If the police arrested you for driving under the influence (DUI), you could face jail time, a suspended driver’s license, mandatory DUI treatment, and thousands of dollars in fines. It could haunt you for years if you do not fight against the charge now.
The best way to fight your DUI charge is by having an Alhambra DUI lawyer on your side. DUI lawyers defend tough cases every day—and they know which tactics to use to maximize your chances.
A criminal defense attorney can reduce your sentence, get the DUI charge knocked down to something less serious, or even win your case altogether. You can learn more about the benefits of hiring a lawyer when you call or complete our online contact form.
What Charges Can a DUI Lawyer Handle?
You can secure professional legal representation to help with any charges you face in the Alhambra court system. For example, your attorney may help handle charges for:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol
- Cycling under the influence
- An underage DUI with a BAC of 0.05 or higher
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causing an injury
The above list contains only examples of California’s many DUI laws. A criminal conviction for any of these charges can have a major impact on your life, so contact an Alhambra DUI attorney fast for help.
What Happens When You Get a DUI in Alhambra?
The California Vehicle Code sets DUI penalties at the state level. Your fines and penalties depend on whether you have previous DUIs on your criminal record. The sentences are different for the first time, the second time, and third or subsequent offenders.
In the past ten years, all DUI convictions and related convictions count toward this number. As a baseline, let us look at the penalties for a first-time DUI with no complicating factors:
Fines
You will pay a minimum of about $1,800, including the minimum fine and the mandatory court penalties, and the numbers only go up from there. First-time DUI sentences are supposed to be light, but the total costs can exceed $15,600.
Jail Time
Many DUI sentences include jail time, ranging from 48 hours to six months for a first offense. Professional legal representation may help you avoid incarceration.
Suspended Driver’s License
All DUI sentences include loss of driving privileges. A suspension can last at least several months and can be much longer.
DUI School Attendance
The judge can order you into DUI treatment at your own expense. You cannot get your license back until this is complete.
Other Penalties
The court may order you to install a personal breathalyzer device in your vehicle under California’s statewide ignition interlock device (IID) pilot program and remain on probation for some time after the end of your jail sentence.
Repeat DUI Convictions Have Harsher Results
Sentences for repeat DUI convictions are much more severe. You could be in jail for up to one year or even sent to state prison for up to 16 months. Fines and fees routinely run in the tens of thousands of dollars range.
Both your DUI treatment and license suspension could last for years. A DUI lawyer in Alhambra, CA, can explain the law in clear terms so you understand what you are facing should you be convicted.
California increases the penalties for each subsequent DUI charge so that a third offense will result in more severe consequences than a second conviction. DUI charges stay on your record for 10 years from the date of your arrest.
Can You Remove a DUI from Your Record?
You may go through the legal process of expungement for some DUI charges. Expungement will partially remove a DUI from your record. However, it does not fully erase the DUI, and the charge will remain priorable if you face subsequent DUI offenses.
Therefore, legal professionals recommend that you address a DUI before a conviction by hiring a lawyer who can push to get your charges dismissed or reduced.
What an Alhambra DUI Lawyer Brings to Your Case
You don’t have to try to face the Alhambra police department on your own. A lawyer can help you deal with law enforcement and may:
- Push to get blood alcohol content (BAC) test results thrown out
- Look for holes or inconsistencies in police reports
- Protect your rights
- Negotiation with the district attorney and prosecutor
It is not unusual for DUI lawyers to secure a not-guilty verdict for their clients. In many other cases, they bring back extremely generous deals. A DUI attorney is here to examine your case thoroughly so you can focus more on your personal life.
You will not have to worry about learning the law to represent yourself at any of the court hearings when you work with an experienced criminal defense attorney.
What Parts of Your Case Can a DUI Lawyer Handle?
A qualified attorney can assist with every aspect of your legal case after an arrest for a drunk driving offense. Your lawyer may help with your:
DMV Hearing
When the police arrest you for a DUI, you have only ten days to request a hearing with the state DMV—or you lose your license. The DMV suspends the licenses of anyone arrested for drunk driving before the trial.
Do NOT miss this deadline! Ask your DUI lawyer to represent you at the hearing. They will supply the evidence to show the DMV that you can drive safely until your court trial.
Arraignment
Within a few weeks of your arrest, you will receive a date for an arraignment. An arraignment is a court hearing where you enter your plea. It is not a trial.
However, this is your first time formally contacting the prosecutor in court. They will be sizing you up to see if they can push you into taking a bad plea bargain. What they do not want to see is a reputable DUI lawyer at your side.
You can make their job much harder by securing legal representation. Your main objective should be to retain the services of a skilled DUI attorney before the arraignment and have them speak for you at the hearing.
Trial
If your case proceeds to trial, it will occur at the Alhambra Courthouse. But your lawyer’s goal is to resolve your case in your favor before the trial ever happens. They will pressure the prosecutor to offer a deal you feel comfortable taking.
A plea bargain could include very light penalties or even a lesser charge. In some cases, it means you walk away free. You can discuss this option during a confidential consultation with an attorney.
Speak to a DUI Attorney for Free
Do not go to the courtroom alone. Fill out our online contact form or call our office for your FREE consultation today. The longer you wait to talk to an Alhambra DUI lawyer, the higher the risk of losing your driver’s license.
You have just 10 days following a DUI arrest to save your license. Do not delay. Make the call now.
We will match you with a pre-screened DUI lawyer who offers a FREE case consultation. At this consultation, you will learn everything you need to know to decide how you want to handle your case.
