San Fernando takes DUIs seriously. A DUI saddles you with consequences that can last years, including loss of license, mandatory DUI school, fines and fees reaching thousands of dollars, and potentially even time in jail. Your top priority must be defending yourself.
The best way to fight a DUI is with a San Fernando DUI lawyer on your side. A Los Angeles DUI Attorney can guide you through the legal system, challenge the evidence against you, bargain with the prosecution, and potentially resolve your case without going to court. They may even reduce the charge to a less serious one or win your case altogether.
Consequences of a DUI in San Fernando
A DUI is one of the most expensive charges you can face. It is also a source of revenue for the San Fernando Valley area, and the city heavily enforces it.
The cost of a DUI in Southern California could be more than $15,000 once fines, fees, and insurance are included. However, the consequences someone can face if they have a DUI can have a serious impact on every aspect of their life. Courts level stiff penalties, even against first-time offenders. It’s important to note that the following are for DUI charges, but if a DUI is connected to a vehicular manslaughter charge, these penalties will often be more severe.
These penalties include:
- Fines and fees: The fine for a drunk driving charge starts at $390. But “administrative fees” are also added, bringing the total to at least $1800—and potentially much more.
- Jail time: You may be incarcerated from as little as two days to as long as six months.
- Losing your license: A DUI conviction can result in a suspension of your driving privileges, which may last from four months to one year.
- DUI school: You must take at least three months of traffic safety courses. You pay for this out-of-pocket, which in Los Angeles County can range from over $200 to over $3,000 (depending on the severity of your charge and if it was your first offense).
- Probation: You will spend a period of three to five years on probation and may also be ordered to install an interlock device in your vehicle. This prevents the engine from starting if you are intoxicated.
Repeat Offenses
California state law is even stricter with penalties for repeat offenders. In some cases, repeated offenses can even lead to felony DUI charges. If you have a prior DUI on your record within the last 10 years, you may spend up to one year in jail or sixteen months in a state prison. License suspension may extend to several years, or your driver’s license can be permanently revoked.
DUI School
DUI school can last nearly three years, and you may have to undergo addiction treatment. In these cases, costs may rise to more than $10,000. Finally, the charge may become a felony, and felonies stay on your permanent criminal record for life.
Increased Insurance Rates
As if this were not enough, all DUI convictions carry broader implications than solely those of the court justice system. For example, your car insurance rates will likely increase, and jail time and DUI school may disrupt your work schedule. A social stigma may follow if you are convicted. It is crucial to fight to resolve your case as favorably as possible.
Talk to a San Fernando DUI attorney before you run out of time and lose your driver’s license.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest
You now face three important legal deadlines in your Los Angeles County case. The deadlines in the criminal justice process include:
DMV Hearing
You must file a request for a DMV hearing within 10 days of arrest in the San Fernando Valley, or the state DMV will suspend your license. This “administrative suspension” is different from a court suspension and happens even if you are not convicted. You should ask your DUI lawyer to handle the hearing for you.
There are particular things the DMV wants to hear to let you keep driving, and your lawyer will know how to make a strong case at the DMV hearing.
Arraignment
The arraignment is a short hearing where you plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest to the DUI charges. It usually happens within 14 days of arrest. This hearing is especially important because it is your first encounter with the prosecution.
Their eyes will be on you to see if your case will be an easy win. They do not want to waste precious resources on difficult cases. Your San Fernando Valley attorney will build a case to challenge the evidence against you, such as challenging field sobriety tests. Your criminal defense lawyer will show them that you will be a tough conviction, and the prosecutor will likely offer a much more favorable deal.
Trial
You will be scheduled for trial at the San Fernando Courthouse, but your lawyer will work to settle your case out of court. You should speak to a San Fernando DUI attorney as early as possible—the trial can be as little as 30 days from the date of your arrest.
Sentencing
If you are found guilty of the crime, you will then attend a sentencing hearing. Your sentence will be based on the number of DUI convictions you already have on your record. There may also be additional considerations in your sentencing if there were additional charges, such as drug possession, involved.
A first-time offender faces up to six months in jail and a suspension of their driver’s license for more than four months. A second-time offender faces up to one year in jail and a suspension of their driver’s license for no more than two years.
A third-time offender faces up to one year in jail or 16 months in state prison with a license suspension of no more than three years.
Do You Need a DUI Lawyer in San Fernando?
Getting a strong lawyer is the most important step for beating a DUI. Your DUI lawyer in the San Fernando Valley area will use specific tactics to fight the evidence, try to win your case, protect your legal rights, and help you avoid severe penalties for DUI charges. These tactics may include:
- Challenging the blood alcohol level (BAC) test results: Breath tests can be inaccurate if poorly calibrated, and blood test samples may be mishandled or stored improperly. Your lawyer can challenge the blood alcohol level test results and potentially have them thrown out.
- Objecting to rights violations: Arrests often involve errors in procedure, such as searching your vehicle without permission or failing to read you your rights. These mistakes are ammunition for your lawyer to fight the case against you.
- Finding mistakes in reports: Police reports and testimonies also frequently include inconsistencies. Your lawyer will spot such errors and leverage them in your favor.
- Negotiating a deal with the prosecution: You want a favorable deal without a trial, so you need legal representation. Your lawyer will systematically fight their evidence against you, then lean on them for a deal.
These are just a few of the advantages of a DUI lawyer. The legal system is complicated, and negotiation is difficult. Choosing the right lawyer in the San Fernando Valley area is the first step towards taking back control of your story.
If an officer from the San Fernando Police Department has picked you up for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you need to make clear your intentions to invoke your Miranda Rights, remain silent, and speak to a criminal defense attorney.
A good lawyer with a DUI defense firm may reduce your charge to reckless driving or drop it altogether. A DUI attorney in the San Fernando Valley can answer all of your questions about the law, collect evidence that benefits you, and build a defense so you can avoid harsher penalties.
Talk to a San Fernando DUI Lawyer for Free
When you are facing criminal charges for driving under the influence in Los Angeles County, you deserve a strong defense. We can help. Let us match you with an experienced attorney to get the legal advice and representation you need. Every attorney we work with focuses exclusively on DUI and offers a FREE case evaluation.
Do not wait. Fill out the form to the right or call our office to get your free consultation today. The sooner you speak with an experienced San Fernando DUI attorney, the sooner you can have your life return to normal following a DUI charge.
Serving Drivers Across San Fernando and the Surrounding Area
We defend drivers arrested across San Fernando and the surrounding northeast San Fernando Valley, including the Las Palmas area, the neighborhoods around the San Fernando Mall, and the area near Layne Park, as well as neighboring Sylmar, Pacoima, and Mission Hills. Whether you were stopped on the 210 (Foothill Freeway), the 5 (Golden State Freeway), or the 118, pulled over along San Fernando Road or Maclay Avenue, or arrested near the San Fernando Mall, we handle DUI cases throughout the 91340 and 91341 ZIP codes and the rest of the northeast San Fernando Valley.
A San Fernando DUI moves on two tracks at once. San Fernando DUI cases are heard at the San Fernando Courthouse, which serves the northern San Fernando Valley. At the same time, the DMV opens a separate Administrative Per Se (APS) action through the Van Nuys Driver Safety Office — and you have only 10 days from your arrest to request a hearing before your license is automatically suspended. We handle both the courtroom case and the DMV hearing from day one.
Most San Fernando DUI charges are filed under California Vehicle Code 23152(a) and 23152(b) — the standard 0.08% BAC offenses — with felony exposure under VC 23153 when someone is injured. We challenge the basis for the traffic stop, the calibration and 15-minute observation period behind the preliminary alcohol screening (PAS) breath device, the chain of custody on any blood draw, and the reliability of field sobriety tests. For repeat cases, we address prior convictions, ignition interlock device (IID) requirements, SR-22 insurance filings, and DUI-school terms — and on injury cases, the Watson advisement.
San Fernando DUI cases are handled by trial attorney Michael A. Simmrin (California State Bar No. 238092), a University of Miami School of Law graduate who has tried more than 100 jury trials. Consultations are free and available 24/7 — call (310) 906-4672 to speak with an attorney directly. Learn more about Michael Simmrin →
San Fernando DUI FAQs
What is the best defense for a San Fernando DUI?
There is no single best defense—the right strategy depends on the facts of your stop and arrest. In San Fernando DUI cases, common defenses include challenging the reason for the traffic stop, questioning the calibration and 15-minute observation period behind the breath (PAS) test, scrutinizing the blood-draw chain of custody, and disputing field sobriety test results. A defense attorney reviews the police report, body-camera footage, and chemical evidence to find the weakness that fits your case under California Vehicle Code 23152.
Do you really need a lawyer for a DUI in San Fernando?
You are not legally required to hire one, but a DUI triggers two separate cases at once: the criminal case, prosecuted at the San Fernando Courthouse, and a DMV Administrative Per Se action that can suspend your license within 10 days of arrest. A lawyer handles both, requests the DMV hearing on time, and can spot defenses most people would miss. For a charge that affects your record, your license, and your job, experienced representation usually makes a meaningful difference.
How long do DUI hearings last at the San Fernando Courthouse?
It depends on the type of hearing. Early appearances such as an arraignment at the San Fernando Courthouse are usually brief—often just a few minutes before the judge. The separate DMV Administrative Per Se hearing is also short and can be held by phone. If your case goes to trial, it can last from a day to several days depending on the evidence and witnesses. Most San Fernando DUI cases are resolved well before trial, during the pre-trial phase.
Is it worth it to fight a San Fernando DUI?
In most cases, yes—even when the evidence looks strong. Breath and blood results do not always hold up, and fighting the charge can lead to a dismissal, an acquittal, or a reduction to a lesser offense with lighter penalties. At minimum, a thorough review of your case gives you the information to make an informed decision instead of simply accepting the first offer. Consultations are free—call (310) 906-4672 to discuss your options 24/7.
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