Lake Balboa DUI Attorney
A DUI is serious business. If convicted, you will suffer substantial consequences to many aspects of your life. Call a Lake Balboa DUI attorney at (888) 754-9860 for the assistance you will need in defending against DUI charges.
If convicted of a DUI, consider the penalties:
Minimum jail time of 2-days; for up to one year if there was an injury or you have prior convictions
License suspension for 4 to 10–months for first offenders and years for repeat offenders
Prolonged attendance at DUI classes at your expense
Administrative and other expenses totaling thousands of dollars
Possible installation of an interlock device on your car
Talk to a Lake Balboa DUI attorney about possible defenses. Lake Balboa DUI attorneys routinely handle DUI cases and have the knowledge, skills and insights honed from years of litigating DUI cases
DUI Proceedings
There are important deadlines in DUI cases so that promptly hiring a Lake Balboa DUI attorney is critical. Proceedings consist of:
DMV hearing. Have your Lake Balboa DUI attorney request and handle this hearing. Requests must be made within 10-days of your arrest. Lake Balboa DUI attorneys have an impressive success rate in avoiding revocation of their clients’ driver’s licenses.
Arraignment. Your first criminal court appearance with your Lake Balboa DUI attorney to plead not guilty.
Pretrial discovery and investigation. Your Lake Balboa DUI attorney requests reports and records from the prosecution and with investigation results fashions certain defenses. Your Lake Balboa DUI lawyer will also attempt to negotiate a favorable plea agreement in most cases.
Trial. Your Lake Balboa DUI lawyer may recommend trial if there is no favorable resolution or feels you have a good chance at an acquittal.
DUI Defenses
A Lake Balboa DUI lawyer has considerable knowledge of DUI laws, police procedures and factors that can affect the breath or blood test results. Lake Balboa DUI lawyers will examine certain key issues in determining the best defenses:
Possible police misconduct
Influence of your medical or physical condition on your arrest and BAC results
Validity and integrity of the breath or blood tests
Bias, inconsistencies or errors in police testimony, records and reports
No driving, drinking after driving and other defenses found by your Lake Balboa DUI lawyer
DUI Penalties
DUI sentences vary from county to county, especially if aggravating circumstances were present. There are separate penalties for a first, second, third and felony convictions. These penalties are typically imposed:
First DUI or DWI
The usual penalties for a first DUI or DWI are:
Jail. 48 hours in jail and up to 6-months; 3-years of probation
Suspension of license. Loss of driving privileges for 4 to 10-months though you may be eligible for a restricted license; if BAC testing was refused, the suspension is one year
Fines: $390 with costs over $1,800
DUI classes: 3-months
Insurance and installation: Secure SR-22 insurance and possibly install an interlock ignition system
Second DUI or DWI
Penalties for a second DUI or DWI within 10 years of the first include:
Jail. 96 hours and up to one year in county jail and 3-5 years probation
Suspension of license. 2-year suspension with eligibility for restricted license unless testing was refused.
Fines: $390 to $1000 but over $10,000 in costs
DUI Classes. 18 to 30-months
Installation and insurance. SR-22 insurance and Interlock ignition system
Third Second DUI or DWI
Conviction of a third DUI or DWI in 10 years may include:
Jail. 120 days to one year in county jail and 3-5 years probation
Suspension of license. 3-years with restricted license after 12-months
Fines: $390 to $1000 and other costs up to $15,000
DUI classes. 30-months
Installation and insurance. SR-22 insurance and interlock system
Fourth DUI or DWI
A fourth DWI or DWI is a felony, but it could be negotiated to a misdemeanor.
If a felony, you face:
Jail. 16 months, 2 or 3 years in jail and formal probation for up to 5 years
Suspension of license: 4-years
Fines: Up to $5000 with associated costs of up to $18,000
Habitual traffic offender status. 3 years
Mandatory DUI classes. 30-months
Installation and insurance. SR-22 insurance and interlock system
Commercial DUI or DWI
Commercial drivers can be convicted of a commercial DUI or DWI if their BAC is 0.04%.
Penalties include:
Jail. Same as for a motorist with a Class C license for first or multiple DUI or DWI offenses
Driver’s license suspension.
Loss of commercial driver’s license for one year, regardless of the vehicle you were driving
Life-time suspension for a second conviction
Your Class C license is also affected
Fines. From $390 to $1000
DUI Classes. Same as for other offenders
Insurance and installation. Securing of SR-22 insurance and possible installation of an interlock system
Call a Lake Balboa DUI Lawyer
If you were arrested for a DUI, call a Lake Balboa DUI lawyer today at (888) 754-9860