DUI First Offenses in LA
If you are convicted of drunk driving, the penalties can vary depending on your age and your blood alcohol content (BAC). In some places even first offenses for DUIs can be punished with jail time, community service, driver education programs, mandatory psychological counseling and court ordered attendance at 12 step programs, all of which you must pay for.
People often do not realize how steep DUI charges and fines can be. Your fines and court costs can easily exceed ten thousand dollars. These fees and fines cannot be discharged through bankruptcy and many people pay them over time with a payment plan. However, if at any time, you do not keep up with the payments, your driving privileges can be revoked.
If you are found guilty on a Los Angeles first offense DUI, an experienced DUI lawyer can argue to the judge or jury that you are willing to serve your sentence doing community service or by seeking treatment in an approved rehab facility.
If this is your first DUI offense, it is important that you know that you must contact the California DMV driver safety office within 10 days of your DUI arrest or your license will automatically be suspended. Even if you are from another state and don’t have a California license, you must contact the DMV or the Imposed California suspension will be reported to your home state and your license can be suspended upon your return.
The case resulting from your Los Angeles DUI stop, arrest, and charges can result in the suspension or revocation of driving privileges, jail, fines, an ignition interlock device being installed in the car, alcohol education classes, community service, impounding the accused driver’s vehicle, or any combination of these penalties. You will have to prove to the court that you have satisfied the terms of your sentence before receiving your license back.
Going through a criminal court case is complicated, especially if you are unfamiliar with the complex California legal system. If you’ve been arrested in Southern California for DUI, you can rely on the criminal defense law firm of Payman Zargari to provide expert legal advice that you need to help resolve your case with the court and with the California DMV.
Please use our contact form or call us at 866-958-2313 to speak with a DUI defense attorney.
