When police flash their lights and confiscate your California driver’s license during a DUI stop, you need expert legal help fast. The decisions you make at each stage of your case will impact your future and the consequences of a conviction for years to come.
Schwartz & Weinrieb defends clients accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and prescription and illegal drugs. They help you create strategies to drop or reduce serious penalties for DUI crimes.
Representation at the Arraignment
Regardless of whether you are facing misdemeanor 1st offense DUI charges or felony drunk driving charges, the consequences of a conviction can be severe. Your Van Nuys criminal defense lawyer will fight to limit these consequences and prove your innocence or that the police violated your rights.
Your attorney will also request a hearing with the DMV to try to avoid a license suspension. This is called an APS hearing, and it is a service that most Van Nuys DUI attorneys specialize in.
Your attorney will examine the stop and all of the evidence collected in your case. For instance, he or she will look at your medical history to determine if you have any pre-existing conditions that would cause you to fail field sobriety tests, and examine breathalyzer test administration and equipment functionality. Your attorney will fight to get evidence excluded from the case and raise any issues with the prosecution that may result in a dismissal or reduction of charges on your behalf.
Pretrial Diversion
A Van Nuys DUI defense attorney can help you avoid a criminal conviction by guiding you through the court process. Your lawyer can also negotiate a plea deal with the prosecutor and reduce penalties.
You should hire a DUI lawyer in Van Nuys as soon as possible after your arrest. Whether you have been charged with first-time drunk driving or DUID, or are facing felony charges for a second offense within 10 years, an experienced attorney can save you from losing your freedom and future career prospects.
A Van Nuys DUI lawyer will help you through the court process, from arraignment to trial. If your DUI case goes to trial, a DUI attorney can help you fight for your right to keep your license. A top-rated lawyer can even represent you at the DMV APS hearing to prevent your license suspension. A good attorney can also get your records expunged so you can avoid a criminal record when applying for jobs and housing in the future.
Expunged Conviction
The law firm defends those accused of DUI crimes, striving to prevent license suspension and imprisonment. It handles felony and misdemeanor offenses, including those involving marijuana, and hit and run cases. It also assists with DUI at DMV hearings and underage DUIs.
During a traffic stop, police may administer a PAS or breathalyzer test to measure your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). If you are over 0.08%, you will be charged with DUI.
Your Van Nuys DUI defense attorney can challenge the accuracy of the BAC results by examining how the tests were administered and whether police followed protocol for taking your blood sample. Disputed evidence can result in your charges being dismissed.
A Van Nuys DUI lawyer can also help you request an expunged conviction. When a DUI is expunged, it will no longer be recorded on your record and prospective employers or landlords cannot view the record. However, to qualify for an expunged conviction, you must complete probation and satisfy the other criteria set out by Proposition 47.
Expungement
While many people use a designated driver, take an Uber or taxi, and never drink and drive, mistakes do happen. When they do, a DUI arrest can have serious consequences including jail time, fines, and a suspended license. The best way to avoid these consequences is to hire an experienced Van Nuys DUI attorney to fight for your freedom and your reputation.
An attorney can challenge law enforcement observations, the PAS or breathalyzer results, and any statements you make during a stop and interrogation. A lawyer can also help you navigate the arraignment, a court hearing to determine your guilt or innocence.
The firm’s criminal defense lawyers represent clients in felony and misdemeanor crimes, including DUIs. They strive to prevent jail time, fines, and license suspensions. They also work to reduce probation requirements and other penalties. The firm also assists with expungement of convictions. Expungement allows you to honestly say on employment applications that you have not been convicted of a crime.
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