Los Angeles Criminal Attorney Blog

The California DUI legal process is complex. There are two separate legal actions involved with a DUI charge in California. One is the suspension or revocation of your driver’s license. The second is any potential criminal charges.

Once you are arrested for driving under the influence in California, a police officer will confiscate your driver’s license and will complete a license suspension or revocation form and forward that to the DMV. The DMV will then conduct a review where it examines the officer’s report, the suspension or revocation order, and test results. The DMV then decides whether to uphold the driver’s license suspension or revocation. You have the right to request a hearing to protest the suspension or revocation within 10 days of receiving the order. At the end of the suspension or revocation period, you can get your license back by paying a fee to the DMV and providing proof of financial responsibility.

The second part of the CA DUI is the criminal case. This is where a court determines if you are guilty of a criminal act – driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The criminal case can be carried out in a mixture of ways, including a guilty plea, a plea bargain, getting the charges dismissed, and proceeding to trial. If you are acquitted in the criminal trial, the license suspension or revocation will be reversed by the DMV.

A California DUI conviction or arrest can be serious. You need a law firm that is experienced at fighting DUI charges and dedicated to its clients. Call the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf today. Our knowledgeable Los Angeles DUI attorneys are waiting to help. For a free consultation, contact us at 866-390-7373.

DUIs are one of the most common criminal charges in the U.S. Once you get charged with a DUI in Los Angeles, you need to contact a DUI attorney in LA County immediately. How do you pick a DUI attorney?

Before choosing a Los Angeles DUI attorney, do your research. Utilize the Internet or yellow pages to compile a list of law firms who handle DUIs in your area. In addition, ask family and friends for any recommendations. Call each firm to see which individual attorney handles the DUIs. After making the list, check with the state bar association to see if that attorney has any complaints or disciplinary actions outstanding. Check websites like avvo.com to see if each attorney has any feedback from clients. Visit each attorney’s website. Does the attorney represent clients in a wide variety of cases, in addition to DUIs? If so, he or she may not keep up to date on changes in the law as they occur; however, this may not always be the case.

Once you have narrowed down the list of potential attorneys, call each attorney to discuss your case. Have a list of questions prepared in advance. In addition to your questions, find out what specialized DUI training the attorney received. How many DUI trials has the attorney handled? What is the typical outcome?

At your meeting with each attorney, determine who makes you feel the most comfortable. Does the attorney seem eager to help? Does the attorney inspire confidence in his or her abilities? Does the attorney seem knowledgeable about the subject matter? Is the attorney really listening to you?

If you are in search of a caring, knowledgeable and aggressive DUI attorney in Los Angeles, contact the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf. Our attorneys have worked on a wide variety of DUI cases and would love to speak with you about your case. Call us today for a free consultation at 866-390-7373.

If you are pulled over in California and you have been drinking, it is important to know how to proceed once stopped for DUI. First of all, pull over safely to the side of the road. Be polite to the police officer. If the police officer asks you questions, it’s fine to say that you would like to speak with an attorney. You may also wish to explain that you had one or two drinks, which would not typically cause intoxication, in order to explain a beer or alcohol smell; however, this is not completely necessary.

The police officer may wish to administer field sobriety tests. These include standing on one leg, walking heel to toe, stating the alphabet, and following a penlight with your eyes, among others. You are not legally required to submit to field sobriety tests. Doing so could result in the police officer obtaining additional evidence that could be used against you.

The police may also choose to ask you to take a chemical test. Under California law, a person who is operating a motor vehicle within the state gives consent to a chemical or breath test to determine blood alcohol content. If you refuse to submit to the chemical test, your license will be revoked for one year, even if you are found not guilty of the California DUI charge. You do not have the right to consult with an attorney before being arrested.

If you are arrested or taken into custody on the suspicion of a DUI, contact an experienced LA DUI attorney immediately. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf have widespread experience in the area of California DUIs. Contact us today at 866-390-7373 for a free consultation. We can help you explore your rights in defending yourself against a DUI charge.

Obviously, one of the best tips on avoiding DUI in Los Angeles is to never drive if you have been drinking or using prescription or illegal drugs. There are also factors to keep in mind when calculating the effect alcohol has on your body. In general, women metabolize alcohol more quickly than men. In addition, the more a person weighs, the speed in which alcohol is consumed, and the amount of food or liquids consumed while drinking greatly affect the way the body processes alcohol. In particular, foods with a higher fat content cause the body to metabolize alcohol more slowly.

Most California checkpoints looking for DUIs occur between the hours of 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. Other than checkpoints, most California DUIs are discovered either because the driver was driving erratically, speeding or breaking traffic rules. DUIs are often commonly discovered when a vehicle is pulled over for a minor infraction such as a malfunctioning tail light or an expired tag, so keep your vehicle in good working condition.

If you are pulled over, pull safely to a secure location. Always be polite. Assume that any actions you take could be recorded or observed for future use in court.

If you are arrested for drunk driving in California, you need excellent legal representation. DUIs can have a negative impact on your life for months or years into the future. You need to get in touch with a dedicated Los Angeles DUI attorney who will explore all your options and help you craft the best defense possible. Contact the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf at 866-390-7373 today for a free consultation of your DUI case.