Law enforcement in Los Angeles constantly patrols freeways and streets looking for intoxicated motorists. In California, it is an offense to drive a car while under the influence of alcohol and with a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.08%.
Unless the police have stopped you at a DUI sobriety checkpoint, the officer should have probable cause that you are driving while under the influence. After stopping you, the officer should be able to form an opinion that you are drunk based on intoxication symptoms like an alcoholic odor, slurred speech, and watery eyes. The officer will request you to take field sobriety tests to determine whether you are impaired. Please note that the FSTs are voluntary. You are not legally required to perform them, and refusing to do so does not carry penalties unless you are below 21 or on DUI probation.
After the law enforcer concludes you are drunk, they will arrest you for DUI and take you to a hospital or police station for more accurate chemical testing. The officer will give an option to provide a blood or breath sample. Refusing to submit to chemical testing attracts additional penalties on top of the underlying crime’s repercussions. These penalties can include fines and driver’s license suspension.
Next, the police will send the legal matter to the prosecution to analyze for criminal filing. Common DUI penalties regardless of the charge include mandatory DUI classes, paying fines, serving time, driver’s license suspension, and community service.
Moreover, during an arrest, the police will seize your driver’s license and issue you a notice of suspension that serves as your temporary driver’s license for a month. The notice also informs you of the right to prevent your license suspension by requesting a hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles within ten days of your arrest. If you win at the hearing, the DMV restores your driving privileges.
The devoted attorneys at CCLG: Los Angeles Criminal Attorney will request and schedule your DMV hearing for you.
We also handle DUI criminal cases ranging from a first-time DUI offense to:
- Felony DUI
- Gross vehicular manslaughter
- Vehicular manslaughter
- DUI causing injury
- Chemical test refusal
- Zero tolerance law
Regardless of the severity of your case, our premier DUI attorneys will collect and analyze evidence to develop the most effective legal strategy. Here are some of the legal defenses we use to fight criminal charges and win DMV administrative cases:
- You were not operating a car
- The police arrested you at an illegal DUI checkpoint
- The arresting police officer did not observe you for fifteen minutes
- The officer did not have probable cause to arrest you
- The police violate Title 17 of the Code of Regulations
- There exist physiological explanations for the falsely high BAC level
Please contact us at 323-922-3418 to schedule your consultation and for more information.
