Los Angeles DUI Attorney
Anyone stopped in the greater Los Angeles area for driving under the influence in violation of California Vehicle Code 23152 VC can expect an aggressive response from law enforcement officers.
With drunk driving arrests on the rise, law enforcement has stepped up traffic stops and checkpoints, increasing your possibility of being arrested for a DUI. Because a DUI is treated as a criminal offense, it is crucial you have a strong Los Angeles DUI lawyer working on your behalf.
A conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in California carries harsh DUI penalties, including a suspended license, possible jail time, fines and possibly even mandatory alcohol or drug treatment programs and community service.
These can lead to more long term consequences for you or your loved one, such as difficulties in keeping your job or finding future employment, higher insurance rates and personal embarrassment and loss of respect from friends and family.
At Cron, Israels & Stark, our firm cares about each and every one of our clients and are dedicated to providing you with the best legal representation possible. There are many aspects in dealing with a DUI charge, which you can learn about briefly in our DUI overview or DUI court process pages.
Overview of Driving Under the Influence In California
In California, anyone driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over .08% is violating drunk driving laws and can be arrested. Underage driver under 21 years of age can be arrested with a BAC of between .01% to .05%. Once you have been arrested, the officer will take your license and give you a temporary one that is only valid for 30 days.
You then have 10 days following your arrest to schedule a DMV Hearing to attempt to fight your license suspension. This hearing is vital to attend with a reputable DUI defense attorney, as it can not only prevent your license suspension, but provide vital information for your defense counsel from the arresting officer regarding your criminal charges.
An Arraignment will follow your DMV Hearing, where evidence being used against you can be reviewed by your DUI lawyer, and any possible plea bargain or request for dismissal can be presented. If your case goes further than the arraignment, a jury trial will be scheduled.
Your attorney and the prosecutor will present all relevant information to the jury for their review. Your verdict will then be determined by the jury. If found innocent, your case is dismissed, if found guilty you will be sentenced.
The penalties for a DUI conviction can be significant, especially for a felony DUI case. Depending on your driving history and the amount of alcohol in your blood, your driver's license could be suspended or revoked, heavy fines may be leveled against you, and you could be sentenced to jail.
Types of DUI Charges in Los Angeles
In addition, our skilled DUI defense lawyers can professionally assist you at your DMV hearing to contest the suspension of your driver's license, and defend against:
- out of state drivers,
- prior DUI convictions,
- multiple DUIs,
- underage DUI,
- felony DUI,
- DUI involving accidents,
- DUI causing injury,
- drugs and DUI,
- hit and run,
- felony hit and run,
- vehicular manslaughter, and
- Watson DUI murder.
Our law firm can also assist you in challenging the results of a blood or breath tests that was taken after a field sobriety tests or at a sobriety checkpoints.
If you have been charged with felony DUI causing injury under Vehicle Code 23153, we might be able to help you avoid jail time.
We understand that your DUI charges are extremely serious, especially because your ability to drive is at stake. Our team will do our best to thoroughly investigate all aspects of your case to help bring forth new evidence in your favor. We also provide legal protection for clients who are facing charges for refusing a blood test.
Our office has garnered a reputation in the legal community for our ability to litigate on behalf of our clients both in and out of a court room. Both partners in the firm, Attorney Phil Israels and Attorney Steve Cron are among the top 3% of lawyers in the state of California, recognized by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization as Criminal Law Specialists.
Furthermore, the team has also been recognized as Super Lawyers in the state of California, a distinction that only 5% of all attorneys in California can claim. Our experienced law firm has a strong reputation as an aggressive and knowledgeable DUI defense firm that can present a strong defense against your charges.
Arrested For DUI With Prior Convictions?
Being convicted of a DUI in the past is serious enough, but if you are arrested for a subsequent DUI occurring within 10 years of the prior conviction, you are facing severe penalties such as increased fines, license suspension or revocation and jail time.
Authorities and prosecutors do not take repeat arrests for DUI lightly and it is essential that you obtain the services of a skilled DUI defense attorney to assist in your defense.
In handling multiple arrests for DUI, it is necessary to build a strong defense. If this is your 3rd offense, then you are facing felony charges and it is vital that a DUI defense lawyer involved at the onset of the case in order to provide you with the best legal assistance possible.
We will be aggressive in attempting to find the best way to keep you out of jail and avoid losing your job.
Having repeat DUI convictions on your record can impact your future by affecting your employment opportunities, housing availability and insurance rates. Minimizing the adverse consequences of a repeat conviction for DUI is our utmost concern.
What Happens If I'm Arrested For DUI But I'm From Another State?
If you are driving a motor vehicle in California and get arrested for DUI and you are from another state driving with an out-of-state license, you will be prosecuted just as if you were a resident and may also lose driving privileges and be penalized in your own state.
Many people are unaware of the Driver's License Compact that every state except Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and Tennessee are a part of.
This compact allows all member states to share information regarding DUI arrests. Once you are convicted, your state will be notified and you could receive penalties for the violations as if you received them in your own state.
If you are from another state and have been arrested for DUI it is imperative that you get help from a local defense lawyer who will pursue the best defense possible.
Being arrested for a DUI is frightening enough. However, when you are away from home it can be much more difficult to deal with due to distances from your family, the potential of having to spend time in jail, as well as having to handle penalties in both states.
How Are Penalties Different For Underage DUI?
If you are under the age of 21 and have been arrested for DUI in violation of California Vehicle Code 23136, the penalties are more severe than if you were an adult. Per the “Zero Tolerance Law” any individual under the age of 21 who is discovered to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.01% or higher will lose their license for one year.
If they are further discovered to have a BAC of 0.05% or higher, they will be further charged with a Misdemeanor as an adult would with a BAC of .08%.
In addition to any fines imposed, a person under the age of 21 with a BAC of 0.05% faces a 1 year suspension of their license and they will have to show proof of financial responsibility prior to having their license returned to them. They will likely also have to enroll in a DUI alcohol program. A SCRAM bracelet is an alcohol monitoring device for offenders to wear during a DUI sentence and is often used when the court believes an offender has an alcohol addiction.
Although being arrested for DUI is serious, obtaining the help of an experienced DUI defense attorney who can implement a defense strategy is your best bet in achieving the most favorable result possible.
An investigation of your case will be done to determine what the potential is for getting your sentence reduced or possibly dropped. That is always our firm's primary goal.
DUI Defense Lawyer Fighting for Your Rights
With over 100 years combined experience among our firm's attorneys, Cron, Israels & Stark brings you the expertise you need when dealing with the frightening and emotional situation that being arrested for DUI can cause. We use various DUI defense strategies to get your charges reduced or dismissed.
Our firm will work hard to find every possible defense available to fight your charges, including conducting a thorough review of every procedure used during your traffic stop, arrest and testing. We might be able to challenge your DUI breathalyzer results. It should be noted that it may be possible to pass the DUI field sobriety tests, but it will depend on different factors.
Our legal team realizes how a conviction can negatively impact your life, and are committed to bringing you the best possible outcome to your case.
Se Habla Español. Contact our law firm for an immediate initial consultation if you are facing DUI charges.
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