In California, DUI cases can become incredibly complex. These cases take place within two government agencies. First, the legal court system responsible for the criminal charges. Second, the DMV responsible for the civil charges relating to your ability to maintain a driver’s license.
In addition to all this, you also face fines that can be thousands of dollars. Insurance premiums can go up by $7,500 or so for three years. Qualified attorneys understand the wide range of potential charges you face for a DUI in California and can represent you to get charges dropped or reduced dramatically.
Having a California DUI attorney who understands your rights and has experience in complex DUI cases means that every possible defense will be used to your advantage from beginning to end. Attorneys will stay involved in your case, go to court for you, and fight to get your charges reduced or dropped. In some cases, they can even exchange things like jail time and fines for community service.
Why Hiring a DUI Lawyer in California is Necessary
Experienced DUI attorneys know how to spot holes in the legal process, they know what can result in a false positive sobriety test and they can exploit every possible legal defense to help you.
On a similar note, they can work with the DMV to help you keep your right to drive. They can help you to keep your driver’s license, prevent you from having to miss work for court appearances, and help you reduce or dismiss all of the charges against you (in some cases).
There are plenty of legal situations where you could represent yourself successfully, but California DUI charges are not one of them. Given the wide range of penalties, the potential for severe misdemeanor and felony charges, the fines, and the punitive punishment from the DMV, hiring a qualified attorney will be much less expensive for you long term and could very well be one of the best investments you’ve ever made.
What Can Happen if You Don’t Hire a DUI Lawyer
If you don’t hire an attorney, things can get ugly. For example:
- Any illegal measures used by the police during the process of arresting you and charging you with a crime could be overlooked. Especially if you don’t know what to look for and you don’t have an attorney on your side who does.
- You might not know what the DMV is going to do so you will be unaware of what steps you have to take to combat any punitive measures taken against you and your driver’s license. If you don’t have an attorney to help you, you can have your license taken away for an extended amount of time.
- You are not aware of things that can compromise the police evidence. Therefore without the help of an attorney you cannot properly argue against the case which can result in serious legal ramifications including potential jail time, fines, insurance increases, alcohol programs and interlocks.
- On a related note, without the help of an experienced attorney the fines that you have to pay could very easily end up on the maximum end of the spectrum rather than the minimum end.
What Steps to Take Next
Now that you know the importance of hiring an attorney, it is important that you seek expert legal assistance as soon as possible.
My name is Jon Bryant Artz, and I have 47 years of experience helping people fight their DUI charges in Los Angeles. If you have recently been arrested or charged with a DUI in California, it is essential that you get in contact with an attorney who can help you to fight or reduce the charges.
To help get started with the next steps, I have created these resources for you:
- What to Do if You Are Arrested for DUI
- California DUI FAQS
- California DUI Laws
- How Much Does a DUI Lawyer Cost?
Look, people are charged with DUIs every day. It is scary and overwhelming, but there are plenty of steps you can take to reduce your charges and walk away from this situation in good condition. Contact me today for a free case consultation, and professional advice on what steps to take next.
