Facing a DUI in Glendale, CA, is not easy. Whether it is your first offense or previous DUIs, the penalties are steep, and the prosecutor will throw the book at you. Being convicted of a DUI means losing your driving privileges, spending time in jail, and paying hefty fines.
That is why going into your case with a good Glendale DUI lawyer is so important. Los Angeles DUI lawyer can connect you with a skilled DUI defense lawyer who will counsel you as you go through the system and give you every fighting chance to win your case.
Investing in a qualified DUI attorney in Glendale is an investment in your future. The cost of their services is often a fraction of the potential financial and personal toll of a DUI conviction. By enlisting a criminal defense attorney with decades of experience, you can protect your rights and secure a favorable outcome.
How Bad Is a DUI?
Glendale takes DUI cases seriously and doles out harsh punishments to those convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol. Every year, there are over 900 DUI arrests in Glendale, and each arrest has the potential to bring in money for Glendale’s city government.
Unsurprisingly, a DUI has become one of the most expensive misdemeanors on the books. Glendale’s DUI penalties are determined by California state law. They are stiff for a first conviction and get substantially more severe for each additional conviction. If you get too many DUIs, you could face felony charges and criminal penalties, which include:
- Approximately $1800 minimum in fines and fees for a first conviction and up to $18,000 for repeat offenders
- A minimum of three days in county jail for first-time offenders
- Mandatory education or alcohol treatment at your expense
- Loss of your driving license/driving privileges
- Community service
Jail Time
Jail sentences get longer for repeat violations, and a fourth DUI could put you in state prison for years. DUI convictions also mean forfeiting your license, from as little as just a few months to as much as several years.
These penalties can potentially be reduced or dismissed if you have qualified Glendale DUI lawyers working for you. Having skilled representation is necessary to navigate the complexities of DUI cases and explore possible criminal defenses or mitigating factors. Glendale DUI lawyers can help negotiate with prosecutors, challenge evidence, and advocate for the best interests of their clients.
What Happens When You Get a DUI
If the Glendale Police arrest you, you will likely spend one to three days in jail. However, you may be taken to a different facility if you are booked by the LA County Sheriff or local California state troopers instead.
You will be released on bail or your “own recognizance” (a promise to return to court). In rare instances, you will be held in jail until your arraignment.
After your impaired driving booking, two things happen very quickly. It is best to have a DUI lawyer in Glendale on your side before either of them. First, you must attend your arraignment, followed by your DMV hearing.
Your Arraignment
The arraignment is a short hearing before a judge at the Glendale Courthouse. This is a crucial stage of the legal process that can significantly impact the outcome of your case. At this hearing, you will be asked to officially enter your plea.
In almost all cases, a good criminal defense lawyer will advise you to plead not guilty. However, public defenders (the lawyers assigned by the state) will often tell you to plead guilty.
This is one of the many reasons you want an experienced Glendale DUI lawyer at your side during your arraignment.
Your DMV Hearing Deadline
You may not know it, but the clock is ticking from the moment of your drunk driving arrest. You have only ten days to request a hearing from the DMV. The hearing will be held at a nearby DMV office or over the phone.
If you do not request a hearing, they will automatically suspend your driver’s license—even though you have not been found guilty yet. Seeking the assistance of a qualified DUI lawyer is invaluable during this time. DUI lawyers are familiar with relevant time frames and can help you promptly file the request.
Moreover, a skilled criminal defense attorney can represent you at the DMV hearing, advocating for your driving privileges to be reinstated temporarily until your trial date. During the DMV hearing, evidence and arguments can be presented to demonstrate the validity of your request to keep your license.
Be Ready for Your Trial
A second, longer clock is also ticking: the time until your trial. During this time, a DUI lawyer will sift through the evidence against you, find holes in it, gather evidence of their own, and begin constructing a strong case on your behalf. Their job is to make the prosecution’s job as hard as possible.
As the trial date approaches, the prosecutor will spend time assessing the strength of their case against you. If the prosecutor does not think they have an easy win, they may offer you a generous plea deal, such as a reduced charge or sentence, to resolve the case without going to trial. In some instances, the prosecutor may even decide to drop the criminal charges against you entirely if they feel their case is particularly weak.
Your DUI lawyer will diligently prepare for the courtroom battle if your case goes to trial. They may file motions to exclude key evidence, such as the breath test results, if there are valid grounds to do so. Their objective is to weaken the prosecution’s case and strengthen yours by preventing the introduction of potentially damaging evidence.
A Glendale DUI Lawyer Will Advocate For Your Rights
Throughout the trial, your attorney’s role is to advocate fiercely for your freedom and innocence. They will present compelling arguments and evidence to establish “reasonable doubt” in the jury’s minds.
By casting uncertainty on the accuracy of the prosecution’s evidence or the validity of the field sobriety tests, they aim to persuade the jury that you may not have been intoxicated at the time of the arrest.
Stay Cool During Your Arrest
Staying calm and composed during a DUI arrest is crucial for ensuring your safety and protecting your legal rights. Here are some tips to help you stay cool:
- Remain calm: Stay composed and avoid arguing or becoming confrontational with the arresting officers. Keeping a level head can prevent the situation from escalating.
- Be polite and cooperative: Follow the officer’s instructions politely. Cooperate with reasonable requests, such as providing identification or stepping out of the vehicle.
- Invoke your rights: You have the right to remain silent and the right to legal representation. Politely inform the officer that you wish to exercise these rights.
- Limit information: Avoid providing unnecessary information or explanations beyond basic identification details. Anything you say can potentially be used against you.
- Avoid resisting arrest: Resisting arrest can lead to additional charges and escalate the situation. Compliance does not imply guilt and is often in your best interest.
