Are you facing DUI charges in Los Angeles? If so, it is important to know that the consequences of a DUI conviction can haunt you for years after you complete your sentence.
It is critical to get a skilled on your side from the very start. All cases can potentially be won no matter how they may appear.
The experienced Los Angeles DUI defense lawyers at Chudnovsky Law are here to prevent all of that. Call us today for your free consultation. We can answer all your questions, explain the consequences of a DUI conviction, and tell you how we can protect your legal rights.
We need to act fast to protect your driver’s license, to say nothing of your freedom.
Experienced Los Angeles DUI Drunk Driving Defense Lawyer
We have an extensive record of handling DUI cases throughout Los Angeles. In fact, we’ve helped thousands of Los Angeles drivers protect their license, their future, and their driving record after getting arrested for a DUI.
Whether this is your first offense or your third, we know that building a strong defense and keeping you out of jail is a top priority.
To do this, you must have experienced legal representation from the start. Our DUI lawyers will be there to protect you and your freedom at every stage of a criminal investigation, charging, and court proceedings.
Without an experienced Los Angeles DUI defense attorney, you can get a longer sentence, pay more fines, lose your driving privileges, or even face a wrongful conviction.
When you hire Chudnovsky Law, you can rest easier knowing that you have a team of experienced Los Angeles DUI drunk driving defense lawyers in your corner fighting for you. We will help you beat these charges quickly.
We offer affordable fees and flexible payment plans.
Why Hire Chudnovsky Law
A quick internet search will show you many options for DUI lawyers in Los Angeles. So how do you know who is the best? At Chudnovsky Law, our DUI lawyers have experience handling all types of DUI charges. We know how to handle cases involving repeat offenses, extreme DUI, botched evidence, and other complex legal issues. This experience allows us to deliver the results our clients expect.
We fight hard to defend our clients’ constitutional rights at every stage of a criminal case. Even before the prosecutor files charges, we can work to protect your legal rights during a police investigation. Do not wait to get legal advice about your case. The sooner our attorneys can start fighting on your side, the better options we will have for resolving your case.
When hiring a DUI lawyer, ask about familiarity with your local court system. Attorneys who know the inner workings of a particular court handle your case better. Knowing the clerks, bailiffs, and support staff can allow your attorney to resolve administrative matters more efficiently.
When a defense lawyer routinely works with the same prosecutors, they can negotiate fair plea agreements for their clients. Chudnovsky Law routinely makes appearances in the local LA DUI courts.
What a Los Angeles DUI Defense Lawyer Does To Protect Your Legal Rights
Here are some of the many things a Los Angeles DUI lawyer does to protect your legal rights:
- Protecting you from being interrogated by the police
- Ensuring that the police have lawfully gathered evidence against you
- Challenging any inadmissible evidence to keep it away from a jury
- Challenging stops, frisks, interrogations, and other evidence that do not meet constitutional standards
- Advising you of your legal rights throughout the criminal case process
- Assessing your risk of being convicted at trial
- Determining whether a plea offer is fair in your unique situation
One of the most important things a Los Angeles DUI drunk driving defense attorney will do is give you a fair assessment of your case. Remember, the prosecutor is not on your side, so you should not believe them if they say you are sure to be convicted at trial. Only your lawyer should give you legal advice.
Your lawyer will also give you a fair assessment of any prosecution plea offer. A Los Angeles DUI attorney will know your odds at trial, what plea deals occurred in similar cases, and whether your offer fairly reflects all the circumstances of your case.
The Potential Consequences of a DUI Conviction in Los Angeles
A DUI conviction can result in jail time and fines, but these are only some of the consequences you can face after a DUI conviction.
Courts can order DUI defendants to:
- Spend up to six months in jail (depending on the county)
- Spend up to five years on misdemeanor probation
- Pay fines of up to $2000 (depending on the county), in addition to attorney’s fees and court costs
- Install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle
- Have driving privileges suspended for six months
- Attend a victim impact panel (panel members are family members of DUI victims)
Courts can impose other conditions as part of a plea agreement. Whether a conviction results from a plea agreement or a jury verdict, it is just the beginning of the consequences of a DUI. The indirect implications of a DUI can follow a defendant for years to come.
