Getting pulled over for driving under the influence in Lancaster, CA, starts a complicated legal process. A DUI conviction can result in jail time, losing your license, and paying thousands of dollars in fines and fees.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way if you have good legal representation. That is why we work to connect people accused of drunk driving with an experienced attorney.
A knowledgeable Lancaster DUI lawyer may help you reduce the severity of your sentence, reduce your charge to something less serious, or even win your case outright.
What Charges Can a DUI Lawyer Handle?
You can rely on a DUI lawyer in Lancaster to help after any arrest for drunk driving. Attorneys understand all these criminal offenses, including charges for:
- Driving With a Blood Alcohol of .08% or Greater
- Underage DUI with a BAC of 0.05 or Higher
- Commercial Vehicle DUI
- Cycling Under the Influence
Any of these charges can result in harsh penalties, including the loss of your driving privileges, jail time, and steep fines. Fortunately, you can increase your chances of getting a positive outcome for your charges by contacting a lawyer.
Do You Need a DUI Lawyer in Lancaster?
The professionals strongly advise you to hire a DUI law firm to represent you. A skilled criminal defense attorney in Lancaster can use many tactics to help you win your case. These include:
Questioning the Arrest Process
Police are required to follow procedures, inform you of your rights, and handle your arrest correctly. If they ignore or break any of these rules, the court may throw the entire DUI charge out. DUI lawyers know what to look for to identify these situations.
Investigating the Evidence
Even the most seemingly scientific evidence can have holes in it.
For example, a breath test is supposed to give an exact reading, but it may be calibrated wrong, the police may not have maintained the machine properly, or something else in your system could have triggered a false positive.
Any of these factors can get evidence completely tossed out of court.
Finding Inconsistencies
What happens if the arresting officer’s statement today doesn’t match what he said in his report? What if he said you were staggering as you walked, but video footage shows you walking fine? A good lawyer will look for these inconsistencies and exploit them on your behalf.
Striking a Deal
Sometimes, your lawyer doesn’t have to prove your case. They just have to show the prosecutor that it will be a complex trial to win. Suddenly, the prosecutor may offer to downgrade your charge to a lesser offense or even drop the charges completely.
More on Pretrial Diversion Programs
Getting the prosecutor to allow you to enter a pretrial diversion may be in your best interests if you hope to avoid some of the more severe penalties of a criminal conviction. Pretrial diversion programs have requirements similar to those for someone placed on probation or parole.
You may need to agree to one or more of the following stipulations to complete a pretrial diversion program in Lancaster:
- Attend group or individual therapy
- Avoid using illicit drugs or alcohol
- Pass random drug tests
- Attend meetings with court officials or probation officers
- Complete DUI school
- Complete a HAM or MADD VIP Program
- Complete an alcohol or drug rehabilitation program
- Pay court fees and restitution
- Complete a specified number of community service hours
These are only a few of the different terms you could face as part of your pretrial diversion agreement. The prosecutor does not offer these programs to everyone.
In fact, they are generally only available to first-time offenders when there is no injury or death associated with the DUI.
If you believe you meet these eligibility requirements, do not hesitate to contact your Lancaster DUI attorney to find out what your legal options are. If you do not qualify, our team will work tirelessly to prepare a powerful defense strategy at trial.
How to Find the Best DUI Lawyer
The Lancaster criminal defense lawyer you choose makes a difference. Many attorneys say they take DUI cases, but that does not mean they have experience with those cases or know the tactics that win.
Here is what to look for to find the best DUI defense attorney:
- They have experience with DUI and DUI-related cases.
- They have board certification or special training related to defending DUI cases.
- They listen to you when you talk, express interest in your case, and care about you.
- They offer their initial consultation free of charge.
Your attorney can help with any traffic offenses you face after being accused of driving while over the legal limit.
What Are DUI Penalties?
California state law sets a complex set of penalties for DUI. The penalties are tough even for a first-time conviction and get tougher for each subsequent conviction.
That means the more DUIs you have, the worse the sentence is. A fourth DUI in 10 years actually becomes a felony case. The penalties for DUI include:
- Expensive fines and court costs
- The loss of your driver’s license
- Time in jail or prison
- Enrollment in a DUI treatment program
All of these penalties have maximums and minimums. For example, going to jail for three nights is a lot easier than going to jail for thirty days. Part of a DUI lawyer’s job is to help you win your case, but part is to help you get the least severe sentence possible if you get convicted.
What to Expect After Your DUI Arrest
You can be arrested for DUI in Lancaster by the Lancaster Police Department, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, or the local branch of the California State Police out of the Antelope Valley office.
In most cases, you will then go to the jail facility at the Sheriff’s Lancaster Station.
You will usually be processed within 24 hours and then released, either on bail (a payment you make that you can get back when you appear in court) or your own recognizance (you promise to come back for the court date).
Arraignment
If you cannot make bail, the court will hold you until the date of your arraignment. The arraignment is one of two critical deadlines in your case. At the arraignment, you will see a judge and must enter a plea for your case.
Often, your lawyer will tell you to plead Not Guilty to push for an offer from the prosecution. On the other hand, a state-appointed defense lawyer may just tell you to plead guilty.
The other critical deadline comes ten days after your arrest, which is the deadline to file for a DMV hearing.
License Suspension Hearing
At your arrest, the authorities took your driver’s license and gave you a pink document as a temporary license. If you do not request a DMV hearing by the 10-day deadline, this document will expire, and the DMV will suspend your license.
Getting the hearing is the only way to keep your license until your trial.
Your best chance of success at this administrative hearing is to have a DUI lawyer represent you.
Trial and Bargaining
At the arraignment, you will receive a trial date. Your trial will likely occur at the Antelope Valley Courthouse. Get a DUI lawyer as early as possible before your trial.
Your lawyer can use the time to gather evidence, request documents from the prosecution, and poke holes in the evidence they plan to bring against you. Taking these steps may allow your attorney to push for a plea bargain from the prosecution.
Get Help After a DUI Arrest from Legal Professionals
You do not have time to lose if the police have arrested you for driving under the influence. The prosecution is already preparing the case against you, and if you cannot defend yourself, the prosecutor will push for the heaviest penalties possible.
Every day you delay hiring a lawyer is one less day to prepare for your trial.
Fill out the form to the right or call us right now. We will set you up with a 100% free case evaluation with a Lancaster DUI lawyer for your case. Contact us and protect yourself today.
