From Injuries to Injustice:
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Los Angeles DUI Defense Attorney

Aggressively Defending Clients from Serious Criminal Charges

If you were pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving in Los Angeles, CA, you need legal advice for your case right away. After all, if convicted of this crime, you could temporarily lose your driving privileges and face fines, jail time, and other penalties. If you want the chance to avoid harsh punishment for allegedly driving while impaired, you should hire an experienced Los Angeles DUI attorney you can trust to represent you in the criminal courts of Los Angeles County.

At California Legal Counsel, our skilled DUI attorney has spent more than 20 years defending Los Angeles drivers from the many penalties that usually come with DUI convictions. If you’re concerned about how expensive fines and driver’s license suspension would affect your life, contact our Los Angeles, CA law offices for a free consultation with a DUI attorney who truly cares about getting the best possible outcome for your DUI case.

What Should You Know About California DUI Laws?

You can be charged with a DUI in California if the police believe you’re driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. This is usually determined by testing your blood alcohol content (BAC). If your BAC is 0.08% or higher, you could be arrested for drunk driving.

However, it’s possible to face DUI charges even if your BAC is under 0.08%. For example, if a police officer claims that you were unable to safely operate your vehicle and has proof of erratic driving, swerving, unsafe lane changes, and more, you could be charged with drunk driving even if your BAC is 0.05%.

In addition, if you’re a commercial driver, the legal limit you must adhere to is 0.04% rather than 0.08%. The limit is even lower if you’re under 21 years old, as this state’s zero-tolerance laws make it illegal for underage drivers to have a BAC of 0.01%. or higher.

Note that California’s DUI laws apply to not only cars, but also boats, bicycles, and electric scooters. So, if the police see you operating any of these types of vehicles and believe you’re impaired, you could be facing a DUI arrest and should discuss your legal options with an experienced DUI attorney serving Los Angeles County. Call our criminal defense law firm today to schedule a free consultation with a trusted DUI defense attorney who is eager to protect you from a DUI conviction.

What Are the Penalties for a First-Time DUI in California?

If you were pulled over and arrested for drunk driving for the first time, you might be worried about what to the expect from the DUI legal process and the penalties associated with a conviction. While it’s important to take any DUI charge seriously, you might be relieved to know that a first offense has the least severe penalties of the DUI charges and is usually a misdemeanor.

The penalties to expect for a first DUI conviction include:

  • Up to six months in county jail

  • $390 to $1,000 in fines, plus thousands of dollars in court fees

  • Driver’s license suspension for up to six months

  • Three to nine months of DUI school

  • Three to five years of probation

  • Required ignition interlock device on your vehicle for six months

These are the maximum penalties you’ll face for a first-time Los Angeles DUI. In many cases, you can avoid the maximum punishment as long as you’re cooperative and don’t have an aggravating factors that make your DUI charges more serious. Additionally, having an experienced Los Angeles DUI lawyer negotiating on your behalf can reduce your penalties, possibly allowing you to avoid jail time and minimize your fees. Call our Los Angeles DUI defense firm today to discuss your case with a caring criminal defense attorney.

What Are the Penalties for a Second or Third DUI in California?

If you’re convicted of a second or third DUI within ten years, your punishment will be more severe than for a first offense, though your charge is still a misdemeanor. The typical penalties for a second DUI in California include:

  • Up to one year in county jail

  • $390 to $1,000 in fines, plus thousands of dollars in court fees

  • Driver’s license suspension for up to two years

  • 18 to 30 months of DUI school

  • Three to five years of probation

  • Required ignition interlock device on your vehicle for one year

The punishment for a third DUI conviction in Los Angeles is slightly more severe, with the following being the maximum penalties in most cases:

  • From 120 days to one year in county jail, or 16 months in state prison

  • $390 to $1,000 in fines, in addition to several thousands of dollars in court fees

  • License suspension for up to three years

  • 30 months of DUI school

  • Three to five years of probation

  • Required ignition interlock device on your vehicle for two years

If you want a chance to minimize or avoid these consequences of a second or third DUI conviction in Los Angeles, you should call Southern California DUI lawyers immediately after your DUI arrest. You must act quickly to make decisions about your case before your first hearing, so you need to speak with a skilled Los Angeles DUI attorney to determine the penalties you’re facing and how to fight your criminal charges. Contact our Los Angeles County criminal defense firm today to learn more.

What Is a Felony DUI?

Certain circumstances can elevate a Los Angeles DUI charge to a felony, resulting in more severe penalties. If you’re accused of any of the following, you could be facing felony DUI charges:

  • Getting a fourth DUI within ten years

  • Being arrested for DUI when you already have a felony DUI conviction on your criminal record

  • Driving while impaired with a minor in your vehicle

  • Causing a car accident resulting in serious injury or death to another person

The penalties you face for a felony DUI may depend on the factors that made your DUI charge a felony rather than a misdemeanor. For instance, whether this is your fourth DUI or you caused severe injuries to someone else when drunk driving, you could end up with the following penalties:

  • At least 16 months in state prison

  • Over $1,000 in fines, plus court fees

  • Up to five years of license suspension

  • 30 months of DUI school

  • Three to five years of probation

  • Required ignition interlock device on your car for at least one year

If you’re convicted of causing a deadly accident while drunk driving in Los Angeles County, your penalties will be much harsher, as you could be sentenced to more than a decade in prison. This is why it’s essential to seek legal advice from experienced Los Angeles DUI lawyers if you’re facing felony DUI charges. You deserve the chance to get DUI defense help in order to show you’re not guilty as charged. We urge you to call our law firm after your DUI arrest to discuss your legal options with a compassionate Los Angeles DUI attorney.

Why Should You Hire a Los Angeles DUI Attorney?

It’s understandable to be concerned about criminal penalties after a Los Angeles DUI arrest, but you should also keep in mind that a criminal charge doesn’t have to lead to a conviction. Skilled Los Angeles DUI lawyers have numerous ways of defending DUI cases for clients across Southern California, allowing alleged DUI offenders to minimize or avoid harsh penalties. So, before you plead guilty to a DUI offense, contact California Legal Counsel to discuss your DUI defense options with Los Angeles DUI lawyers committed to getting the best outcome for your criminal case.

Our legal team has spent years representing clients in the Southern California courts, using in-depth knowledge of criminal law and DUI defense angles to successfully navigate the criminal justice system. When our Los Angeles DUI lawyer reviews the details of your DUI case, we’ll let you know the possible defense options. For example, we might find evidence that the law enforcement officers did not have probable cause to pull you over or violated your rights during the arrest. We’ll also investigate the accuracy of the machinery used to test your blood or breath, as sometimes it turns out to be defective or improperly maintained.

Experienced DUI defense attorneys know what details to look for to help avoid criminal convictions for clients, or at least reduce serious charges to lesser offenses. If you’re concerned about how jail time, fines, and license suspension could affect your life, it’s vital for you to seek legal advice from DUI defense attorneys with a a reputation for helping clients avoid severe DUI penalties. When you contact California Legal Counsel, you’ll get a free case review with a trusted Los Angeles DUI lawyer, so call us today at 866-691-2077 to begin your case.

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