Get a DUI Attorney Near Me
Facing a DUI charge in Redondo Beach isn’t easy. You may be worried about jail time, the cost of the fines, or not being able to drive your car any more. In some cases, a DUI charge can haunt you for years to come. But getting a DUI doesn’t mean you’re a bad person—it just means you made a mistake. And there are ways to fight your DUI and improve your chances for success.
We believe that the best way to do that is to have an experienced Redondo Beach DUI attorney at your side. The right DUI lawyer can help protect you from the worst penalties. They may be able to help you avoid jail and keep your license, or even avoid conviction entirely. In many cases they can save you thousands of dollars.
The Cost of a DUI in Redondo Beach
200 DUI arrests in Redondo Beach, and the courts have become tougher than ever in prosecuting them. This is about more than just keeping the highways safe—each DUI conviction is a source of revenue for local government. The costs of fines and court fees have escalated, and a DUI can quickly become a major expense.
California has an extensive range of penalties for DUI cases, including fines and jail time. These penalties are determined by the California Vehicle Code and get worse for each successive DUI. The penalties for a first time DUI include:
- Up to six months in jail. At a minimum, a conviction will mean 48 hours in the county jail.
- Fines and fees totaling at least $1,800. This includes the minimum $390 fine plus various “court assessments” and other costs. The total can easily be much more than this.
- You will lose your driver’s license for a minimum of several months, and possibly more than a year.
With previous criminal convictions, the severity of these penalties rises sharply. You can receive up to a year in jail or 16 months in state prison. Fines and fees can reach $18,000. There’s also the mandatory education programs you’ll be ordered to attend by the court, which cost between $500 and $1,800 in their own right.
What Happens after the Arrest?
You may have been arrested by the local police, the California Highway Patrol or the LA County Sheriff’s Office. In most cases you’ll then spend a night in the Redondo jail facility. You’ll be processed and released the following day, but your case is just beginning. Deadlines and court dates start almost immediately:
- DMV hearing. When you were arrested, your driver’s license was confiscated, and you a temporary license valid for 30 days. Unless you take action, your license will be automatically suspended. The only way to challenge this is to file a request for a hearing with the DMV. You have to request this hearing within 10 days of the date of your arrest. If you do not, you have no way to get your license back.
- Arraignment. An arraignment is a court hearing several weeks after your arrest. At this hearing you’ll enter your plea and find out the date for your trial. It’s best to have a DUI lawyer on your side before this hearing. A good DUI lawyer will use the hearing as a chance to feel out the prosecution, and will already be gathering evidence to make your case stronger. Usually, they will advise you to plead Not Guilty to help negotiate a good outcome.
- Waiting. The gap between the arraignment and the actual trial can be several months or more. This may seem like a long period, but it’s a short window in which to assemble a defense. The prosecution will work tirelessly to build a case against you, but a DUI lawyer can examine their evidence, find holes in it, and put the pressure on them to back down. In some cases they could drop the charges or offer a very beneficial deal.
- The Trial. If your case goes to trial, it will be heard in the Torrance Courthouse. It will be a trial by jury. Your lawyer can help maximize your chances by being present during jury selection and eliminating biased jurors. They’ll also prepare a defense that puts “reasonable doubt” in the minds of those jurors—and wherever possible, they will move to suppress the prosecution’s evidence. It’s not uncommon for DUI lawyers to win their clients’ cases outright.
Do You Need a Lawyer for a DUI?
Many people charged with DUI think their case is unwinnable. This is not true. Even the most scientific evidence is not always right. An experienced DUI lawyer will challenge every piece of evidence the prosecution has. They will look for opportunities to weaken the case against you.
There are several ways your lawyer can do this:
- Examining the arrest. Police have to follow certain procedures during traffic stops, arrests, and breath or blood tests. If they failed to observe these procedures, your rights were violated, and the case against you may be dismissed.
- Questioning the prosecution’s evidence. No evidence against you is full proof, not even breathalyzers and blood tests. These tests are subject to error, either from the machine or from labs not following proper procedures. All of them will be potentially open to challenge, and your lawyer will use this to your advantage.
- Investigative work. Your lawyer may interview witnesses and carry out extensive research of their own. In particular, they’re looking for inconsistencies in the statements of arresting officers, and evidence eyewitness testimony or video that contradicts the prosecution’s case.
- Negotiation. In many cases a DUI never even goes to trial. If your lawyer can make your case hard enough for the prosecution to win, they may offer you a favorable deal.
These tactics can be game changers. The charge against you could be reduced to a lesser offense, or you may be able to win entirely. Many DUIs end in acquittal each year—yours could too.
How to Find the Best DUI Lawyer in Redondo Beach
Remember that not all lawyers are experienced with DUI, even if they are criminal defense attorneys. You want a lawyer who has worked on cases like yours before, and knows every defense available. When considering a lawyer, keep these criteria in mind:
- Hire a firm that deals exclusively with DUI cases. These firms have the most experience, and will know potential strategies that other lawyers would miss.
- Ask for proof that they’ve taken on cases just like yours and won.
- See if they have special credentials, like board certification as a DUI specialist, or training with breathalyzers and breath evidence.
- Make sure they offer a FREE CONSULTATION to assess your case. You should be able to meet the attorney and find out how they would handle your case, without obligation.
Get a DUI Attorney Before It’s Too Late
Our site exists to put you in touch with the best DUI lawyers in Redondo Beach. This service is completely free, and could help you turn your case around. All we need are a few basic details and we’ll match you with the right DUI lawyer for you TODAY.
Don’t waste time. The sooner you have a lawyer working on your case, the better your chances. Fill out the form to your right, or call us at (310) 896-2724, and get your FREE consultation today.
