Southern California DUI / DWI Arrests
California drunk driving laws seem to become harsher with every passing year – if you’ve been arrested for DUI / DWI in Southern California – you now face hefty fines, a long driver’s license suspension, and possibly even jail time. Because the repercussions of a Southern California drunk driving arrest are so severe, it’s crucial to have an expert defense lawyer fighting for your rights. The experienced Southern California DUI / DWI lawyers of The Kavinoky Law Firm are ready to fight your drunk driving charge anywhere in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties.
There are so many details to consider after a Southern California DUI / DWI arrest, such as getting released from jail, protecting your driver’s license, and worrying about your upcoming court case. A knowledgeable Southern California DUI / DWI lawyer can take care of all of these details, including obtaining your release on bail or on your own recognizance (OR) and requesting a hearing with the California DMV.
Requesting a DMV hearing within 10 days of your Southern California DUI / DWI arrest is critical if you hope to save your driver’s license. Luckily, just like your drunk driving criminal case, the DMV case against you can be fought and won. Mounting an aggressive defense at the DMV has two benefits – it may save your driver’s license, and it also gives your DUI / DWI lawyer an opportunity to preview the evidence that will be used against you in court.
It’s never too early to start planning your defense strategy in a Southern California DUI / DWI case. An experienced Southern California DUI / DWI lawyer will begin by analyzing every piece of evidence against you, including your chemical test and your field sobriety test. By effectively challenging this evidence, you DUI / DWI lawyer may have it suppressed, or the charges against you may even be dismissed.
If you refused to submit to a chemical test to determine blood alcohol content (BAC), you will face challenges both at the California DMV and in court. California’s implied consent law dictates that you must take a breath or blood test to determine BAC after a DUI / DWI arrest. A refusal means the DMV has the authority to suspend your driver’s license for an additional period of time on top of any suspension meted out for your drunk driving arrest.
The prosecutor in your Southern California DUI / DWI court case can also use your chemical test refusal against you. In a California DUI / DWI criminal prosecution, a chemical test refusal can be used as evidence of “consciousness of guilt.” He or she will argue that you refused the blood or breath test because you knew the result would exceed the legal limit of .08 percent BAC.
Fortunately, refusals are sometimes excused due to extenuating circumstances. You may have had a medical condition that prevented you from taking the test, and police incorrectly recorded it as a refusal. Even a simple misunderstanding can sometimes lead police to improperly record a refusal.
Your Southern California DUI / DWI arrest can lead to lifelong repercussions, so it’s crucially important to have the right drunk driving defense lawyer at your side. The knowledgeable Southern California DUI / DWI lawyers of The Kavinoky Law Firm are prepared to fight for your rights anywhere in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside or Ventura counties. For answers to all of your questions about your Southern California DUI / DWI arrest, contact us today for a free consultation.