Facing An Orange County DUI Charge? You Need A Lawyer

Driving under the influence (DUI) in Orange County is risky. So if you’re facing DUI charges, it’s essential to have a lawyer appear in court on your behalf. Whether or not this is your first time, hiring DUI legal services are a necessary component of handling an Orange County DUI charge.

Why You Need An Orange County DUI Lawyer

Without proper legal representation, you’re minimizing your chances of having the best options available to you. Getting the best terms for bail, appropriate advice regarding how to take legal action, and understanding the chances of winning a suit are benefits you’ll have with a DUI lawyer on your side. It’s even possible for an attorney to argue for a warning or lesser penalty. In essence, you’re better prepared to handle everything appropriately when you have legal representation.

DUI lawyers in Orange County understands court procedures. As you go through the court process, you’ll need someone who knows these procedures to make court appearances and your defense. These cases can be long and complicated, involving scientific and legal defense statements. An expert in DUI law will also know the potential outcomes of your case, psychologically preparing you and helping you understand your options.

Having an experienced DUI lawyer especially helps when handling an unexpected arrest. Once you are at the police station, you’ll have a phone call you can use to contact your lawyer. The legal knowledge your DUI lawyer possesses will ensure police officers cannot take advantage of you as well.

Without a lawyer, you’re increasing your chances of receiving the following punishments:

First Time DUI In Orange County

If this is your first time getting a DUI in Orange County, you’re in luck. Those convicted generally receive 3 years of summary probation. The fines and penalties you’ll need to pay are around $2,000. You’ll also have to complete a 3-month drug/alcohol program.

If convicted, you’ll also need to complete a one-day MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) course. Also, your California Driver License will be suspended for six months, although it’s possible to continue driving if you install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) in your car.

Second Time DUI In Orange County

The punishments for an Orange County DUI is harsher for repeat offenders. You’ll have between 3 and 5 years of summary probation, as well as fines and penalties totaling at around $2,000.

Jail time is normal, with defendants serving between 96 hours and one year in the county jail. It’s actually quite common for a 2nd time DUI offender in Orange County to serve a sentence of 45 to 90 days in the county jail. At times, some defendants can receive home confinement or Caltrans instead.

This time around, you’ll have to complete an 18- to 30-month drug/alcohol program. You’re also more likely to receive additional duties assigned to you, such as attending AA classes or completing community service. An Orange County Judge might also demand you install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) for one year.

Third Time DUI In Orange County

Your third DUI in this the county is even more intense. While you’ll still face 3 to 5 years of summary probation, the fines and penalties you’ll have to pay are around $2,800.

You’ll receive a minimum of 120 days in jail, but you could have to serve more time. It’s also mandatory for you to complete a 30-month drug/alcohol program. When all is said and done, you’ll also have to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IDD) in your vehicle for 2 years.

Why Should You Hire A Criminal Defense Lawyer For DUI Cases

Opinions are sharply divided regarding the need for a criminal defense lawyer in case of a possible DUI offense. There are many individuals who are of the opinion that it is possible to fight a DUI case without taking recourse to the services of Orange County criminal law lawyers. However, going by the track record and previous experience there are many reasons to believe that it is always a better decision to hire professional lawyers in fighting DUI cases. We are listing down some reasons as to why hiring a DUI criminal lawyer could be a good idea, rather than risking some unknown DIY steps.

Getting The Right Opinion

Once you have access to the information you have with regard to your DUI case, it would be better to do a SWOT analysis. Based on this, it would be better to contact a DUI criminal lawyer. They will be able to give you an objective opinion about the case and they also would be able to offer a newer perspective. These lawyers and attorneys will also help you in case you are in favor of a limited scope representation. Hence, there is no doubt that you will be able to get a suitable way forward as far as the DUI case is concerned.

Pleading Guilty

There could be many situations where the defenses available to you are very few. The evidence against you could be very strong. In such cases, pleading guilty a better option could be a good option. However, you certainly would need the services of a qualified and experienced criminal defense lawyer Orange County professional. Their services could become even more critical if the case is quite serious. Here are some situations, where the role of a DUI lawyer becomes extremely vital.

The high content of alcohol in the blood. If the blood content is much higher than .08, then it is quite likely that the reading could be used against the offender by the authorities. In such cases, the role of a lawyer becomes vital to negotiate a less harsh sentence. Proof of being drunk. A testimony by a police officer that the offender was in a state of drunkenness when behind the wheels. This could again the person and here also a good DUI criminal lawyer can come in very handy.

Negotiation

As mentioned above, there is no doubt that a DUI lawyer could make a big difference even to those who have pleaded guilty. The lawyers with their experience and expertise would be in a much better position to negotiate a much lower punishment and fine when compared to what you may be able to do without their services. The negotiation when done properly and with the right facts could lead to the case being dropped with a fine. Hence, you have all the reasons to hire the services of these professional lawyers.

Bring Down The Level Of Offense

There is no doubt that there is a big difference between reckless driving and driving under influence. The latter is a bigger crime and often comes with stiff punishments including, imprisonment or both. There have been instances where the judges have reduced the offense from DUI to reckless driving. The latter is a less serious offense and therefore it could mean a small fine and the offenders could escape imprisonment. However, the onus lies on the offender to prove that he or she is guilty of rash driving rather than driving under influence. This calls for presenting the case in the right way and this again is a situation where the role of a good DUI lawyer comes into play.

Reducing The Quantum Of Sentence

There have been many instances where the quantum of the sentence could be really harsh and it could cause a lot of problems to the accused. In such cases, the only option is to try and get the sentence to reduce with the help of a DUI lawyer. Their experience, expertise and the manner in which they present the case could often lead a softening of the sentence. They know the right areas and loopholes in the law. They will make use of the same and ensure that the accused get off with a much lower sentence.

The Final Word

In fine, there are reasons to believe that in case of DUI it is always better to hire the services of a criminal lawyer. They could make the difference between a harsh sentence to a moderate sentence and no sentence at all.