Beverly Hills DWI Lawyer

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DUIs and DWIs are common here in Beverly Hills. Many of the high-profile Beverly Hills celebrity arrests have been either DWI or DUI arrests.

The penalties for either charge are severe and can be life-altering. But there’s hope because there’s no such thing as an open-and-shut DWI or DUI case. We can defend you against these charges just as we could defend you in any other case.

What’s the difference between a DUI and a DWI?

DUI stands for “driving under the influence.” This is the charge you’d get if the police think you’ve taken drugs and then gotten behind the wheel. These drugs do not have to be illegal to count. They could include prescription medications, many of which leave patients dizzy or drowsy.

DWI stands for “driving while intoxicated.” This is the charge you’d get if police believe your blood alcohol level exceeds the legal limit, leaving you incapable of driving safely.

Should I take the field sobriety and breathalyzer tests?

It depends.

California is an “implied consent” state. That means Beverly Hills drivers are all presumed to have consented to these tests as a condition of getting their licenses and being allowed on the roads.

When you refuse a breathalyzer test or a field sobriety test you deprive arresting officers of evidence. But you also can have your license suspended, and the state doesn’t have to charge you with anything to do it. The first time you refuse it can be revoked for one year. The second time it will be revoked for two years. The third time it will be revoked for three.

Beverly Hills DWI Lawyer

You can receive a “hardship license” later which will allow you to drive to school or work, and nowhere else. This will require you to secure an SR-22 proving you’ve met the state’s minimum insurance requirements. You’ll then file the SR-22 with the DMV. Most people have far more places to drive than work or school, of course, which is what makes suspending your license such a problem.

Of course, you also lose your license if you’re convicted of drunk driving. The police can arrest you without those test results. Once you’ve been arrested they can obtain a warrant for your blood. If you refuse additional tests you could be charged with other offenses.

DUI/DWI Defenses

Here are a few ways we can defend your case:

• No probable cause. Police must have some reason to pull your vehicle over, like weaving into another lane, or speeding.
• Incorrect testing. If the cops performed the breathalyzer or field sobriety tests incorrectly they could have generated a false positive. This would mean you had every right to drive the car.
• Another way we can show you were not actually impaired when you were pulled over is to note how coherent and mentally alert you were at the time.23% of motorists who charged with a DWI or DUI never violated the law. Breathalyzer tests are notoriously unreliable. If you had wine with dinner you could be well under the legal limit. But if you have diabetes or eating something with vinegar in it you could still blow above the limit because some of the same compounds are present in both.

Many people fail field sobriety tests even though they’re not drunk. It’s hard to pass the test if you have a knee injury, if you’re really nervous, or for a host of other reasons that have nothing to do with your blood alcohol level. Police often administer the test incorrectly as well. If they didn’t give you the test correctly in the first place then the results can’t be trusted.

But a false positive can make even an innocent person feel guilty. Many people just plead guilty or take a plea bargain without looking at other options. This tendency is something cops and prosecutors count on, since they’re well aware of the flaws in both tests.

Penalties for a DUI or DWI

Even first offenders can face harsh consequences for a DWI charge. In addition to suspending your license, a judge can put you in jail for up to six months and suspend your driver’s license. You can be sent to a few months of DUI classes as well.

But even if you’re found guilty there are things we can do to mitigate these charges. For example, the judge may order mandatory alcohol counseling and assign community service in lieu of putting you in jail.

If you’re facing a second or third offense within ten years of your first one, the penalties get tougher. You can face up to one year in jail, up to $1000 in fines, and 2 or three years of driver’s license suspension. You may also be asked to go to DUI classes for up to 30 months.

This penalty list applies if you’re facing misdemeanor DWI or DUI charges, but have not been charged with anything else. Sometimes the state levies additional charges. And if you injure someone while you’re driving under the influence the penalties get harsher even on a first offense. You could face up to 16 months in prison and up to $5000 in fines. A DWI that results in injury turns your DWI case into a felony.

If you’re accused of killing someone while driving under the influence you could be convicted of either vehicular manslaughter or second-degree murder.

Know your rights and get an attorney right away.

Whether you refuse the field tests or accept them, chances are you’re going to need someone to help you fight these charges. DWI and DUI cases get complicated, and you need someone to help you manage all the issues that are bound to arise. Your best bet is to contact a private DWI defense attorney at your earliest opportunity.

When you call us you’ll receive a free consultation. We’re also willing to work with you on payments so you can get justice. You can count on us to give you personal attention, and you can count on us to treat you with respect.

If you’re in trouble, call now. We’re here to help.

