Finding a California DUI Lawyer

Driving with a BAC (blood alcohol content) above .08 is referred to as a DUI "per se." When charged with driving with a BAC above .08, you will also be charged with driving under the influence. If you refuse a BAC test, you will generally face an automatic charge of driving under the influence.

In addition, drivers under the age of 21 that have a BAC above .01 face civil penalties, while those with a BAC above .05 face criminal penalties.

Why Do I Need a DUI Lawyer?

If you are charged with criminal DUI in California, you need a California DUI attorney. The penalties for criminal DUI in California are severe and range from 4 days to 6 months of jail time for a first offense, and up to one year of jail time for a fourth conviction. You may also lose your license for anywhere from 6 months for a first offense to four years for a fourth offense.

Additional penalties include fines up to $1000 plus court costs, mandated drug and alcohol counseling or AA meetings, required attendance at drunk driving victims' panels, community service, and the installation of an ignition interlock device on your vehicle. In addition, once you have been found guilty of DUI, you face a probationary period. During that period, you can be found guilty of DUI if you are pulled over and have any alcohol on your breath, even if your BAC is below the legal limit.

What a DUI Lawyer Can Do For You

A California DUI attorney can do a number of things to help you when you are arrested for a California DUI and you face criminal DUI charges. For example, a California DUI attorney can:

• Negotiate a plea bargain in order to get a reduced sentence for your criminal DUI.
• Argue for a reduced sentence based on the circumstances of your DUI or your subsequent behavior.
• Introduce defenses such as the "rising BAC" defense, using scientific research to show that BAC continues to rise after you stop drinking, meaning that your BAC at the time you were tested was higher than at the time you were actually driving.
• Raise questions as to the accuracy of the BAC test, introducing the reasonable doubt necessary for the jury to acquit you of criminal DUI charges.

Finding a California DUI Lawyer

When you have been charged with a California criminal DUI, your future hangs in the balance. Being found guilty of criminal DUI charges can leave you in jail, without a license, unable to drive, and facing a large fine. This can wreak havoc on anyone's life, so it is essential you find a California DUI attorney with experience who can act as your advocate and who can help you fight the charges you face.

There are several things to look for and questions to ask when hiring a DUI lawyer. For example, you want to find out:

• Does your lawyer understand the scientific aspects of BAC tests? Much of successfully defending DUI cases comes from raising questions about the BAC test. Your attorney should understand the science behind BAC tests and should have a strong support staff and expert witnesses who can shed light on the test itself.
• Is your attorney a specialist? When charged with criminal DUI, you want your California DUI defense attorney to be a DUI defense lawyer, not just a criminal lawyer. The more experience your attorney has in DUI defense cases, the better he or she will understand the law and the more likely it is that he or she will be able to help you reduce your sentence or get you acquitted of the charges.
• What is the attorney's Martindale-Hubbell Rating? Martindale-Hubbell provides peer review ratings for attorneys. You can find out how other attorneys view the lawyer and get a candid assessment of the attorney's skills and abilities within his or her field.
• Does your attorney have any professional commendations? Is he or she part of the American Bar Association? Published in law journals? Recognized within professional circles? You want a lawyer that is an expert at what he or she does, so that expertise can be put to work for you.
• What does the attorney charge? Most DUI attorneys charge on an hourly basis. Total costs for defending a lawsuit, including the cost of expert witnesses, can range from a few thousand dollars to upwards of $10,000 or more. However, cheaper is not always better. An inexpensive DUI lawyer who doesn't get you the best deal or who doesn't get you off from your criminal DUI charges can end up costing you much more once you are in jail and facing a conviction on your permanent record.

Getting Help

If you are looking for a Los Angeles DUI attorney, the Law Offices of Lawrence Taylor can help. Lawrence Taylor has been specializing in DUI defense since 1979 and he can put that 30 years of experience to use for you. Lawrence Taylor is one of only four attorneys in California who is a board certified DUI defense specialist, and is renowned as the "Dean of DUI attorneys." In addition to having a prestigious Martindale-Hubbell "AV" rating, and an AVVO rating of 10/10, attorneys at the Law Offices of Lawrence Taylor have a combined 112 years of DUI experience and have been named "Southern California Super Lawyers" in Los Angeles Magazine. When it's your future on the line, it only makes sense to hire the best.