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If you are pulled over for driving under the influence, you will likely face DUI charges. Unlike other traffic infractions, DUI charges are criminal charges that can impact your career, housing, and personal relationships. If you are convicted of a DUI, you could see penalties like a driver’s license suspension, hefty fines, and mandatory DUI school, even as a first-time offender.
While DUI charges are serious, you can defend yourself from them with help from our experienced Sherman Oaks DUI lawyers. At the DUI Defense Group, we have extensive experience helping clients protect themselves from DUI charges.
Whether you are a first-time offender or you have a criminal history already, we are confident that we can assist you. For a free consultation with a Sherman Oaks DUI lawyer and to learn more about what we do, call our law firm today at 866-927-3295.
What Are the Potential Penalties of a DUI Conviction?
The penalties you will face after a DUI conviction depend on the severity of your charges and the nature of your arrest. Generally, DUI charges are classified as misdemeanors, and many first-time offenders do not serve jail time. However, your criminal history and the nature of your DUI arrest could impact those factors.
The most common penalties individuals face after a DUI conviction include:
- Driver’s license suspension
- Probation
- Mandatory DUI school
- Mandatory ignition interlock device (IID) installation
- Expensive fines
If your DUI involved bodily injury to another person or the death of another person, your charges could be increased to a felony. Felony charges typically carry more severe penalties and often include jail time.
Similarly, if you have multiple DUI convictions on your record already, you could face further penalties. For more information about your specific charges and potential penalties, contact our experienced DUI lawyer today.
What is a DMV Hearing?
When you are arrested for a DUI, law enforcement officers will send notice of your arrest to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). A DMV hearing officer will review the charges against you and the nature of your arrest. The DMV will then decide whether to suspend your license. In most cases, your license will be suspended once you are charged with a DUI.
You can request a DMV hearing within ten days of your DUI arrest to ask for your license to be reinstated. At the hearing, a Sherman Oaks DUI lawyer on our team can present evidence on your behalf to prove that you were not driving under the influence or that your arrest was unlawful.
If you win the DMV hearing, you will get your license back. Losing the hearing or not requesting a hearing means your license will remain suspended.
The DMV hearing and your criminal proceedings are separate and do not affect each other. The outcome of your DMV hearing does not impact your criminal conviction in any way.
How Do You Defend Against a DUI Charge?
DUIs are serious offenses with severe criminal penalties. Fortunately, our team has extensive experience defending clients from DUI consequences. While your specific DUI defense will depend on the nature of your charges, there are some common defense strategies our team often uses.
The most common DUI defense strategies include:
- Proving the police did not have reasonable suspicion to make a traffic stop
- Proving the police did not have probable cause to arrest you
- Providing evidence of faulty or inaccurate chemical test results
- Providing evidence of a medical condition that impacts blood alcohol content (BAC) results
- Providing evidence of a medical condition that mimics the symptoms of intoxication
What Can a Sherman Oaks DUI Lawyer Do for Me?
Facing a DUI charge can be an overwhelming experience. Whether you are a first-time offender or already have prior DUIs, you could be facing hefty fines, probation, a license suspension, and even jail time. A Sherman Oaks DUI attorney on our team can negotiate with prosecutors or defend you in court to get you the outcome you deserve.