DUI &
DWI Defense
Expertise Overview
- ✓ License Suspension Defense
- ✓ Ignition Interlock Advocacy
- ✓ Felony DUI Representation
- ✓ Constitutional Stop Analysis
"Authorities are obligated to respect your constitutional rights from the moment of the initial traffic stop. We ensure those rights are upheld."
Los Angeles DUI & DWI Defense Lawyers
The California Vehicle Code establishes .08% Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) as the legal limit for adult drivers. A DUI charge can range from a misdemeanor to a serious felony, with penalties that escalate significantly based on prior convictions and aggravating factors.
Potential Penalties in California
The consequences of a DUI conviction are structured to increase with each subsequent offense within a ten-year "look-back" period:
First-Time Offense
- • Fines starting at $390
- • Mandatory DUI School (3–9 months)
- • Up to 6 months in county jail
- • Risk of license suspension (IID may preserve privileges)
Second & Third Offenses
- • Increased jail time (up to 1 year for 2nd, up to 2 years for 3rd)
- • Extended DUI school (up to 30 months)
- • License suspension ranging from 1 to 2 years
- • Mandatory Ignition Interlock Device (IID) requirements
Felony DUI & Aggravating Factors
A fourth offense or DUIs involving injury, child endangerment, or manslaughter carry severe prison sentences:
- • DUI with Injury: 2–4 years in prison
- • Child Endangerment: 2–6 years in prison
- • Vehicular Manslaughter: 4–10 years in prison
Defense Strategies & Procedures
A DUI charge is not a conviction. Our firm employs several sophisticated legal angles to challenge the prosecution's case:
Constitutional Rights Analysis
We scrutinize the initial traffic stop to ensure that law enforcement had reasonable suspicion. If your Fourth Amendment rights were violated during the stop or arrest, evidence may be suppressed.
Procedural Scrutiny
From the administration of field sobriety tests to the calibration of breathalyzer equipment, we investigate whether "reasonable procedure" was followed by the police.
Alternative Sentencing Advocacy
In many cases, we can advocate for alternative outcomes such as community service, alcohol education programs, or the use of an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) to maintain your driving privileges while your case is pending.