always have someone on your side. Our team can put you in contact with a criminal defense law firm that can provide you with personalized care and attention.
You can learn more about your next steps when you call or complete our online contact form.
