Santa Clarita DUI Lawyer

Defending Those Facing DUI Charges in Los Angeles County

A DUI conviction can have a significant impact on your life. Some of the consequences of DUI include fines, jail time, and driver’s license suspension. It could even affect your ability to maintain or obtain certain types of employment. Is it worth it to fight your charges?

What Percentage of DUI Cases Get Dismissed in California?

The combined DUI dismissal and acquittal rates in California range from 20% to 30% over the last ten years. Some studies have suggested that as many as 20% to 30% of DUI cases may be dismissed or result in an acquittal.

If you are uncertain whether to plead guilty to a DUI charge or take your case to trial, consult with a Santa Clarita DUI attorney. At Lias Law Firm, our criminal defense lawyer has years of experience handling these types of DUI cases. We can evaluate your charges and help you make an informed decision about how to proceed. In many cases, we help our clients get their charges dismissed.

Arrested for a DUI? Call Lias Law Firm today at (661) 529-7011 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with our skilled DUI lawyer in Santa Clarita.

What Are the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Limits in California?

In California, a person is considered to be driving under the influence of alcohol when his or her blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above .08%. Those who are under 21 years of age can be charged with DUI if their BAC is .01% or higher.

Individuals of any age that are on DUI probation are also subject to the .01% limit. It is illegal for drivers of vehicles that require a CDL to operate, with or without a CDL issued to the driver, to have a BAC of .04% or more.

Finally, drivers carrying passengers for hire at the time of the offense will be charged with a DUI if their BAC is .04% or higher.

California DUI Penalties

After an arrest for DUI, the DMV can take administrative action to suspend a person’s driving privileges. The court may take a separate action to suspend the individual’s driver’s license and bring additional penalties of fines and jail time. The court can also require the defendant to complete a DUI program.

The penalties for DUI in the state of California include:

• First DUI conviction – $390 to $1,000 in fines, 48 hours to six months in jail, and a six-month license suspension
• Second DUI conviction – $390 to $1,000 in fines, 96 hours to one year in jail, and a two-year license suspension
• Third DUI conviction – $390 to $1,000 in fines, 120 days to one year in jail, and a three-year license suspension
• DUI with injury (misdemeanor) – $390 to $5,000 in fines, five days to one year in county jail, and six-month to one-year license suspension
• 1^st offense DUI with injury (felony) – $390 to $5,000 in fines, 16 months to 16 years in state prison, and a one-year license suspension
• Felony DUI – $390 to $1,000 in fines, 16 months, two years, or three years in state prison, and up to five years of driver’s license suspension

DUI convictions are placed on a person’s driving and criminal record. These previous convictions are taken into consideration when determining the specific penalties, including the length of both the prison sentence and driver’s license suspension, as well as the amount of the fine. To start fighting your possible penalties, get in contact with our DUI lawyer in Santa Clarita as soon as possible.

What Are The Three Field Sobriety Tests?

The following tests make up The Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST):

• Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test
• Walk-and-turn test
• One-leg stand test

The officer uses these tests to determine if the person in question was under the influence of drugs or alcohol while operating their vehicle. They look for common signs of intoxication, such as loss of balance (swaying/hopping) or not following instructions properly.