DUI / DWI Offenses

LA Drunk Driving Defense Lawyer

If you have been charged with any type of traffic offense, from drunk driving to street racing, to vehicular homicide, please contact a criminal defense attorney at the Law Offices of George A. Gallegos for a free consultation.

At the Law Offices of George A. Gallegos, our drunk driving defense attorneys have successfully handled hundreds of DUI-DWI cases. The prevailing cultural bias today tends to categorize persons charged with drunk driving as criminals long before they may actually be convicted.

Due to California's tough DUI-DWI laws, being arrested for drunk driving, driving under the influence (DUI), or driving while intoxicated (DWI) can have serious repercussions for an otherwise law-abiding citizen. What you might not know is that a drunk driving conviction stays with you for life as a criminal conviction. Unlike other traffic violations, this conviction is not expunged from your driving record. If you have been arrested, please contact a drunk driving defense attorney at our firm as soon as possible.

Penalties for a DUI-DWI conviction in California:

• A permanent criminal record
• Suspension or loss of license
• Increased insurance rates
• Community service
• Possible jail or prison time
• Alcohol assessment and treatment
• Probation
• Vehicle immobilization or forfeiture
• Serious fines
• Possible job loss

Most people are unaware that a California DUI-DWI arrest results in both criminal charges and a civil proceeding against the arrested motorist's driving privileges, commonly known as a DMV license suspension. If you refuse a breathalyzer test or refuse to provide a specimen of blood, or fail a breath or blood test by registering an alcohol concentration of .08 or greater, a DMV license suspension is initiated against you.

The California Implied Consent law states that each person who operates a motor vehicle on California roadways has implicitly consented to a breath or blood test after an arrest for DUI-DWI and has been made aware of the consequences of refusing to submit to testing. Issues involved in a DMV license suspension hearing include the following:

• Whether the law enforcement officer had reasonable suspicion to stop the driver
• Whether the officer had probable cause to arrest the motorist for drunk driving
• Whether the officer complied with California implied consent law in terms of offering an opportunity to provide a specimen of blood or breath
• Did the driver refuse a breathalyzer test, refuse to provide a specimen of blood, or fail a breath or blood test by registering an alcohol concentration of .08 or greater.

If you’ve been accused of drunk driving, DUI-DWI, vehicular homicide, reckless driving, driving while suspended, or any other vehicle-related criminal offense, you should speak to an attorney immediately BEFORE you make any statements or sign documents. DUI-DWI charges are not impossible to overcome and the drunk driving defense attorneys at the Law Offices of George A. Gallegos have the skills & resources to help you make the best decision for you and your family. Especially with California's three strikes law, it's important to take every driving offense very seriously.