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Los Angeles DUI Lawyers

1. Los Angeles Defenders: Motorists who are arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in California face two main legal challenges. Firstly, they face charges that, depending on severity, can easily result in jail time and fines if they are convicted. Secondly, they face the suspension or revocation of their driver's licenses by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). While both processes can have result in severe, negative results for accused motorists who are unprepared, they are independent processes in the eyes of the law. Each process comes with very different procedural and technical requirements that a skilled DUI lawyer can help you resolve. You don't have to lose your freedom and your driving privileges or submit to an ignition interlock device because of a DUI traffic stop.
2. Aldana, Byron: Criminal Defense
3. Sempre Law Firm: Sex Offenses Robbery Assault and Battery Drug Offenses Homicide (Murder) Burglary Domestic Violence DUI Deadly Weapon Charges Theft Fraud Solicitation (Prostitution)
4. Warner, Frederick: Criminal Trials Preliminary Hearings Legal motions plea bargaining DMV hearings bail motions expungements Probation Violations Violent / Felony Crimes Assault Battery Kidnapping Homicide Manslaughter Terrorist Threats Rape/Sex Crimes Robbery Arson Domestic Violence Elder/Spousal Neglect Theft Crimes Embezzlement Credit Card Fraud Forgery Identity Theft Juvenile Crimes All Felony and Misdemeanor charges Drug Charges Drug Possession Drug Trafficking Drug Transportation Federal Crimes Federal Drug Crimes Money Laundering Bank and Loan Fraud Wire and Mail Fraud Racketeering Espionage Misdemeanor Crimes Vandalism Disorderly Conduct Petty Theft Prostitution Permit and Licensing Violations Simple Assault Trespass
5. Manuelian, RJ: Driving as a privilege can be revoked or suspended at any time if you fail to pursue the traffic laws or drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI). If you or a loved one has been pulled over a suspicion of driving under the influence, you need to ensure that you or your loved oneÕs rights are protected in the most skilled and effective manner. If your rights have been violated or if you have been wrongfully accused, you should not be forced to deal with the ramifications. By working with an experienced and aggressive lawyer, you can take the necessary steps towards protecting your rights and fighting for your future. Penalties for driving under the influence can be extremely harsh in California and every effort should be made to avoid them. Contact our law firm today to learn about the criminal court case process and the benefits of retaining a Los Angeles DUI lawyer from Manuelian Law Firm, serving Orange and Riverside County. Your Rights If Pulled Over for Drunk Driving How a DUI Lawyer Can Help Your Rights If Pulled Over for Drunk Driving As soon as you have been pulled over for driving while under the influence of alcohol, it is in your best interests to remember that you have certain legal rights protecting you from self-incrimination. If you have been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in the state of California, you have the following rights that you need to be aware of. If convicted, you are not required by law to submit to a field sobriety test. If you are over 21, you are not required by law to submit to a field breath test. If arrested, you must be given the choice of a blood or breath test. You may refuse both tests, but once convicted, the sentencing against you will be more severe. If you choose a blood test, you are entitled to a second test for analysis by a DUI attorney. You do not have the right to an attorney until you have taken or refused a sobriety test. A DUI arrest can be extremely embarrassing, frustrating, complex and financially draining to say the least. If you or a loved one is accused of any driving-related offense in the Los Angeles area, you should contact a DUI defense attorney at our firm immediately. How a DUI Lawyer Can Help If you or someone you know has been arrested for driving while under the influence, it is important to contact a qualified Los Angeles DUI lawyer. Penalties are steep, involving thousands of dollars in fines. A conviction on DUI charges can be emotionally and financially devastating resulting in license suspension, fines, mandatory enrollment in a rehabilitation program, and jail time. Additionally, if you or a loved one has been charged with manslaughter, because someone died in a DUI-related accident, a Los Angeles criminal law attorney from our firm Ð serving Orange and Riverside County Ð can help. Whether this is your first case or you are facing charges for a second or third DUI offense due to prior convictions on your record, we can work with the prosecution to secure a reduction in charges or a case elimination depending on the evidence against you.
