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The Importance of Hiring a Los Angeles DUI Attorney for Your Arraignment
Getting arrested for DUI in Los Angeles is a severe matter that can impact your job, reputation, and freedom. If you have an impending DUI arraignment, it is only natural for you to worry about the consequences that follow. Most people walk into their arraignment with a mistaken belief that they can plead their case, and have it dismissed. However, this is not the intention of a DUI arraignment. It merely serves to inform you about your charges, your bail status, and your constitutional rights. This article discusses the importance of hiring a Los Angeles DUI attorney for your arraignment.
Why Do You Need a Los Angeles DUI Attorney?
The arraignment is a critical step in the DUI process, and hiring a DUI attorney for your arraignment will significantly impact the outcome of your case. A DUI attorney can provide you with a free evaluation of your case and help you understand the charges filed against you. Your attorney can also help you choose the kind of plea to enter, as the plea entered at your indictment is arguably the most important decision you will make during the entire DUI process.
Additionally, your Los Angeles DUI attorney will ensure you attend your arraignment, as failure to appear can lead to the issuance of your arrest warrant. The court may compel you to appear multiple times, trying to wear you down into taking a plea bargain. Your attorney can help you strike a realistic bargain with the district attorney.
Adequately Prepare for Your Arraignment
Preparing for your arraignment involves deciding on the plea to enter. If you walk into your arraignment undecided and fail to enter a plea, the judge will enter a “not guilty” defense on your behalf, which suits the majority of people facing DUI charges. However, some exceptions may require you to work out a plea bargain that suits your interests, and your attorney will help you with that.
Pleading Guilty to DUI Charges
Entering a guilty plea will lead to the culmination of your case, and the judge will hand you your sentence. However, you must be aware of the repercussions of pleading guilty to DUI charges in Los Angeles, as you will sustain a DUI conviction on your criminal record. Withdrawing a guilty plea is also close to impossible.
Penalties of Los Angeles DUI Convicts
Los Angeles laws grant judges a lot of discretion when it comes to sentencing DUI convicts, and the penalty you face will depend on the peculiar circumstances of your case. However, the penalty is not likely to exceed six months in jail, ten months license suspension, and $2500 fines, and in some cases, an interlock ignition device is installed.
Pleading Not Guilty to DUI Charges
Pleading “not guilty” to DUI charges will lead to your judge scheduling your pretrial hearing, which usually occurs within ninety days after your arraignment. This will give your attorney sufficient time to evaluate all the evidence regarding your case while negotiating possible plea bargains with your district attorney.
Conclusion
Hiring a Los Angeles DUI attorney is vital to navigate through the complexities of the arraignment and plea bargaining process. A DUI attorney can significantly increase the odds of obtaining a favorable plea bargain. Moreover, your attorney can help you challenge the automatic suspension of your right to drive within the state of California, which ordinarily emanates from your DUI charges. Contact Todd Spodek today and let an experienced DUI attorney handle your case!
| PENALTIES | MINIMUM | MAXIMUM |
|---|---|---|
| Jail Time | 2 days | 6 months |
| Community Service | 240 hr | 480 hr |
| Fine | $390 | $1000 plus penalty assessments |
| License Suspension | 4 months | 10 months |
| Ignition Interlock Device | 5 months with | 3 years |
| BENEFITS |
|---|
| Free evaluation of your case |
| Help with working out a plea bargain |
| Ensure you attend your arraignment |
| Know the charges filed against you |
| Legal representation during the entire DUI process |
Very diligent, organized associates; got my case dismissed. Hard working attorneys who can put up with your anxiousness. I was accused of robbing a gemstone dealer. Definitely A law group that lays out all possible options and alternative routes. Recommended for sure.
- ROBIN, GUN CHARGES ROBIN
CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS