Facing a DUI charge isn’t easy. A conviction can lead to thousands of dollars in fines, license suspension, compulsory traffic safety classes, and even time in jail. If you have been charged with a DUI, you need a strong defense. That takes knowledge and experience with the legal system—the kind of knowledge that a Bell Gardens DUI lawyer can provide.
Los Angeles DUI Attorney can connect you with a representative who knows the strategies that work best in drunk driving cases and has a strong track record defending drivers like you. They may be able to keep you out of jail and potentially even win your case.
How a Bell Gardens DUI Lawyer Can Help You
The most important thing you can do for your case is to hire a DUI lawyer from Bell Gardens who has a strong reputation and work ethic. A skilled defense lawyer can use a number of different defense strategies to combat your criminal charges, including the following:
- Challenging test validity: Breathalyzers, blood alcohol content tests, and urine tests may be challenged and potentially thrown out.
- Challenging the arrest: Law enforcement officers can’t just pull someone over without a reason. If the motor vehicle traffic stop or the arrest was illegal, a DUI lawyer will spot it and try to get your charges thrown out.
- Challenging rights violations: A DUI lawyer will carefully review the interrogation process and may be able to get evidence excluded if a police officer violated your rights.
- Negotiating with the prosecution: An attorney who has experience with the criminal justice system will know how to bargain effectively with the prosecution. They’ll aim to obtain an out-of-court deal or reduction in penalties.
Hiring a DUI lawyer doesn’t just improve your case, it also makes the prosecutor’s job harder. Prosecutors have busy caseloads and can’t focus all their time on a single drunk driving case. The harder your lawyer fights for you, the more likely it is that the prosecution will simply offer you a way out. They might even reduce the charge to reckless driving or drop the case.
Penalties a Bell Gardens DUI Attorney Can Help You Avoid
A conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol can have serious consequences. Fines, which generate income for the City of Bell Gardens, are constantly increasing. The Bell Gardens Police Department holds DUI checkpoints monthly, catching dozens of drivers at once, each of which may pay thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars in fines.
That isn’t all. California State Law institutes DUI penalties, which can be severe even for a first-time offense. These include:
- Jail time: A conviction could result in anywhere between two days to six months in jail. The exact amount you receive depends largely on the discretion of the judge.
- Loss of driver’s license: License suspension may range from several months to one year.
- Mandatory classes: All those convicted of driving under the influence in California are required to go through DUI school, which you pay for out of pocket. At least three months of traffic safety lessons are required, costing over $500.
- Fines and fees: When you’re convicted of a DUI, you don’t just pay the fine itself. You also pay a variety of administrative fees. This brings the minimum cost of a first-time DUI to about $1,800. It can be much higher. The total cost of a first-time DUI in southern California can be up to $15,649.
In addition, at least three years of probation will be imposed, possibly including the installation of an ignition interlock device in your vehicle. If you have prior DUIs on your record within the last 10 years, penalties can be worse. Jail sentences increase to up to 16 months of state prison time.
Finally, a repeat offense may be classified as a felony on your criminal record. This is why you need to act quickly to defend against your DUI. A skilled lawyer from Bell Gardens can help you handle your drunk driving charges and any other related legal issues you may be facing.
Three Critical Deadlines in a Bell Gardens DUI Case
All DUIs follow a set legal process. The process will be similar whether you were arrested by local police, the LA County Sheriff’s Department, or state troopers out of the Santa Fe Springs office. You will typically be held at the Bell Gardens Police Department City Jail for at least a day. Upon your release, you face a set of legal deadlines, and you must prepare for each one.
A Bell Gardens DUI attorney can help you meet each of the following deadlines:
DMV Hearing
To keep your license during the time leading up to the trial, you must request a DMV hearing within 10 days of arrest. If you do not, license suspension is automatically imposed by the California DMV. This is called “administrative suspension.”
A DUI lawyer can help you potentially avoid a license suspension by requesting a hearing before the deadline. Your lawyer knows what the DMV wants to hear and can represent you at the hearing, giving you the best chance possible of keeping your driving privileges.
Arraignment
The arraignment is your first court date. While its official purpose is to hear your plea of either Guilty or Not Guilty, it’s also an opportunity for you to confront the prosecution. They will be studying you to determine if you will likely be an easy conviction.
Having a Bell Gardens DUI lawyer sends a strong signal that you’re going to fight. The prosecution may reconsider and offer a deal instead—likely a much better deal than what they offered earlier. The arraignment is typically held within 14 days of arrest. You should speak to a drunk driving lawyer as soon as possible.
Date of Trial
The date of your trial is the last and most important deadline. It will be scheduled within 45 days of the arrest and held at the Downey Courthouse. In many cases, however, you may be able to resolve the DUI charge without going to trial.
Your DUI lawyer would much rather get the charges dropped or negotiate a win without the risk of facing a jury. They will use the time before the trial to research your case, develop a defense strategy, challenge the evidence, put pressure on the prosecution, and work to secure you a victory without a courtroom trial.
Talk to a Bell Gardens Lawyer Today for Free
Facing a drunk driving charge can be a terrifying process. To avoid the serious outcomes associated with a conviction, you’ll want to work with a skilled criminal defense attorney instead of a public defender. A trusted criminal attorney can build a strong defense case and fight to get your charges thrown out or reduced.
At Los Angeles DUI Attorney, our mission is to help you find the right representation for your case. Contact us today to connect with an experienced Bell Gardens DUI lawyer. They’ll meet with you to discuss your case, advise you on your best course of legal action, and answer any questions you have about the defense process.