6. Sostrin Law Offices: Time is of the Essence California DUI Law In California there are two types of driving under the influence (ÒDUIÓ) offenses: driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or driving with a .08% or greater blood alcohol level. Most individuals mistakenly assume that if they have less than .08% alcohol in their blood stream, they are not guilty; that their will case will not be filed, or if filed, dismissed at a later date. They could not be more wrong. A city or district attorneyÕs office may keep a case alive for any number of factors. Both offenses are misdemeanors and can carry jail time, or they can be felonies depending on injuries or number of DUIÕs accrued, and the exposure is a state prison commitment. Further, convictions for either offense directly impact whether your license will be restricted, suspended or revoked, and add points Ð for your insurance company to see Ð to your driving record. Needless to say, Southern California lacks an adequate public transportation system, and few matters here are as important as your ability to drive to your employer, and earn a living Ð especially in this economy.
7. Richland, Bruce: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE MISDEMEANOR VS. FELONY The crime of Driving Under the Influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI) can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. Driving Under the Influence is usually a misdemeanor. If there are aggravating circumstances, a DUI charge can become a felony. Aggravating circumstances can result from accidents and/or injuries, if minor children were present, a breath or blood sample refusal, extremely high alcohol levels, speeding or evading, if you are on probation, if it is your 4th DUI arrest, or if you had a prior felony DUI in the last 10 years. If proven true, aggravating circumstances will increase the punishment such as jail time, increased fines and/or loss of driving privileges. The law allows The Law Offices of Bruce Richland, PC to appear for our clients charged with misdemeanor DUI; you will not have to appear in court. This bonus is not available in a felony DUI. JAIL The difference between misdemeanor and felony DUI rests primarily with the punishment that can be imposed upon conviction. Misdemeanors allow for a maximum of one year in county, or local, jail. Felonies expose a person to state prison. Most first-time DUI cases result in zero jail. If there are aggravating circumstances (see above), even if you are not charged with a felony, the prosecutor and/or the judge may want to send you to jail. If this is your 2nd DUI within 10 years, the law allows the prosecutor to insist upon at least 96 hours in jail. If this is your 3rd DUI within 10 years, the law allows the prosecutor ask for a minimum of 120 days in jail. A fourth DUI within 10 years can become a felony with a potential state prison sentence. NO JAIL There are alternatives to having to go to jail. California is famous for its sentencing alternatives, for example: Electronic Monitoring (House arrest): An ankle bracelet, with or without a sensor that detects alcohol, to monitor a personÕs whereabouts. Electronic monitoring programs offer flexibility by sometimes allowing a person to leave the home for reasons including, work, alcohol education programs, shopping, religious services, etc. Community Service: Community service is generally not physical labor, and is available, especially for people with physical limitations (and as an alternative to fines). Cal Trans/Graffiti Removal: Physically demanding work, such as picking up trash on the freeway, or, removing graffiti. Some jurisdictions allow beach clean-up or neighborhood beautification. Work Furlough: Work at your job during the day, and return to housing at night. Keep your job. Sober Living Programs/Drug Rehabilitation: Alternative to jail for those dealing with alcohol or drug addiction. Time spent in program can count as time spent in jail. FINANCIAL EFFECTS: Court fines can add up to more than $1,500, for your first DUI. A court ordered alcohol program will cost at least $500. The driverÕs license reissuance fee is $125. Insurance companies use this as an excuse to increase their rates. There can be restitution payments ordered where property damage and/or physical injury has occurred. Many jurisdictions charge for policeman, fireman and paramedics who respond to the scene of a DUI and provide services. You need to challenge the charges to avoid this financial hardship. UNDER 21 Those under 21 have additional issues upon an arrest and conviction of DUI, and the consequences can be very tough. California has a zero tolerance for those under 21 years of age who drink and drive. Drivers under the age of 21 can suffer the same DUI charges as those over 21. An underage drinker who then drives faces an automatic license suspension. The DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) will want to take away your license for 1 year. However, there are exceptions to this suspension based upon establishing a critical need to drive for school and/or work. These exceptions are very limited, but you need to present this to the judge in order to avoid losing your license. YOUR DRIVING RECORD The DMV looks back 10 years to determine if you have any prior driving under the influence, or related, charges. If so, there are increased, or enhanced, penalties. If you received a DUI in another state it can be used against you, as well. A DUI will put two points on your driving record. A Hit & Run DUI will add 5 points. If you receive 4 points in one year, 6 points in two years or 8 points in three years, the DMV will seek to suspend your license for at least 6 months. You need to fight to save your license. SAVE YOUR LICENSE After being arrested for DUI, in addition to the criminal charges you are facing, an administrative hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles must be scheduled or the DMV will automatically suspend your license to drive 30 days later. This hearing must be requested within 10 days of that arrest. This will put stay, or hold, on any action against your driving privilege and you can drive, legally past the 30 day cut-off (assuming there are no other licensing issues outstanding). The hearing will allow you to fight the DMV and fight to save your license. If you do nothing, the DMV will automatically suspend (i.e., take away) your license for 4 months on a 1st DUI. At the very least, The Law Offices of Bruce Richland, PC will arrange for a restricted license that will allow you to drive for work. If you prevail over the DMV, you can avoid any action against your license. On a 2nd DUI, the DMV will try to suspend your license for 1 year. On a 3rd DUI, the DMV wants to revoke your license. If youÕre a charged with refusing or failing to complete a breath or blood test, the DMV wants to take away your license for a minimum of 1 year. If you don't fight them, you can't win. If you do not reside in California you must take an approved course in California if you ever want to drive legally while there. The court can be satisfied with a program from another state but the DMV will insist you take the California version in order to drive while in California. You must fight the DMV to save your license. If you donÕt try, I wonÕt happen. OUT OF STATE RESIDENTS If you reside outside of California, but are charged with misdemeanor DUI while in the Golden State, you do not have to appear in court. The court does not look down upon you because you are not there, and they donÕt praise you for being able to hire your own attorney. The law allows The Law Offices of Bruce Richland, PC to appear for our clients charged with misdemeanor DUI. DRUGS Cases involving driving under the influence of drugs are prosecuted like DUI cases involving alcohol. The issue is whether the drug causes enough mental or physical impairment at the time of driving. It does not matter whether the drug is legal and/or lawfully prescribed. It is possible to be convicted of driving under the influence of any substance that causes a person to be unable to safely operate a motor vehicle. Unlike alcohol cases, there is no ÒautomaticÓ limit involving drugs. The prosecutor will try to introduce evidence related to driving, objective symptoms, field sobriety tests and chemical test results, if not refused. DUI FACTS * When someone is arrested for diving under the influence of alcohol, they are offered a choice of a blood or breath test. If arrested for driving under the influence of drugs, they are offered a choice of a blood or urine test. * Field sobriety tests are voluntary. * Lawful substances can create artificaially high alcohol levels. * Body temperature can affect the breath test results. * Blood samples can ferment, and create artificially high alcohol readings. * It takes one hour for each standard drink to be Òburned offÓ or eliminated from your body. * According to the breath machine manufacturer, there is a margin of error in breath-testing equipment. * The arresting officer is required to continuously observe a person for fifteen minutes immediately prior to administering the breath test.
8. Jack Lentz: Aggressively prosecutes a vast majority of the more than 200,000 people who are arrested for DUI everyyear. Many of the people we talk to who have been charged with DUI are concerned about the following questionss: What are penalties and prison terms forDUIin California? How much will I be fined for a DUI first offense in California? How will my insurance rates be affected? How will my driving privileges be affected? Will this offense be on my permanent criminal record?
9. Bisnow, James: There are a lot of lawyers out there who simply donÕt have what it takes to get what you need.