| If you're facing charges of driving under the influence in | | | | you to defend yourself against the charges if the |
| the Southern California area, you need to hire a lawyer | | | | prosecutor chooses to focus on chemical test results. |
| who specializes in handling DUI cases. Since DUI law | | | | DUI Lawyers Southern California & DUI Driving |
| can be very complicated, it is important that you don't | | | | Penalties |
| try to represent yourself or try to save money by | | | | Driving under the influence in the state of California will |
| working with an inexperienced attorney who is not a | | | | result in the suspension of your driver's license before |
| DUI defense expert. This is a sure way to lose your | | | | your criminal trial even takes place. California does |
| driving privileges or even lose your criminal case in | | | | allow you to appeal the suspension so that you can |
| court. DUI lawyers Southern California specialize in | | | | continue driving to work and other places while you |
| handling DUI cases so they keep up on all of the latest | | | | wait for your trial. Having DUI lawyers Southern |
| developments in the field. If new information becomes | | | | California to represent you during the DMV hearing can |
| available in the area of DUI defense, your attorney will | | | | make the difference between getting your driving |
| be one of the first to know. Attorneys who specialize | | | | privileges reinstated and having to serve out the |
| in DUI defense also have contact with many experts | | | | remainder of your suspension period. Your attorney |
| who can serve as witnesses during criminal trials or | | | | can speak on your behalf and let hearing officers |
| provide additional information that can help you win | | | | know how important your driving privileges are for |
| your face. DUI lawyers Southern California can help | | | | keeping your job and meeting the obligations of your |
| you to have a positive outcome at the close of your | | | | life. |
| DUI case. | | | | DUI Lawyers Southern California & Criminal |
| DUI Lawyers Southern California & California DUI | | | | Penalties for DUI |
| Cases | | | | There are a number of criminal penalties that can be |
| In California, there are two parts to DUI cases. | | | | imposed on people who have been convicted of |
| Knowing the two parts is important because they can | | | | driving under the influence. Many factors are taken into |
| affect how the prosecutor in the case chooses to | | | | account before these penalties are levied against |
| proceed. If the prosecutor decides to handle your case | | | | offenders. Your history, community involvement, prior |
| based on your impairment, s/he may introduce | | | | DUI offenses, criminal record, and other circumstances |
| testimony from law enforcement officers and other | | | | will be considered by the judge in your case. Your first |
| witnesses. The purpose of the testimony will be to | | | | convicted can cause you to be sentenced to up to six |
| show that you were too physically impaired to safely | | | | months in jail, license suspension for six months, and |
| operate a motor vehicle at the time of your arrest. | | | | fines of $390 to $1,000. If you are convicted of a |
| Testimony may be given about your driving habits, | | | | second offense within a ten-year period, you can be |
| behavior at the time of arrest, physical appearance, | | | | sentenced to license suspension for two years, 90 |
| and performance on field sobriety tests. The other | | | | days in jail, and fines of $390 to $1,000. Your third |
| way a prosecutor can handle the case against you is | | | | offense is more serious and can result in sentencing of |
| by focusing on the results of any chemical testing that | | | | license suspension for three years, 120 days to one |
| was performed on the day of your arrest. If your | | | | year in jail, and fines of $390 to $1,000. In California, a |
| blood alcohol meets or exceeds California's legal limit | | | | fourth DUI is treated as a felony and the penalties |
| of 0.08%, the prosecutor can show that you were | | | | increase accordingly. They include license revocation |
| guilty of driving under the influence. Chemical testing | | | | for four years, two to three years in prison, or fines of |
| can be complicated to understand, so having DUI | | | | $390 to $1,000. |
| lawyers Southern California on your team can help | | | | |