DUI Charges Can Ruin Your Life: Why You Need an Attorney
May 24th, 2022 | by Scott C. Thomas, Orange County Criminal Law Attorney
May 24th, 2022 | by Scott C. Thomas, Orange County Criminal Law Attorney
DUI penalties in California are based on a number of factors. These include the driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC), whether there was a minor present in the vehicle, and whether the DUI resulted in an accident.
DUI offenders are often required to attend DUI School and install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle. Those who refuse to install an ignition interlock device will have their driver’s license suspended for one year. DUI offenders who drive without a license or with a suspended license are subject to additional penalties.
An experienced DUI attorney in Orange County who regularly practices DUI defense is best positioned to help you avoid a DUI conviction or get the charges against you reduced or dismissed altogether.
He or she can achieve this through:
6% of all criminal arrests are wrongful, which means that there is a significant possibility that you were wrongfully arrested for DUI. A knowledgeable DUI attorney will investigate the circumstances of your arrest to look for any constitutional violations or police misconduct that may have occurred.
This could include:
In many cases, an experienced DUI attorney can negotiate with the prosecutor to have the charges against you reduced or dismissed. This is often done by:
In some cases, it may not be possible to have the charges against you completely dismissed. However, an experienced DUI attorney may still be able to negotiate with the prosecutor for a lesser charge.
For example, if you are charged with DUI with a BAC of .08 or higher, your attorney may be able to negotiate for a lesser charge of wet reckless.
A wet reckless is a lesser charge than DUI, which carries lighter penalties. In addition, a conviction for wet reckless will not result in a license suspension, whereas a DUI conviction will.
If you are convicted of DUI, an experienced DUI attorney may be able to argue for alternative sentencing. This could include:
Favorable sentencing is often available for first-time offenders with no prior criminal history. An experienced CA DUI attorney will know what sentencing options are available in your case and will fight for the most favorable sentence possible.
A public defender is a lawyer appointed by the court to represent defendants who cannot afford to hire an attorney. In many cases, public defenders are overworked and do not have the time or resources to provide their clients with the individualized attention they deserve.
If you are facing DUI charges, you should strongly consider hiring a private criminal defense attorney rather than relying on a public defender.
An experienced DUI attorney will provide you with the individualized attention you need to build a strong defense against the charges you are facing. In addition, a private DUI attorney is more likely to be familiar with the prosecutors and judges in your case, which could result in a more favorable outcome for you.
If you have been charged with DUI, you need a top-rated attorney on your side.
We will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your arrest and build a strong defense against the charges you are facing. To schedule a free consultation with our office, call us at 949-694-3482 or fill out our online contact form.
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