DUI Lawyers Los Angeles
Expert DUI Defense Attorneys Fighting for Your License, Your Freedom, and Your Future
Why You Need an Experienced DUI Lawyer in Los Angeles Right Now
If you’ve been arrested for DUI in Los Angeles or anywhere in Southern California, you’re facing one of the most stressful situations of your life. Your driver’s license is in jeopardy. You could face jail time. Your insurance rates will skyrocket. Your job may be at risk. Your reputation is on the line. The consequences of a DUI conviction follow you for years, affecting employment, housing, education, and every aspect of your life.
But here’s what most people don’t realize: a DUI arrest does NOT mean you’ll be convicted. At LibertyBell Law Group, our experienced DUI lawyers in Los Angeles have successfully defended thousands of DUI cases throughout Southern California. We’ve gotten charges dismissed, evidence suppressed, and not guilty verdicts for clients who thought their case was hopeless. We know how to fight DUI charges because we do it every single day.
⏰ CRITICAL TIME DEADLINES YOU CANNOT MISS!
YOU HAVE ONLY 10 DAYS from the date of your arrest to request a DMV hearing to fight the automatic suspension of your driver’s license. Miss this deadline, and your license will be suspended automatically – no exceptions, no extensions.
Call LibertyBell Law Group immediately at (855) 529-7761. We’ll request your DMV hearing today and start building your defense right now. Every hour counts!
Understanding DUI Laws in California: What You’re Really Facing
California has some of the strictest DUI laws in the nation. Understanding exactly what you’re facing is the first step toward fighting your charges effectively.
The Two DUI Laws Everyone Charged with DUI Faces
When you’re arrested for DUI in California, you’re typically charged with two separate violations under California Vehicle Code:
Vehicle Code 23152(a) – DUI of Alcohol or Drugs
This law makes it illegal to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, regardless of your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Prosecutors can charge you under this section even if your BAC was below 0.08% if they believe you were impaired. This is a subjective standard based on field sobriety tests, officer observations, and your driving pattern.
Vehicle Code 23152(b) – DUI with BAC of 0.08% or Higher
This is the “per se” DUI law. It’s illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or higher, period. The prosecution doesn’t need to prove you were actually impaired – just that your BAC was at or above the legal limit. This is an objective standard based on chemical testing (breath or blood).
Here’s the key: prosecutors typically charge BOTH violations for every DUI arrest. This gives them two separate paths to conviction. However, you can only be convicted of one, and our job is to defeat both charges.
💡 Expert Tip #1: Understanding “Per Se” vs. Impairment DUI
Many people assume that if their BAC was below 0.08%, they can’t be convicted of DUI. That’s not true. Under VC 23152(a), prosecutors can still pursue a conviction if they believe you were impaired, even with a BAC of 0.06% or 0.07%. We’ve successfully defended many clients against these “low BAC” DUI charges by challenging the officer’s impairment observations and field sobriety test interpretations. Just because you were arrested doesn’t mean the prosecution can prove impairment beyond a reasonable doubt.
Special DUI Categories with Enhanced Penalties
DUI Under 21
California has a “zero tolerance” law for drivers under 21. Any detectable BAC (0.01% or higher) violates Vehicle Code 23136. Additionally, underage drivers face standard DUI charges if BAC is 0.05% or higher, and enhanced penalties including a one-year license suspension.
Commercial Driver DUI
Commercial drivers face a lower BAC threshold of 0.04%. A DUI conviction results in a one-year CDL suspension (first offense) or permanent revocation (second offense), even if you were driving a personal vehicle. This can end your career.
DUI with Minor in Vehicle
If you’re arrested for DUI with a passenger under 14 years old, you face additional charges under Vehicle Code 23572, which adds mandatory jail time: 48 hours for a first offense, 10 days for a second offense, 30 days for a third offense, plus child endangerment charges.
