California DUI Lawyers

When a person is arrested for driving under the influence, he or she will most likely be both confused and frightened. The arresting officer may have asked the driver to take one or more sobriety tests and may have impounded the driver's car, handcuffed the driver, and placed the driver in the back of a police car. At this point, the driver definitely needs the services of a qualified California DUI lawyer. No matter what the driver's actual condition is, however, he or she may have never even considered how to obtain the services of a lawyer.

Depending on the condition of the driver, he or she can ask for help in finding a good DUI attorney, one who takes only DUI cases. Some police officers will actually help in this process, but, if not, the driver should call a trusted family member to find a DUI lawyer as soon as possible. There are several organizations that may be able to help the driver find a good DUI lawyer quickly, including the National College for DUI Defense and the Martindale-Hubbell International Directory of Attorneys. The driver should hire a board-certified DUI lawyer.

The attorney will advise the driver that he or she should not speak to anyone until the attorney is present, and he will usually begin the process of defending the driver almost immediately. The attorney will gather information about the arrest, will interview the driver, and will ask for a copy of the arrest report and any sobriety tests that were administered.

What Constitutes a DUI?

Like most states, California's penal code includes several levels of statutes for those who are observed to be driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI). In both cases, the issue is that the person is driving with impaired judgment that can result in an accident or worse. In order to be convicted of a DUI offense, the driver must have been found to have at least a .08 blood alcohol level or higher or of giving the appearance of impaired judgment based on drug use.

In California, if a police officer suspects that a driver is under the influence, he will stop the driver. He can base his actions on erratic driving, on the smell of alcohol on the driver's breath, or even on a field sobriety test. The driver will then be required to surrender his or her license and to accept a DMV document that explains what will happen next and which acts as a temporary license. As noted above, the first thing the driver should do is to call a DUI attorney.

Consequences of a DUI Conviction in California

A DUI arrest can change a person's life. If convicted, the driver will almost certainly be out several thousand dollars or more and may even include time in a state prison. A conviction will result in a loss of driving privileges, significantly higher auto insurance rates for the rest of the driver's life, and a criminal record.

Finding the Right DUI Attorney

As in any field, the more experience a DUI attorney has in the specific location where the arrest occurred, the better the chances of a fair trial and a positive result. Experienced California DUI attorneys know how to look at the police reports and how to discover possible police errors or omissions with the driver. After studying the evidence, an experienced DUI attorney will be able to provide the driver with appropriate advice such as whether to contest the charge or whether a settlement can be negotiated, especially in the case of a first offense.

Given that there will be two departments to contend with, the California DMV and the criminal justice system, the driver will be well advised to talk to a DUI lawyer who will represent him or her before both agencies. One of the prime considerations is when and how the accused will be able to get his or her license back. A qualified, expert DUI attorney can make all the difference in this process.