Woodland Hills DUI Attorney
Do not take a DUI charge lightly. Courts have little sympathy for DUI offenders and will impose strict penalties. Call a Woodland Hills DUI attorney at (888) 754-9860 if you have been charged with a DUI.
Besides almost certain jail time, you will lose your driver’s license for months oryears if a repeat offender. You will pay a substantial fine, have to attend DUI classes for months, and see a significant rise in your auto insurance rates. Court and other costs are usually in the thousands of dollars.
Woodland Hills DUI attorneys routinely handle DUI cases but give the same dedication and focus to each case. With years of experience in litigating and investigating DUI cases, a Woodland HIlls DUI attorney will offer you the best chance
for a satisfactory resolution.
Summary of DUI Proceedings
It is critical that you have a Woodland Hills DUI attorney represent you from the outset:
DMV hearing. Regarding the revocation of your license, have your Woodland Hills DUI attorney request this hearing within 10-days of your arrest or it is waived. Woodland Hills DUI attorneys routinely handle these hearings and have prevailed in many cases.
Arraignment. You and your Woodland Hills DUI attorney appear in court where you enter a not guilty plea.
Discovery and investigation. At this stage, your Woodland Hills DUI attorney gathers evidence from the prosecution and investigation and may make motions to dismiss charges or exclude evidence. Many cases are resolved by plea arrangements by Woodland Hills DUI lawyers.
Trial. If unresolved, your Woodland Hills DUI lawyer is fully prepared todefend you at trial.
DUI Defenses
Woodland Hills DUI lawyers are able to build winning strategies based on their knowledge of the DUI laws, trends, current defenses, police practices and factorsn influencing blood alcohol concentration tests. Woodland DUI lawyers also review certain key issues that commonly arise in DUI cases in determining what defenses to raise:
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 Woodland Hills 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 your Granada Hills 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 Woodland Hills DUI Lawyer
If you were arrested for a DUI, call a Woodland Hills DUI lawyer today at (888) 754-9860.