DUI / Driving Under the Influence
If you have been arrested for a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) then you will need an experienced lawyer to assist you.
The penalties for DUI cases can be expensive and harsh. Many counties will try to throw you in jail for DUI cases, and impose very expensive fines. The DMV (department of Motor Vehicles) will strive to take away your driving privileges for extended periods of time. These drivers license suspensions range for 4 months to 4 years, sometimes they will try and take away your license permanently.
We have handled thousands of DUI cases and are extremely experienced in fighting these types of cases. We are excited to help our clients to achieve the best possible results in court through technical knowledge of the law, DUI experts and investigators, attorneys with superior negotiating skill and knowledge of the court staff and system.
We have the knowledge and skill to keep nearly all of our DUI clients out of jail. We have the knowledge and the skill to fight and win DMV hearings in order to save your license and to shorten drivers license suspensions. We can even reduce very expensive court DUI fines through community service.
In most DUI cases, our clients will not need to appear in court. Our attorneys will appear in court for you so you will not need to miss time at work. We will then call you and set a face to face meeting with your attorney to discuss the facts and defenses of your case.
MANDATORY MINIMUM PENALTIES FOR DUIs
1ST TIME MISDEMEANOR DUI
Under Vehicle Code Section 23536(a)
There is mandatory jail time of not less than 96 hours and not more than 6 months for misdemeanor DUI cases.
- Our firm can regularly strike all jail time for first time offenders through court negotiations.
There is also a statutory mandated DUI program that typically ranges from 4 months to 9 months depending on your blood alchohol level
There is mandatory fine which typically comes out to approximately $1500 in fines which in some cases can be reduced through community service by court negotiations.
The DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) will also typically impose a 4 month license suspension. Our firm is experienced at winning these hearing and reducing license suspensions to 1 (one) month. You must schedule a DMV hearing within 10 (ten) days of your arrest or the DMV hearing is forfeited and the license suspension is automatically imposed.
- 2nd TIME MISDEMEANOR DUI WITHIN 10 YEARS
The mandatory minimum penalty for the 2nd time DUI within 10 years is 96 hours in jail up to a maximum of a year in jail.
There is a mandatory 18 month DUI program. Defendants are required to attend the program once a week.
The DMV will impose and mandatory minimum one year license suspension for second time DUIs.
There are mandatory minimum fines of approximately $1500 to $1600 depending on the county. The fine can be made in payments or sometimes reduced through community service.
- 3RD TIME MISDEMEANOR DUI WITHIN 10 YEARS
The mandatory minimum penalty for a 3rd time DUI is 120 days in county jail up to maximum of a year in custody.
There is a mandatory 18 month DUI program. Defendants are required to attend the program once a week.
The DMV will impose a mandatory minimum one year to three year license suspension for 3rd time DUIs.
There are mandatory minimum fines of approximately $1500 to $1600 depending on the county. The fine can be made in payments or sometimes reduced through community service.
- 4th TIME DUI WITHIN 10 YEARS
The mandatory minimum penalty for a 4th time DUI is 180 days in county jail up to maximum of a 3 years in prison. 4th time DUIs may be charged as misdemeanors or felonies. They are almost always filed as felony charges.
There is a mandatory 18 month DUI program. Defendants are required to attend the program once a week.
The DMV will impose a mandatory minimum one year to three year license suspension for 4th time DUIs.
There are mandatory minimum fines of approximately $1500 to $1600 depending on the county. The fine can be made in payments or sometimes reduced through community service.
Call now to get a free consultation. The sooner you call the sooner we can begin helping you with our case. Se Habla Espanol.
WE CAN KEEP YOU OUT OF JAIL FOR 1ST TIME DUI / MULTIPLE DUI & ACCIDENT DUI CASES
Christopher Koch & Associates are EXCELLENT at removing county jail time for all first time DUI cases. We specialize in getting jail alternatives even on very tough cases in order for you to keep you job and get on with your life with minimum inconvenience.
If you have a very high blood alchohol level with a non injury accident we can typically keep our clients out of jail on DUI cases. If there are minor injuries we can keep our clients out of jail in most cases. If there are serious injuries related to a DUI accident we can sometimes keep our clients out of jail. In these very serious cases, you will need experience that our firm has in order to achieve the best possible out come for your case.
If you have multiple DUIs in the past 10 years we can negotiate for Home Confinement, Voluntary Community Service, Cal Trans and Sheriffs Work Project. These jail alternatives will allow you to keep working and move on with your life. |