DUI Causing Injury
DUI causing injury to another person elevates charges to a felony under Vehicle Code 23153. You face state prison time (16 months to 16 years depending on injuries), strike on your record, and victim restitution that can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The Real Consequences of a DUI Conviction
Understanding the full scope of DUI consequences is crucial. It’s not just about fines and a few days in jail. A DUI conviction affects every aspect of your life for years to come.
First Offense DUI Penalties
| Penalty Type | What You Face |
|---|---|
| Jail Time | Up to 6 months in county jail (48 hours to 6 months typically imposed) |
| Fines and Fees | $1,800 to $3,800+ including court fines, penalty assessments, DUI program fees |
| License Suspension | 6 months suspension by DMV (may be able to get restricted license after 30 days) |
| DUI School | 3-9 month alcohol education program (costs $500-$1,800) |
| Probation | 3-5 years informal probation with strict conditions |
| IID Requirement | Ignition Interlock Device installation for 6 months (costs $300-$500+ installation plus monthly fees) |
Second Offense DUI Penalties (Within 10 Years)
| Penalty Type | What You Face |
|---|---|
| Jail Time | 96 hours to 1 year in county jail (mandatory minimum 96 hours) |
| Fines and Fees | $1,800 to $4,000+ |
| License Suspension | 2 years suspension by DMV (may get restricted license after 12 months with IID) |
| DUI School | 18-30 month DUI program (costs $1,800-$2,500) |
| Probation | 3-5 years formal or informal probation |
| IID Requirement | 1 year ignition interlock device |
Third Offense DUI Penalties (Within 10 Years)
| Penalty Type | What You Face |
|---|---|
| Jail Time | 120 days to 1 year in county jail (mandatory minimum 120 days) |
| Fines and Fees | $1,800 to $5,000+ |
| License Suspension | 3 years suspension by DMV (may get restricted license after 18 months with IID) |
| DUI School | 30 month DUI program (costs $2,500-$3,500) |
| Habitual Traffic Offender | Designated as HTO for 3 years (additional penalties for any traffic violations) |
| IID Requirement | 2 years ignition interlock device |
Hidden Costs of DUI Conviction
The fines and penalties listed above are just the beginning. Here are the hidden costs most people don’t consider:
- Insurance: Your auto insurance premiums will increase 300-400% for 3-10 years. This costs $10,000-$40,000 or more over time.
- SR-22 Filing: You’ll need an SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility, adding $25-$50 per month.
- Towing and Impound: Your vehicle will be towed and impounded, costing $500-$1,500.
- Lost Wages: Jail time, court appearances, and DUI school mean missing work. Many people lose $5,000-$20,000 in wages.
- Job Loss: 30-40% of people with DUI convictions lose their jobs, either due to license suspension, missing work, or employer policies.
- Professional Licenses: Doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, real estate agents, and other licensed professionals face disciplinary proceedings that can suspend or revoke their professional licenses.
- Career Limitations: Many employers won’t hire people with DUI convictions. Background checks will reveal your conviction for years.
Total first-time DUI cost: $15,000-$25,000 or more over several years.
The DMV Administrative Per Se (APS) Hearing: Your First Battle
Most people don’t realize that a DUI arrest triggers TWO separate proceedings: the criminal court case AND the DMV administrative hearing. These are completely separate processes with different rules, different timelines, and different consequences.
Understanding the 10-Day Deadline
When you’re arrested for DUI, the officer confiscates your physical license and issues you a pink temporary license valid for 30 days. That pink sheet contains critical information: you have 10 calendar days from the date of arrest to request an Administrative Per Se (APS) hearing with the DMV.
What happens if you miss the 10-day deadline? Your license is automatically suspended with no hearing, no opportunity to fight it, and no exceptions. For a first offense, your license suspends for 4 months. For a second offense within 10 years, 1 year. For a third offense within 10 years, 3 years.
