A DUI charge can lead to serious consequences, including jail time, fines, and license suspension. There are steps you can take to improve your situation and fight these charges.
The best way to do that is to have an experienced Santa Monica DUI lawyer help you through the legal process. With their help, you may be able to avoid jail time and even keep your license.
Our team at Los Angeles DUI Lawyer can connect you with a criminal defense law firm that can help with your charges. Contact us now to learn more about how an attorney can build your defense.
Do You Need a DUI Lawyer Serving Santa Monica?
You need a criminal defense attorney to have a stronger chance of successfully handling drunk driving allegations.
Your lawyer can:
Examine Your Arrest
Strict protocols and procedures bind law enforcement officers. They sometimes slip up, violating the rights of the people they arrest. If your lawyer can demonstrate that this is the case, the charges against you may fall apart.
Challenge the Evidence Against You
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and breathalyzer tests can be subject to error. Breath and blood tests can be flawed due to calibration errors or improper handling. Your lawyer can subpoena data from a breath test machine or testing history from a blood test lab and look for irregularities to get evidence thrown out.
Investigate What Happened
Your Santa Monica DUI lawyer will review the witness reports and testimonies of the arresting officers. Any inconsistencies or factual errors will be obvious to an experienced eye and might be used to discredit the prosecution’s case.
Negotiate With the Prosecution
Prosecutors are busy people. If your lawyer can make your defense look strong enough, they might be open to plea bargaining. If not, your attorney could take steps to get your charges dropped or fight for you in court.
Types of DUI Charges in Santa Monica
California uses many different charges to prosecute drunk driving in Los Angeles County. You may need help from a:
- Santa Monica First Offense DUI Lawyer: Even a first DUI can have major repercussions for your life. Fortunately, a lawyer can immediately get to work on your DUI defense and protect your rights.
- Santa Monica Misdemeanor DUI Lawyer: Most DUI charges in Los Angeles County are misdemeanors. These charges are less serious than felonies, but they can still result in jail time and other severe penalties.
- Santa Monica Felony DUI Lawyer: You could face felony criminal charges if you have multiple past DUIs on your record or if the police accuse you of causing an accident while impaired. A criminal defense attorney can help with these allegations.
- Santa Monica Commercial DUI Lawyer: A DUI can cost commercial drivers their licenses and livelihood. You need help building a DUI defense to protect your future after an arrest for a commercial DUI.
- Santa Monica Marijuana DUI Lawyer: A DUI defense lawyer can help if the police accuse you of driving while impaired by marijuana. You can get the help you need to confidently navigate the legal system in this situation.
You can get immediate help handling your criminal case by contacting a skilled law firm after your arrest in Southern California.
The Cost of a DUI Conviction
California DUI penalties can be harsh for those unlucky enough to be charged with DUI. These penalties get worse with each successive DUI, but the penalties for a first-time DUI are as follows:
- Up to 6 months incarceration. If convicted, you will spend at least 48 hours in the county jail.
- Fines and fees of at least $1,800. Your costs could include the $390 minimum fine and various court fees. The total can reach far more than this.
- You may lose your driving privileges for at least several months and possibly for over a year.
If you have any previous DUI convictions, the court will add additional penalties. You could face additional time in county jail or fines up to $18,000. You could also end up in jail for a year or even face 16 months of prison time.
The court may also order you to attend an alcohol educational program that costs between $500 and $1,800. You may also be required to install an ignition interlock device on your car. These costs multiply quickly.
However, a criminal defense attorney experienced in handling DUI cases can work to mitigate these penalties and may be able to have your charges dismissed entirely, providing the legal assistance you deserve.
What Happens After the Arrest?
When a local police officer arrests you for driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, prescription drugs, or other substances, you could end up having to spend the night in jail.
Your arrest is only the beginning of dealing with your drunk driving charge—the upcoming legal timeline is complex and involves several stages:
Your DMV Hearing
The police can confiscate your license at the time of your arrest, and you’ll be issued a temporary one. This temporary license is valid for only 30 days, after which the DMV automatically suspends it through an administrative or “per se” license suspension.
The only way to stop this process is to request a DMV DUI Hearing within 10 days of your arrest—very tight timelines that many defendants miss. A criminal defense lawyer with DUI experience can help you with this hearing.
Your Arraignment
A preliminary hearing occurs a few weeks after your arrest. At this hearing, you’ll enter your plea and find out an exact date for your trial. Your Santa Monica DUI lawyer will be able to advise you on the arraignment and start pressuring the prosecution to offer you a plea bargain that can help you avoid harsher penalties.
Your Trial
Many DUI cases never go to trial, but if you do go to trial, you have a chance to defend yourself. Your lawyer will put together a defense that aims to put doubt in the minds of the jury. They will also be present during jury selection to ensure no potential bias against your case.
You are Not Guilty Unless Proven Guilty
From the moment of your DUI arrest, deadlines are already looming to challenge your license suspension, subpoena evidence, and pressure the prosecution to drop your case. The best thing you can do is hire an experienced DUI attorney and fight every step of the way.
Doing so could save you money on fines, reduce the penalties you face, or result in a Not Guilty verdict. Our service exists to connect you to a DUI attorney in Santa Monica who can handle your legal needs.
Your lawyer will offer a FREE consultation and let you choose how to proceed. Don’t wait until the day of your trial. Contact us and begin securing your legal defense today.
Fact Checked 
