If you are arrested for DUI in California, you probably have many questions about what comes next. If you are concerned about what the future holds, retaining qualified legal counsel should be your first step in easing your worries and putting together a proactive plan for preventing the worst possible consequences.
At Strongest Defense, our Thousand Oaks DUI lawyer has multiple decades of experience helping people combat DUI allegations. If you have been arrested, you need someone in your corner who will fight for you with ferocity and effective legal strategies. Reach out today to schedule a free initial consultation, and we will get started on plans that have the best chance of having your charges reduced or dropped.
DUI Charges And Penalties
DUIs in California can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony depending on the specifics of the case. Having previous DUI charges on your record, driving on a suspended license, or causing property damage or injury are all potential circumstances that can make a misdemeanor DUI a felony. DUIs can also incur related charges: for example, if you are found driving under the influence with a minor passenger, you can be charged with a child abuse, and if you kill someone with your car, you will face vehicular manslaughter charges.
Without knowing the circumstances of your charges, it is impossible to say what penalties you will face. However, these types of charges can incur hefty fines, jail time, and a suspended license. You can also be ordered to have an ignition interlock device installed on your vehicle, which will require you to blow into it every time you want to drive.
DUIs can also have non-legal consequences. A black mark on your record can bar you from certain jobs, housing, and university courses. You can also lose your insurance policy and even custody of your children! This record will follow you around for life and potentially harm your reputation, so working with an experienced Thousand Oaks DUI lawyer is essential if you want to have a chance at beating these charges.
How Our Thousand Oaks DUI Lawyer Can Help
When you work with Strongest Defense, we will immediately begin evaluating your case. Our lead DUI attorney David Lehr is a former prosecutor, so he knows what moves the court will make against you and how to effectively defend against them.
Though it is impossible to determine what strategies will work for your particular case, we have a strong repertoire of tactics that we can use in your defense if they seem relevant. For example:
- Did you perform a field sobriety test? We might argue that it was administered incorrectly or that your good performance indicates a lack of intoxication.
- Did you perform a breath test? We might argue that the breathalyzer was calibrated incorrectly.
- Were you administered a blood test? We might argue that the sample was contaminated or mixed up with another sample.
- Is there bodycam or dashcam footage of your arrest? We might use it to show that your behavior did not indicate intoxication.
- Was there a search of your vehicle? We might prove that it was illegal.
These are only a few of the strategies we might use in your defense and, with more details of your arrest, we can refine our tactics so they are suitable for you.
Strongest Defense Has Your Back
When it comes to defending your rights, Strongest Defense does not back down. We have a unique perspective in the courtroom because of the versatile experience of our lead Thousand Oaks DUI lawyer, and we want to use that experience to help you defend your freedom. Reach out for a free initial consultation right awayāthe more time we have to strategize for you, the better.
Can I be charged with DUI for smoking marijuana? What about prescription drugs?
Yesādriving under the influence of alcohol or any drug, even those that are legal or prescribed, will result in a DUI if you are pulled over.
Can I be eligible for a DUI expungement?
Expungements are only available in incredibly limited circumstances. Usually, they are reserved for drivers who incurred their charges while they were still minors. In almost all other cases, your DUI will be on your record permanently.
Can I be charged with a felony if this is my first DUI?
In most circumstances, a first-time offense will be charged as a misdemeanor.. However, if there are extenuating circumstances, such as if you caused severe injury to another person, you could potentially be charged with a felony DUI.