What happens if you request a hearing within 10 days? The DMV schedules a hearing (typically 30-60 days out), and your license remains valid until the hearing decision. This is called a “stay” of the suspension. Even if you ultimately lose the hearing, you’ve bought yourself 1-3 extra months of driving privileges.
💡 Expert Tip #2: We Request Your DMV Hearing Immediately
When you call LibertyBell Law Group, one of the first things we do is request your DMV hearing. We don’t wait – we do it that same day. We’ve saved countless clients’ licenses by acting quickly. Even if you call us on day 9 or day 10, we can still request your hearing. But don’t wait! Call us at (855) 529-7761 right now. The DMV process has strict deadlines, and missing them has consequences that can’t be undone.
What Happens at a DMV APS Hearing
The DMV hearing is an administrative proceeding, not a criminal trial. It’s conducted by a DMV hearing officer (not a judge), and the rules of evidence are relaxed. The DMV only has to prove four things by a “preponderance of evidence” (more likely than not – a much lower standard than “beyond a reasonable doubt”):
- The officer had reasonable cause to believe you were driving under the influence
- You were lawfully arrested
- You were driving a motor vehicle
- Your blood alcohol concentration was 0.08% or higher (for drivers 21+) OR you refused chemical testing
Notice what’s NOT required: the DMV doesn’t have to prove you were actually impaired, doesn’t have to prove your driving was dangerous, and doesn’t care about mitigating circumstances. This is a narrow, technical hearing focused solely on whether your BAC was over the limit or whether you refused testing.
Why You Need a Lawyer for Your DMV Hearing
Many people try to represent themselves at DMV hearings and fail. Here’s why: DMV hearings are adversarial proceedings. A DMV attorney (called a “Driver Safety officer”) presents evidence against you. The hearing officer is not neutral – they work for the same agency trying to suspend your license. You’re allowed to present evidence, call witnesses, and cross-examine the arresting officer, but most people don’t know what evidence to present or how to cross-examine effectively.
At LibertyBell Law Group, our DUI lawyers have conducted thousands of DMV hearings. We know exactly what questions to ask officers to expose weaknesses in their testimony. We know how to challenge breathalyzer calibration, blood test procedures, and observation periods. We know how to present evidence of rising blood alcohol, mouth alcohol contamination, and medical conditions affecting test results.
✓ DMV Hearing Success Strategies
Our DUI lawyers win DMV hearings by:
- Challenging the stop: Did the officer have reasonable suspicion to stop you? If not, everything that follows is inadmissible.
- Questioning observations: Officers often exaggerate signs of intoxication. We cross-examine them on inconsistencies.
- Attacking test reliability: Breathalyzers and blood tests have margins of error. We expose calibration issues, testing errors, and protocol violations.
- Presenting medical evidence: Medical conditions like GERD, diabetes, or dental work can cause false high BAC readings.
- Demonstrating rising BAC: Your BAC when tested may have been higher than when you were actually driving.
Winning your DMV hearing means keeping your license – no suspension, no restricted license, no ignition interlock device. You keep driving legally while we fight your criminal case.
Challenging the Traffic Stop: Your First Line of Defense
Every DUI case starts with a traffic stop. If that stop was illegal, everything that follows – the field sobriety tests, the breathalyzer, the blood test, the arrest – can be suppressed (thrown out of court). This is often the most powerful defense in DUI cases.
When is a Traffic Stop Illegal?
Under the Fourth Amendment, police need “reasonable suspicion” to stop your vehicle. They can’t just pull you over on a hunch or because they feel like it. Reasonable suspicion requires specific, articulable facts that lead the officer to believe you’re violating the law.
Traffic Stop Defense Strategies
Invalid Reasons for DUI Stops We Successfully Challenge:
- Anonymous tip without corroboration: Someone calling 911 to report a drunk driver isn’t enough by itself. The officer must observe suspicious driving to corroborate the tip.
- “Weaving within the lane”: Simply weaving within your lane, without crossing lane lines, is
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