The Indirect Consequences of a DUI Conviction
A DUI can affect all areas of your life. Any conviction can make it more difficult to secure housing or employment. You might also face trouble with your current employer: if, for example, you must drive as part of your job, a DUI can make you ineligible to work. A DUI can also result in discipline against a professional license.
For parents, some of the most devastating consequences of a DUI conviction can happen in the family court. One parent can use a DUI against the other parent in child custody proceedings.
Even if there has not yet been a conviction, a family court judge can consider evidence of an arrest when determining the best interests of a child. Even if the other parent does not initiate custody proceedings, the state can. (This is especially likely if the child was in the car, or the state can allege that the parent’s drinking otherwise endangered the child.)
A child custody lawyer can help protect your parenting rights in the family court. However, it is vital to resolve the underlying DUI case favorably. For this reason, parents must have an experienced DUI lawyer representing them at all stages of a criminal investigation.
The Major DUI Courts in Los Angeles and Orange County
There are two main courthouses where DUI defendants are most likely to appear. In Los Angeles, most DUI cases happen at the Metropolitan Courthouse. Visit the court website to get directions and parking information.
The website also has a list of prohibited items in the courthouse, so be sure to review this if you have any questions about what you may bring to court. You may obtain court documents through the clerk’s office. While you don’t need appointments, we recommend them to maintain social distance and reduce your waiting time.
Most Orange County DUI cases occur at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. This courthouse handles traffic offenses, minor offenses, and limited criminal matters. Visit the court’s website for information about hours of operation, phone numbers, directions, parking, and other logistical matters.
You can also learn more about criminal appearances by visiting the court’s criminal FAQ webpage. This general information can help you feel more prepared for your court appearance, so the experience does not have to be overwhelming.
FAQs About Los Angeles Drunk Driving Charges
Will the state suspend my driver’s license right away?
In most first-time DUI cases, your driver's license will not be affected until there is a conviction (either at trial or through a plea agreement). However, this is not always the case, ask your attorney about your specific situation. If you have prior DUI convictions or outstanding traffic tickets, there might be other complications with your driver's license.
The court can also revoke your driver’s license if you refuse to take an alcohol test at the scene. You do have the right to challenge these administrative decisions through the DMV. Our experienced DUI lawyers can help you navigate the complicated process and ensure that the court does not suspend your driving privileges prematurely or without due process.
How soon will I have to appear in court?
Most DUI suspects are arrested, processed, and released on their own recognizance. Your recognizance is a promise to appear in court when required. You will be given a summons with the time and date of your scheduled court appearance.
Do not miss this date.
If you fail to appear, the judge can issue a bench warrant for your arrest. A warrant can further complicate your DUI case. Instead, you should hire an LA DUI attorney as soon as possible and ensure that you have legal representation at your court hearing.
Will I have to post bail?
A person released on their own recognizance does not have to post bail. Most first-time DUI charges are misdemeanors, so if there are no other serious charges, an officer will likely release the suspect without requiring them to post bail. This is not always the case, however.
DUI cases can quickly become more serious if the suspect has prior DUI convictions or other pending charges or if the accident caused serious injuries or death. In these cases, the suspect might have to appear before a judge to determine their release conditions.
The judge can require the defendant to post a bond with the court as a condition of release. Your attorney can challenge a too-high bond or other unfair release conditions.
What if the officer unfairly targeted me?
An officer must have a lawful reason to pull you over. If they do not, your attorney can challenge the traffic stop and ask the court to rule any evidence from the stop inadmissible. If the judge agrees, the jury will s not hear testimony from the officer, blood test results, or any other evidence gathered from the improper stop.