Beverly Hills DWI Lawyer

inne-rpage-seperator

DUIs and DWIs are common here in Beverly Hills. Many of the high-profile Beverly Hills celebrity arrests have been either DWI or DUI arrests.

The penalties for either charge are severe and can be life-altering. But there’s hope because there’s no such thing as an open-and-shut DWI or DUI case. We can defend you against these charges just as we could defend you in any other case.

What’s the difference between a DUI and a DWI?

DUI stands for “driving under the influence.” This is the charge you’d get if the police think you’ve taken drugs and then gotten behind the wheel. These drugs do not have to be illegal to count. They could include prescription medications, many of which leave patients dizzy or drowsy.

DWI stands for “driving while intoxicated.” This is the charge you’d get if police believe your blood alcohol level exceeds the legal limit, leaving you incapable of driving safely.

Should I take the field sobriety and breathalyzer tests?

It depends.

California is an “implied consent” state. That means Beverly Hills drivers are all presumed to have consented to these tests as a condition of getting their licenses and being allowed on the roads.

When you refuse a breathalyzer test or a field sobriety test you deprive arresting officers of evidence. But you also can have your license suspended, and the state doesn’t have to charge you with anything to do it. The first time you refuse it can be revoked for one year. The second time it will be revoked for two years. The third time it will be revoked for three.

Beverly Hills DWI Lawyer

You can receive a “hardship license” later which will allow you to drive to school or work, and nowhere else. This will require you to secure an SR-22 proving you’ve met the state’s minimum insurance requirements. You’ll then file the SR-22 with the DMV. Most people have far more places to drive than work or school, of course, which is what makes suspending your license such a problem.

Of course, you also lose your license if you’re convicted of drunk driving. The police can arrest you without those test results. Once you’ve been arrested they can obtain a warrant for your blood. If you refuse additional tests you could be charged with other offenses.

DUI/DWI Defenses

Here are a few ways we can defend your case:

• No probable cause. Police must have some reason to pull your vehicle over, like weaving into another lane, or speeding.
• Incorrect testing. If the cops performed the breathalyzer or field sobriety tests incorrectly they could have generated a false positive. This would mean you had every right to drive the car.
• Another way we can show you were not actually impaired when you were pulled over is to note how coherent and mentally alert you were at the time.23% of motorists who charged with a DWI or DUI never violated the law. Breathalyzer tests are notoriously unreliable. If you had wine with dinner you could be well under the legal limit. But if you have diabetes or eating something with vinegar in it you could still blow above the limit because some of the same compounds are present in both.

Many people fail field sobriety tests even though they’re not drunk. It’s hard to pass the test if you have a knee injury, if you’re really nervous, or for a host of other reasons that have nothing to do with your blood alcohol level. Police often administer the test incorrectly as well. If they didn’t give you the test correctly in the first place then the results can’t be trusted.

But a false positive can make even an innocent person feel guilty. Many people just plead guilty or take a plea bargain without looking at other options. This tendency is something cops and prosecutors count on, since they’re well aware of the flaws in both tests.

Penalties for a DUI or DWI

Even first offenders can face harsh consequences for a DWI charge. In addition to suspending your license, a judge can put you in jail for up to six months and suspend your driver’s license. You can be sent to a few months of DUI classes as well.

But even if you’re found guilty there are things we can do to mitigate these charges. For example, the judge may order mandatory alcohol counseling and assign community service in lieu of putting you in jail.

If you’re facing a second or third offense within ten years of your first one, the penalties get tougher. You can face up to one year in jail, up to $1000 in fines, and 2 or three years of driver’s license suspension. You may also be asked to go to DUI classes for up to 30 months.

This penalty list applies if you’re facing misdemeanor DWI or DUI charges, but have not been charged with anything else. Sometimes the state levies additional charges. And if you injure someone while you’re driving under the influence the penalties get harsher even on a first offense. You could face up to 16 months in prison and up to $5000 in fines. A DWI that results in injury turns your DWI case into a felony.

If you’re accused of killing someone while driving under the influence you could be convicted of either vehicular manslaughter or second-degree murder.

Know your rights and get an attorney right away.

Whether you refuse the field tests or accept them, chances are you’re going to need someone to help you fight these charges. DWI and DUI cases get complicated, and you need someone to help you manage all the issues that are bound to arise. Your best bet is to contact a private DWI defense attorney at your earliest opportunity.

When you call us you’ll receive a free consultation. We’re also willing to work with you on payments so you can get justice. You can count on us to give you personal attention, and you can count on us to treat you with respect.

If you’re in trouble, call now. We’re here to help.

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