Frequently Asked Questions
What options do I have?
What happens when the case is taken to court?
You must decide whether you will go solo or if you want to hire an attorney. If you decide not to hire an attorney, you will appear before the judge on the designated time mentioned in your paper work. The judge will first handle attorney-represented cases, and later he will move on to the non-attorney represented cases.
At some time during the proceedings the judge will ask you to enter your plea. If you plead guilty then the sentence will be passed immediately and you will be given the due punishment for your crime depending upon your county, state and judge. Punishment for DUI crimes usually entails jail time, or programs that count as jail, as well heavy fines and probation.
If you plead as non-guilty then the judge will ask you several questions to determine whether you want to forfeit your constitutional rights including your right to a speedy trial. It is best to hire an attorney before your trial so that he can help you suffer minimum loses from your case.
Can I even expect to win a Orange County DUI Case?
Many defense strategies have worked in the past in DUI cases such as challenging the measurements of blood alcohol and arguing constitutional violations.
We review all our cases thoroughly by going through all the facts in as much detail as possible. This includes reviewing police reports for any discrepancies and inconsistencies in procedure. To ensure the blood tests were done correctly, we request complete disclosure of the personnel who were conducting the tests, the lab certification, and the instrument that was used to conduct the blood test.
What penalties can I expect for a Orange County DUI conviction?
• Jail time
• Fines and monetary penalties
• Annulment of your driving silence
• Car internment.
• Compulsory attendance at rehabilitation programs
• Probation
• Installment of ignition interlock devices in your vehicle
You can find more specific penalties in the Orange County DUI chart.
Apart from the punishment administered by court, your DUI penalty can also affect you adversely in other matters. Your employment may suffer, and you may have to pay higher insurance premiums.
How do I protect my drivers license when fighting a Orange County DUI?
Can I win a DMV administrative hearing?
1. Were you driving the car or somebody else?
2. Did the police office have “reasonable cause” to make an arrest?
3. Was your blood alcohol concentration 0.8 or higher?
While the first question is simple enough, the other two are dependent upon many variables. A skilled attorney can use the second and third question in his client’s advantage to protect his driving privileges.
If I lose my license how do I get it back?
How long does this take?
You can get a realistic estimate of how long your case will take by contacting our firm for a free consultation of your case.
How much will all this cost me?
You can contact us for a free consultation about your case. We can often give you a flat fee that will be based on the details of your unique situation. We will tell you exactly what our attorney fee will be so you can decide if the arrangements suits you on not.