The way to beat a DUI in Los Angeles is to either have a defense to the DUI that a jury will believe and find you not guilty or prove to a judge that the police violated a legal right protected by the constitution and, therefore, anything they found after the violation can not be used against you.
For example, if they illegally stopped you and could get your blood alcohol level, the alcohol result could be thrown out because they would have never obtained it but for the illegal stop. Of course, to have any chance at one of the above scenarios, in my opinion, you will require the services of a seasoned DUI defense attorney.
Almost everything in DUI defense is based on common sense. If you have a reason that makes sense, you can use that defense to be found not guilty. A savvy DUI defense attorney who has traveled down the road you are about to travel is in an excellent position to advise you on your chances of being successful in a particular defense related to your case.
Not all defenses apply to every case. If an attorney or salesperson is trying to pitch you because that has nothing to do with your factual situation, you would not find them credible and would not even waste your time meeting with them.
To win a DUI case in Los Angeles, you need an angle plain and straightforward. It is not enough to say I am a good person with a great job and a family who has never been in trouble. This is not a defense; it is a factor in mitigation on your side.
However, you will be found guilty at a trial and then sentenced by the judge without a good argument. Once again, if the defense does not make common sense, it will not succeed. If you have a DUI in Los Angeles County, I suggest you find an attorney who will be honest and upfront with you about your best course of action.
If I Can't Win My DUI Case, What Should I Do?
As you might guess, every DUI case can not be won, and in fact, most are dealt with by way of a negotiated plea bargain between your attorney and the prosecutor or judge. Depending on the circumstances of your case, DUIs can be reduced down to lessor charges like a wet reckless, speed contest, or even some sort of a moving violation.
To achieve a less severe result, your DUI defense attorney will have to point out some issues with the prosecution's case. For example, if your blood alcohol level is close to the legal limit, this is always a good starting point in getting the prosecutor to agree to a less severe charge.
DUI Blood Alcohol Level
The blood alcohol result is essential in a DUI case because the closer it is to the legal limit, the stronger the argument becomes that you could safely operate a motor vehicle, especially when you consider that the result is usually obtained approximately an hour after the driving.
If you can combine this with passing some of the field sobriety tests, you are in an excellent position to make an argument the prosecutor and judge will consider. If, on the other hand, your blood alcohol is exceptionally high, then you are not likely to be able to get a charge less than a DUI, and you may also be facing more punishment because you will be perceived as being more dangerous to the public at large.
When it comes to DUI cases in Los Angeles, the prosecutors and judges are evaluating how dangerous you were to the community the night of your arrest and whether you risk any future issues if they give you a break on the current case. If they feel that you may get another DUI or possibly injure someone in the future, then they will not show you any mercy.
It is up to your DUI defense attorney to show the prosecutor and judge that your conduct in the current case was an aberration and will not happen again. Once the judge and prosecutor feel that you are not likely to find yourself behind the wheel with alcohol in your system, you sit in an excellent position to succeed in your DUI case.
