Valley Village DUI Attorney
Do not feel resigned to whatever the court will impose if you are charged with DUI. Although your case may appear hopeless, many DUI cases are defended successfully by Valley Village DUI attorneys. Call a Valley Village DUI attorney at (888) 754-9860 to see what options are available and how we can assist you.
A DUI can result in harsh penalties, even for first-offenders. In most cases, you will serve jail time, pay a fine of several hundred dollars, have your license revoked, and be ordered to attend DUI classes at your expense. Costs and expenses generally run in the thousands of dollars.
Valley Village DUI attorneys have years of experience in handling primarily DUI cases. With a Valley Village DUI attorney, you can expect a lawyer who will vigorously defend you and explore all possible defenses.
DUI Proceedings
There are a number of proceedings in a typical DUI case, all of which should be handled by a Valley Village DUI attorney.
DMV hearing. This hearing regarding revocation of your license must be requested within 10-days of your arrest. Valley Village DUI attorneys routinely handle such matters and are able to avoid license revocation for many clients.
Arraignment. The first criminal court appearance with a Valley Village DUI attorney to enter a not guilty plea.
Discovery and investigation. Before trial, your Valley Village DUI attorney obtains evidence from the prosecutor and conducts an investigation of your case. In most instances, Valley Village DUI lawyers usually negotiate plea agreements at this stage.
Trial. If unresolved or you have a strong defense, your Valley Village DUI lawyer will take your case to trial.
DUI Defenses
Valley Village DUI lawyers use their comprehensive knowledge of the DUI laws, police policies and procedures, along with their undestanding of the science behind breath and blood testing to formulate winning defenses. Many of these defenses are derived by carefully examining the following issues:
Possible police misconduct
Whether your medical or physical condition may have influenced 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 Valley Village 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 by a Valley Village DUI lawyer.
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 Valley Village DUI Lawyer
If you were arrested for a DUI, call a Valley Village DUI lawyer today at (888) 754-9860.