CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL LAWYERS

Los Angeles DUI And Traffic Court

DUI, also known as driving under the influence, is a severe criminal offense that results in significant repercussions. People have started seeing a DUI charge as a violent act because it can cause death and destruction. Strangely, anyone driving drunk cannot make rational decisions due to the consumption of alcohol. Therefore, courts aim to rehabilitate these individuals instead of merely imposing heavy fines. Most DUI offenses end up in criminal court, but some might be heard in traffic court, which is different from criminal court.

Generally, first or second offenses of a DUI are categorized as misdemeanors, which are crimes resulting in a punishment of a year or less in jail. Even though the magnitude of the offense is lower, it carries jail time, significant fines and necessitates DUI classes. Lawyers in Los Angeles who specialize in DUI cases are well-versed with traffic court proceedings and the legal system.

In comparison to criminal court, there is a particular category of crime called ‘infraction’ cases that appear in traffic court, resulting in a simple fine. These cases are not filed by prosecutors but the arresting officer. The defendant is brought before the court, and they can choose to plead guilty, not guilty, or settle for a trial or sentence. Usually, the arresting officer testifies in the traffic court about the details behind the infraction.

There are rare instances where DUI cases are tried in traffic court with no formal charges by the prosecutor. For example, drivers less than 21 years of age are not allowed to drive with any alcohol in their system. Therefore, if defendants of this age bracket are arrested, they might end up in traffic court. If convicted, they face a year’s suspension of their license and mandatory attendance of traffic school.

Los Angeles DUI lawyers are experienced in the intricacies of traffic school proceedings. Suppose a defendant is charged with a misdemeanor DUI and arraigned in traffic court. In that case, the possible outcome in the circumstances is achieved by hiring a Los Angeles DUI attorney. These lawyers understand the legal minutiae of traffic court proceedings and strive to get the charges dismissed or, in the -case scenario, avoid jail time.

Michael Kraut of Kraut Law Group is a well-known attorney in Los Angeles, specializing in DUI cases. He and his team of lawyers have been helping defendants avoid worst-case scenarios and reduce jail time for their clients. Michael Kraut uses his passion and years of experience to defend his clients against any and all accusations. He can clarify the complexities of the legal system and help clients make better-informed decisions. If you need the representation in DUI cases, contact Michael Kraut at 888-334-6344 or 323-464-6453.