DUI Defense

In Los Angeles County

We are Los Angeles County DUI attorneys at Hancock Law Group, and we have extensive experience fighting for clients charged with DUI offenses in Los Angeles County. Specializing in DUI cases, we use our expertise in evaluating evidence, developing strong defense strategies, and obtaining the fairest possible resolutions for our clients.

What Happens When You Get a DUI in Los Angeles County?

After you have been arrested for a DUI in Los Angeles County, the arresting agency will confiscate your driver’s license and issue you a temporary license. The DUI arrest will effectively result in two cases being lodged against you. First, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will initiate a case against you to determine if your driving privileges should be suspended. Second, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office will file misdemeanor charges in criminal court.

DMV Hearing

After a DUI arrest, it is imperative that you immediately request a DMV administrative hearing. Failing to request a hearing within 10 days after the arrest will result in an automatic suspension of your driving privileges. An experienced Los Angeles DUI lawyer could request such a hearing for you, and also request all evidence that the DMV will review at the hearing. A DUI lawyer could conduct the hearing for you and could argue that the DMV lacks sufficient evidence to suspend your license.

Criminal Case

In addition to the DMV’s case against you, a criminal case will also be filed. In most circumstances, DUI’s are charged as misdemeanors. It is important that you have a Los Angeles DUI attorney by your side to ensure that you are treated fairly in the criminal proceedings and to help reduce any possible penalties against you. The best Los Angeles DUI attorneys look closely at the evidence the state has against you, make appropriate challenges to the state’s case against you, and work to ensure a fair and just resolution.

DUI Penalties

The maximum sentence for a first time DUI conviction is 180 days in jail. Although that is the maximum sentence, a dedicated Los Angeles DUI lawyer will do everything possible to avoid any imposition of jail time. In most standard DUI cases, the penalties include a 3-year informal probation period, the completion of a DUI program, community service or labor, fines, and a suspension of your driving privileges. However, the penalties can increase drastically depending on the specific circumstances of each case. Such circumstances could include, among other things, the blood alcohol concentration at the time of driving, whether or not a traffic collision occurred, and the defendant’s cooperation with law enforcement during and after the arrest.

The Cost of a DUI

A DUI arrest and conviction could be costly. In many cases, court fines and fees amount to well over $2,000. Often times, a Los Angeles DUI attorney could get these fines and fee’s reduced by asking the court to allow their client to complete community service or community labor in lieu of the substantial fines. In addition to the payment of court-ordered fines and fees, DUI offenders also will have to pay for the DUI program they attend and possible restitution if the offender caused any damage to property. In addition to the financial burden caused by a DUI arrest and conviction, one of the most difficult costs of a DUI is the possible loss of liberty that accompanies the suspension of one’s license. Los Angeles DUI attorneys can help you minimize that loss of liberty by explaining the ways you could obtain a restricted license and also advising you on how to obtain you full unrestricted license as soon as possible.