Driving under the influence (DUI) is harshly punished by the legal system in Compton. You could be heavily fined and sent to jail if you are convicted of a DUI charge. You can also have your license suspended for a DUI.
Dealing with a DUI may be much easier with an attorney from our firm on your team. One of our Compton DUI lawyers can help you handle your accusations. Our criminal defense team has a history of helping clients who have faced the same charges.
Make Sure You Understand DUI Laws in Compton
Many DUI convictions are made because defendants don’t understand the laws surrounding DUIs. For example, it can be difficult to understand your legal rights if you are pulled over by a police officer that suspects you of driving under the influence.
Police officers can handle their suspicions by requesting you complete:
- Field sobriety tests
- Chemical tests
Field sobriety tests can be hard to successfully complete even if you are sober. Chemical tests are used to measure your blood alcohol concentration (BAC), to see if it is over the legal limit. Legally, you are not allowed to operate a motor vehicle if your BAC is at or above:
- .01% for drivers under 21
- .08% for drivers over 21
- .04% for commercial drivers over 21
Note that you are within your legal rights to decline these tests UNLESS:
- You are on DUI probation
- You are under 21 years of age
You can weaken your case by submitting to the tests before an arrest is made. However, you MUST complete any test asked of you once you are legally arrested. After an arrest, you can face serious charges if you continue to refuse to take the tests.
For a free legal consultation with a dui lawyer serving Compton, call (310) 928-9347
Penalties for DUI Convictions in Compton, California
A conviction for a DUI can lead to serious legal penalties. Every time you are convicted of a DUI, the repercussions worsen. Common examples of misdemeanor penalties for a DUI include:
1st Offense
- Fines: Up to $1,000
- Jail Time: 2 days – 6 months
- License Suspension: Generally, 6 months
- Probation: Generally, 3 – 5 years of informal probation requiring 3 – 9 months of DUI school
2nd Offense
- Fines: Up to $1,000
- Jail Time: 4 days – 1 year
- License Suspension: Generally, 2 years
- Probation: Generally, 3 – 5 years of informal probation requiring 18 – 30 months of DUI school
3rd Offense
- Fines: Up to $1,000
- Jail Time: 120 days – 1 year
- License Suspension: Generally, 3 years
- Probation: Generally, 3 – 5 years of informal probation requiring 30 months of DUI school
You can get help fighting against a DUI charge by contacting a criminal defense lawyer in Compton. Building a strong case quickly may increase your chances of beating these charges and maintaining your freedom.
Compton DUI Lawyer Near Me (310) 928-9347
Building Your Case with a Compton DUI Lawyer
With a lawyer from our firm on your team, you won’t have to build your case alone or even at all. You could gather certain evidence for your case, like the police report, or you could leave this and everything else to your lawyer. Your DUI Lawyer can:
Communicate With Other Parties for You
The authorities and even the prosecution are allowed to question you about the incident. You should let your lawyer answer any questions for you. Your lawyer can answer in a manner that won’t be incriminating, so the other parties won’t be able to use the answers to prosecute you.
Find Evidence for Your Case
To establish your case, your lawyer will collect evidence, like a toxicology report or any traffic camera footage of the incident. Additionally, your lawyer will look for corroborating evidence for your case, like testimony from an accident reconstrucionist or a witness’s statement.
In addition to collecting evidence for your case, your lawyer will scrutinize the evidence against you. There may be issues with this evidence that could invalidate it.
Determine the Best Defense for You
You may be unaware of certain aspects of your case. For example, you may be able to defend yourself by showing you were arrested unlawfully. Unless the arresting officer had probable cause to arrest you, your arrest wasn’t lawful, and your charges could be dropped.
Alternatively, the officer might have neglected to inform you about the consequences of refusing a test like a breathalyzer test. In this case, your lawyer could argue the officer failed to inform you properly, which could lead to certain charges being dropped.
There could be other potential defenses, such as entrapment, insufficient evidence against you, illegally obtained evidence, or mistakenly taking an illegal substance. Your lawyer can find the best possible defense or defenses for you so you don’t have to worry about having to represent yourself.
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Exploring Other Options with Your DUI Lawyer in Compton, CA
There’s even more your attorney can do for you if you’re being charged with a crime. For one, your attorney could request bail and a low amount for it. Your attorney could also request a plea bargain which is admitting to a lesser charge (such as reckless driving) in exchange for lighter penalties.
Your DUI charge may be your first charge of an offense. In this case, your attorney may be able to have the DUI charge expunged from your criminal record. The charge would be removed or hidden from your record.
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Dealing With Other Traffic Violations in Compton
The serious nature of a DUI can overshadow other traffic violation charges, but your DUI lawyer can also help you fight back against related charges for:
- Traffic Infractions
- Reckless Driving
- Driving on an Invalid License
Traffic Infractions
Most minor mistakes drivers make are considered traffic infractions. These infractions are not charged as criminal acts, and they’re usually only punished with a small fine and 1 or 2 points on your license. Drivers are typically familiar with the most common traffic infractions, which can include:
- Speeding
- Ignoring stop signs
- Running red lights
- Changing lanes illegally
- Using a carpool lane improperly
Many times, police officers are responsible for handing out a ticket for a traffic infraction. You can also receive tickets from red light cameras in the Compton area. These tickets are every bit as valid as those you’d receive from a police officer, and they must be treated seriously.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving is a criminal misdemeanor in Compton. You can be charged with reckless driving if you are accused of willfully disregarding the safety of others while operating a motor vehicle. There are many acts that can be considered reckless driving in Compton, including:
- Racing
- Swerving dangerously
- Passing illegally
- Driving the wrong way
- Daredevil behavior
You will have 2 points added to your license if you are convicted of reckless driving. You could be fined $1,000, and you might be sent to jail for up to 90 days. A DUI lawyer can offer you the help you may want to fight against a reckless driving charge.
Driving On an Invalid License in Compton
You can also face misdemeanor charges if you drive on an invalid license. Compton uses the following charges to prosecute this act:
- Driving on a Suspended License
- Driving on a Revoked License
Anytime you drive without a valid driver’s license you can be subject to fines of up to $1,000, and you could end up spending 6 months in jail. You will also have 2 points added to your license for driving on a license that is suspended or revoked.
Learn About Our DUI Lawyers Serving Los Angeles County
Our Compton DUI attorneys have decades of legal experience and handle DUI cases like yours regularly. Our lead attorney and owner, Michael Simmrin, has a great deal of experience managing jury trials, so he and his team are prepared to defend you in court. Michael has helped thousands of people and can help you, too.
We have many relationships with professionals in the legal space, so we have many resources available to us. Many of these professionals are willing to provide invaluable testimonies for our clients’ cases.
We can tell you more about our DUI lawyers during a free consultation and case review.
Get Help from a DUI Lawyer in Compton
You should have professional help if you’re dealing with a DUI charge. You can count on a DUI lawyer in Compton to give you invaluable legal advice. Simmrin Law Group offers FREE consultations so our clients can get their legal concerns addressed right away.
Start building a case today. Call for your free consultation or fill out our online form.
Call or text (310) 928-9347 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form