DUI Attorney La Mesa

DUI Attorney La Mesa

Fighting a DUI charge alone can jeopardize your reputation and future. To safeguard your rights, it’s essential to seek the expertise of a seasoned and highly skilled DUI attorney in La Mesa. With Dod Laws guidance, you can create a robust defense strategy aimed at potentially having your DUI charge dismissed or mitigated to a lesser offense.

What This Page Covers:

• DUI by the numbers: Between 2003 and 2012, over 10,327 people were killed in California due to DUI-related accidents, with La Mesa reporting 31 serious crashes involving alcohol.
• Consequences: DUI charges in La Mesa could lead to significant penalties, including jail time, hefty fines, license suspension, and a criminal record, emphasizing the serious legal repercussions.
• Defenses: An experienced DUI attorney can provide a robust defense, possibly leading to reduced charges or dismissal, highlighting the importance of skilled legal representation in DUI cases.
• Legal support: Dod Law offers comprehensive defense strategies for DUI charges in La Mesa. We are dedicated to using our extensive experience to fight for you.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a criminal offense that can have long-lasting repercussions for the defendant. Between 2003 and 2012, over 10,327 people in California were killed in car accidents involving an intoxicated driver. In La Mesa alone, 31 out of 335 crashes involved a driver who consumed alcohol and resulted in serious injuries or fatalities. The La Mesa Police Department aims to reduce the number of drunk driving crashes by conducting DUI stops and arresting drivers they believe are too drunk to drive. If they’ve arrested you recently, you need strong representation to fight your charge.

You should not face a DUI charge alone if you hope to protect your reputation and future. You will need an experienced and highly skilled DUI attorney to craft a strong defense to possibly have your DUI charge dropped or reduced to a lesser charge. Attorney Dod of Dod Law has delivered aggressive DUI defenses in La Mesa for more than 19 years. If you were recently charged with a DUI, immediately contact him for a consultation regarding your criminal matter.

How Can a Seasoned DUI Attorney La Mesa Help You? 

Facing DUI charges can be overwhelming, making it critical to have an experienced criminal defense attorney in your corner. At Dod Law, our attorneys have extensive experience and a proven track record of helping our clients protect their rights and achieve the best possible outcome for their cases. A few of the many ways our attorneys can help you include the following:

• Conducting a meticulous investigation into your case
• Collecting evidence to build a solid defense on your behalf
• Negotiating with all parties involved
• Protecting your rights and interests before and during trial
• Interviewing witnesses
• Helping you formulate a plea
• Evaluating potential sentences
• Answering all of your legal questions
• Guiding you through every step of California’s complex criminal justice process

Our attorneys understand that no two DUI cases are exactly alike and pride ourselves on taking a personalized approach to every case. We will work tirelessly to ensure your rights are being defended throughout the legal process. 

How is Driving Under the Influence Defined in California?

Under California law, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This includes prescription drugs that may impair your ability to drive. The following are the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limits in California:

• 21 years or older: 0.08%
• Under 21: 0.01%
• Under DUI probation at any age: 0.01%
• While driving a vehicle that requires a Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL): 0.04%
• While driving a passenger for hire: 0.04%

Even if your BAC is below the legal limit, you may still be arrested for drunk driving. If you fail or refuse to take a field sobriety or breathalyzer test, you may be detained even if you are sober. A skilled attorney can review the facts of your case and determine how to best defend your rights. 

What Should You Do After a DUI Arrest in La Mesa?  Contact a DUI Attorney La Mesa

To ensure that you lead the charge in fighting the DUI allegations against you, take the time to hire a reputable La Mesa DUI lawyer to represent you. By taking the initiative early on, you are likely to face less serious consequences. When selecting a La Mesa DUI defense lawyer, find an attorney who has a successful track record in handling these types of cases.

When a police officer pulls you over under suspicion of drunk driving, it can be challenging to know what to do for a smooth interaction. The best thing you can do for your case is to clearly follow the police officer’s instructions until you can contact an attorney.

If the officer believes that your mental faculties are impaired, he or she may ask you to submit to a series of tests. From roadside sobriety tests to the breathalyzer test at the police station, the results of these tests may be used against you in court. However, your DUI defense lawyer in La Mesa may be able to challenge the results of alcohol tests to weaken the prosecution’s case.

Consequences of a DUI 

The consequence of a DUI offense grows with the more convictions you have. The first three DUI offenses you obtain are considered to be a misdemeanor and anything after that is prosecuted as a felony that could result in four years behind bars. The judge may issue a harsher sentence if you are convicted of DUI with a child of 14 years or younger in your vehicle at the time of the stop or if there were injured parties in the other vehicle.