Unfortunately, it is challenging to convince a court that a traffic stop was not lawful. An officer can pull over a driver for any potential traffic violation. This possible offense might be a serious infraction, such as swerving into another driver’s lane, or a technical one, such as a headlight that has burned out.
Officers can also pull over drivers at DUI checkpoints. So long as the checkpoint applies fairly to all drivers (for example, not targeting drivers of a specific ethnicity), it will usually be considered a proper stop. This fact does not mean that officers have free reign to discriminate against drivers.
Be sure to contact our lawyers if you suspect that the officer targeted you for any reason. Let an experienced DUI lawyer review your case to determine your legal challenges. In some cases, the court can force a prosecutor to dismiss charges altogether if all their evidence is inadmissible.
Does a DUI mean I will have to go to jail?
Every DUI case is different.
The amount of time you have to spend in jail will result from:
- Whether you plead guilty or a court convicts you at trial
- How high your blood alcohol content allegedly was
- Any other impairing substances (drugs or medication) in your body at the time of the arrest
- Whether you have any prior convictions for DUI
- Any injuries in a car accident
- Whether there were children in the car
- Any additional criminal charges (like aggravated assault or child endangerment)
The sooner you get an experienced DUI lawyer fighting on your case, the better options they will have to resolve the charges against you. Your lawyer might challenge the prosecutor’s evidence. You can also reduce jail time by accepting a plea agreement instead of running the risk of conviction at trial. Your DUI lawyer will determine the best strategy for your particular case.
The Right Los Angeles DUI Defense Lawyer For All Drunk Driving Charges
At Chudnovsky Law, we believe everyone has the right to a fair defense. We fight hard to ensure that police and prosecutors respect our clients' constitutional rights before, during, and after the criminal case.
You don’t have to face the power of the government on your own.
Let our experienced DUI defense lawyers fight back against procedural violations, substantive legal issues, and other legal rights that protect defendants from being wrongfully convicted.
Our legal team has the experience and resources you need to fight your DUI charge. We try to get charges dismissed whenever possible, and we negotiate with prosecutors for the best possible plea agreement. Then, we discuss your options with you and, if you choose to fight your charges, we can defend you at trial in front of the judge or jury.
Contact us at (213) 212-5002 for your free consultation as soon as possible. The sooner you have our experienced LA drunk driving lawyers fighting for you, the better we can protect your legal rights.
“My felony DUI was reduced to dry reckless. I got in an accident and was arrested for a DUI. Unfortunately there was substantial injury involved and I got charged with Felony DUI. I was really freaked out by the whole thing and what the consequences could be. Tsion and her team really went above and beyond to calm me down and educate me on my options and how they would attack the charges. After some careful research, they identified some issues with the evidence and were able to able reduce the charge to a dry reckless and I kept my license. I can wholeheartedly recommend Chudnovsky Law. They are top notch!”
MARIA
Service area
When looking for the best DUI lawyer near me, note that we serve all of Los Angeles County including:
Glendale, Long Beach, Pasadena, Torrance, Van Nuys, Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Arcadia, Artesia, Baldwin Park, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Burbank, Canoga Park, Carson, Cerritos, Chatsworth, Compton, Culver City, Diamond Bar, Downey, Downtown Los Angeles, El Monte, El Segundo, Encino, Gardena, Glendora, Granada Hills, Hawaiian Gardens, Hermosa Beach, Hawthorne, Hollywood, Huntington Park, Inglewood, La Canada-Flintridge, La Habra, La Mirada, Lakewood, Lynwood, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, North Hollywood, Northridge, Norwalk, Pacoima, Pico Rivera, Pomona, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Reseda, Rosemead, San Dimas, San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Simi Valley, South Gate, South Pasadena, Sylmar, Tarzana, Temple City, Thousand Oaks, Toluca Lake, Venice Beach, Walnut, West Covina, West Hollywood, Westlake Village, Whittier, Woodland Hills.
We also serve Orange County, Ventura County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County.