- Ask for clarification: If you don’t understand something or need clarification on why you are being arrested, you can ask calmly and respectfully.
- Document the arrest: If possible, take mental notes or discreetly record the events leading up to and during the arrest. This information can be helpful for your defense later on.
- Contact Los Angeles DUI Attorney to get connected: As soon as possible after your arrest, seek legal advice from a qualified DUI attorney. They can provide guidance on how to proceed and protect your rights throughout the legal process.
Maintaining composure during a DUI arrest can help mitigate potential consequences and ensure a smoother process during what can be a stressful situation.
How to Find the Best DUI Lawyer in Glendale, CA
By now, it should be obvious what a difference an experienced Glendale DUI attorney can make in your case. But that does not always mean it is easy to find one. Many criminal lawyers say they are experienced in DUI cases, even if they take a wide variety of criminal cases and do not specialize in DUI law.
They may not have a dedicated criminal defense attorney’s skills or training. Here is what you should look for to find legal representation you can trust:
- Their entire practice is dedicated to DUI defense and related charges.
- They have special training, experience, or board certification for DUI cases.
- They treat you like a person, not a case file.
- They empathize with what you are going through and care about your outcome.
- They offer your initial consultation for free.
We specialize in finding criminal defense lawyers who meet these criteria and matching drivers like you with an attorney who will do the best job possible.
How a DUI Lawyer Helps Your Case
All too often, drivers arrested for DUI think there is nothing they can do. After all, if the police made you take a blood or breath test, there is proof that you were intoxicated, right? How could you possibly win?
But Glendale DUI lawyers take on cases like that every day. They have developed effective methods to challenge even the most seemingly “scientific” evidence against you. Protect yourself from gaining a criminal record by contacting our team.
Police Officers Are Not Always Right
One key aspect that DUI attorneys scrutinize is the conduct of the arresting officers. Law enforcement officials are not infallible, and preconceived notions might cloud their judgment. Arresting officers may imagine signs of drunkenness because they have already decided a driver was DUI.
Reviewing the video footage, talking to other witnesses, or investigating the police report might uncover errors or inconsistencies that doubt the accuracy of their observations. In some instances, discrepancies may emerge when comparing the officer’s arrest report to their testimony, raising more questions about their credibility. They may also demonstrate unconscious biases in your arrest that can be successfully questioned to undermine their testimony.
Establishing an offer’s potential for error is often sufficient to create reasonable doubt in the jury’s mind. This can be crucial in securing an acquittal or a more favorable plea deal.
Data Can Lie
Breath and blood tests are supposed to be scientific, but they are only as good as the equipment and personnel who carry them out. DUI attorneys in Glendale, CA, are well-versed in the intricacies of field sobriety tests and breathalyzer equipment, enabling them to identify potential flaws or inaccuracies that could have affected the test results. A skilled DUI attorney will know how to uncover the answers to these very important questions:
- When was the breath test machine last calibrated?
- What is its margin of error?
- Does it have a history of erring on the high side?
- Were you on prescription medications that could affect the outcome of the test?
Everything Is Negotiable
With an experienced DUI/DWI lawyer on your side, you may never even have to go to trial. Your attorney may be able to negotiate to have the charge reduced to reckless driving or be offered a lighter sentence than you would get in court. If you go to trial, your criminal defense lawyer will use a vast toolkit to sway the jury to your side.
This includes showing inconsistencies in the arresting officer’s claims, calling in expert witnesses, and subpoenaing evidence that shows the holes in the blood alcohol concentration test you were forced to take. If the evidence against you is weak, your Glendale DUI attorney can demonstrate to the prosecutor that they are ready to fight every step of the way. This could induce the prosecution to reduce or dismiss your charges.
Common Defense Strategies for Your DUI Arrest
Defending against a DUI charge involves various strategies aimed at challenging the evidence and procedural aspects of the case. These defenses seek to highlight inconsistencies, errors, or violations that may weaken the prosecution’s argument of impairment due to alcohol or drugs.
- Challenging the traffic stop: Asserting that the initial stop by law enforcement lacked probable cause or was conducted improperly.
- Questioning field sobriety tests (FSTs): Pointing out factors such as poor administration, environmental conditions, or physical issues that could have influenced test performance.
- Disputing breathalyzer accuracy: Contesting the reliability of breathalyzer results due to calibration issues, improper usage, or external factors affecting the test outcome.
- Arguing medical conditions or diet: Presenting evidence that certain medical conditions, medications, or low-carb diets can mimic intoxication symptoms or affect test results.
- Raising chain of custody issues: Challenging the handling or processing of blood samples, questioning whether proper protocols were followed.
- Asserting rights violations: Claiming that constitutional rights were infringed during arrest, questioning the legality of procedures conducted by law enforcement.
Successfully employing these defenses often involves thorough examination of police reports, blood alcohol content testing, and expert testimony. Each strategy aims to create reasonable doubt regarding the accused’s guilt, emphasizing the importance of skilled legal representation to navigate the complexities of DUI cases.
The Clock Is Already Ticking on Your DUI Case
Do not let the prosecutor decide your fate. Go into your case with a qualified Glendale DUI lawyer and maximize your chances of success. We pre-screen DUI lawyers to ensure they have extensive experience and are fully dedicated to their clients.
We then match them with defendants like you—for free. Submit our contact form now and get a professional on your case. We will take down your case details, find the right DUI lawyer, and arrange a free, no-risk consultation.
Make use of this valuable time and contact us today to take advantage of the strong legal defense you are entitled to recover. The team at Los Angeles DUI Attorney is here to help.