Other potential penalties for a DUI may include:

• A jail sentence of up to six months
• Fines of $390-$1,000
• DUI school
• Installation of an Ignition Interlock Device or driver’s license suspension

To attain the best chance of wiping a DUI from your record, connect with a La Mesa criminal defense lawyer that has the necessary background and recognition to represent your DUI case.

Possible Defenses to DUI Charges in California – DUI Attorney La Mesa

A DUI conviction can upend your life and it is essential to not leave your case to chance. An experienced DUI defense attorney can review every detail of your case to determine the best defense strategy to protect your rights and freedoms. A few defense strategies we are adept at employing at Dod Law include the following:

Violating Traffic Laws Is Not the Same as DUI

One common defense to DUI charges is that the speeding or other erratic driving behaviors you displayed were not caused by drugs or alcohol. While prosecutors may reference your driving as evidence of your intoxication, driving patterns are not a reliable predictor of DUI. In fact, most traffic violations are committed by sober drivers.

Field Sobriety Tests Can Be Inaccurate

Common field sobriety tests, such as the walk and turn test and the one-leg stand test, are often not an accurate measure of sobriety. Some factors other than intoxication that can impact the results of field sobriety tests include the following:

• Your natural coordination
• Nervousness
• Fatigue
• Your clothing
• Flat feet

This is not an exhaustive list and there may be other factors that can cause you to fail a field sobriety test. Your La Mesa DUI lawyer will analyze your case to determine if this strategy is the best fit for your situation. 

Alcohol Residue

If you took and failed a breathalyzer test, you may have had falsely high results due to alcohol residue in the mouth. Before taking a breathalyzer test, the officer must observe you for 15 minutes to ensure you do not put anything containing alcohol, such as mouthwash or sprays, in your mouth. 

Additionally, they must also ensure that you do not burp or vomit, as these bodily functions may also cause alcohol residue in the mouth, contributing to an unnaturally high result. 

The Officer Did Not Follow the Law When Conducting a Breath or Blood Test

According to California Code of Regulations Title 17, all officers must meet certain requirements when administering a breath or blood test, including the following:

• The officer must conduct a 15 minute observation period
• The officer conducting the chemical test must be properly trained
• The test must be properly administered
• The testing equipment must be regularly calibrated and maintained
• The officer must follow proper procedures for collecting, handling, and storing samples

If the procedures above are not followed, the result of the test may be false. Your La Mesa dui defense attorney will review your case to determine if this defense applies to you.

Your Blood Alcohol Content Was on the Rise

After drinking, your blood alcohol content can continue to rise for up to 50 minutes. This means that between the time you were pulled over and asked to submit to a breathalyzer test, your BAC may be higher than it was when you were driving. However, you can only be charged with a DUI if your BAC was above the legal limit of .08 while you were behind the wheel. 

The Arresting Officers Acted Unlawfully

Police officers must have probable cause to pull you over. If you are not driving erratically and the officer has no reason to believe you are intoxicated, they cannot legally pull you over and submit you to DUI testing. Even if the officer did have probable cause to pull you over, they must read you your Miranda Rights, including your right to remain silent and right to an attorney, at the time of your arrest. Failure to do so may result in your charges being dismissed. 

You Were Not the One Driving the Vehicle

Even if you were intoxicated, you cannot be charged with a DUI if you were not the individual behind the wheel. If the arresting officer mistook you as the driver of the vehicle, this defense strategy may apply to your case. 

It is essential to note that every case is unique and that these defenses are not one-size-fits-all solutions to a DUI charge. Your attorney will evaluate every detail of your case to craft a strategy tailored to your specific situation. 

Contact La Mesa’s Trusted DUI Lawyer – DUI Attorney La Mesa

If you have been charged with drunk driving in La Mesa, California, you need to be aware of your rights and obligations. You can remain optimistic about your case if you hire a criminal defense attorney with the skills to construct a thorough defense strategy.

Attorney Dod has dedicated his time working in the criminal justice system for more than 19 years and continues to fight to obtain the best outcome possible for his clients. He has represented high-profile DUI cases in La Mesa and has worked on more than 4,500 criminal cases. He is highly recommended on Avvo.com by his clients and is on the Top 100 Trial Lawyers list. Call us at our San Diego office (619) 814-5110 | Vista office (760) 814-6025 or schedule an appointment by filling out our online contact form to discuss the best way forward.