The Lawyers Other Lawyers Go To To Defend Them (213) 542-0963

Blog

How Can I Get My DUI Reduced To Reckless Driving?

Posted by Ronald D. Hedding | Jun 17, 2019

To convince the prosecutors to give you a lesser charge in a DUI case, your attorney will have to convince them that you were not a danger to others on the road at the time of driving.

The more dangerous a person is related to a DUI arrest, the more unlikely the prosecutors and judge will not cut them any slack. The political pressure that has been placed on the court system to punish drunk drivers harshly has reached an all-time high, and in my view, only the best DUI defense attorneys can come up with solutions that make sense and work.

One huge factor in deciding whether to reduce a case to a wet reckless versus a standard DUI is how high the person's blood-alcohol level was at the time of driving. This once again comes back to the danger to the public issue. If the person had a high BAC, the prosecutors would perceive them as dangerous and do everything to punish them severely. On any first offense DUI in Los Angeles, where the person blew a .11 or below, a seasoned local DUI attorney will have an excellent chance to get a reduction. There are, of course, other factors that go into the prosecutor's decision-making process, but this is a big one.

Reviewing Police Report

Another area that I use to convince the prosecutors to reduce my client's case is information gathered by law enforcement before the arrest. For example, we look into how the person was driving (where they pulled over for allegedly swerving or did they get into an accident).

When they exited their car, were they staggering or walking normally, we see if they were cooperative with the police (those people who were cooperative and not belligerent have a good chance of being given a break), and finally, we look at how the client did on the field sobriety tests (if they passed some of them, we are in a solid position to get a reduction). Again, this is all based on public safety, and us mounting an argument that you were not a danger to the community at large will go a long way to getting what we want.

Factors in your Wet Reckless Reduction

If you have a clean driving record, a valid driver's license, and proof of insurance, these are also factors in your favor when we go to negotiate your case for you. Of course, the argument that we want to make to the prosecutors is that your behavior, in this case, was an aberration that will never happen again. The more indications that we have to support that premise, the more likely we will succeed in getting the resolution we are aiming for!

Another angle the prosecutors in Los Angeles will consider when reducing a DUI case relates to if they have any problems of proof in the case or if the defendant argues that the police violated your constitutional rights during the arrest.

Some of the arguments that I have had much success with relating to illegal stops of vehicles, if the police did not properly advise the person of their choice between blood or breath (try and force them to take one of the tests) if the subject person is not driving when the police catch them, then we can use this to attack the prosecutor's case. Of course, if there is a problem with the breath machine used to test the person's blood-alcohol level, this is an excellent linchpin to upend the prosecutor's case.

When I meet with clients related to their DUI matter, I have a goal in mind: to make sure that they know what they are facing, what they can do to assist me, and what we can realistically hope to achieve in resolving their case. This usually helps them take control of the situation and gives them peace of mind moving forward. In my opinion, our job is to make this process as easy as possible for you!

About the Author

Ronald D. Hedding

What Makes Ronald Hedding Uniquely Qualified To Represent You? I've been practicing criminal defense for almost 30 years and have handled thousands of cases, including all types of state and federal sex crime cases. All consultations are discreet and confidential.

Contact Us Today

Hedding Law Firm is committed to answering your questions about DUI law issues in California and throughout the United States.

I'll privately discuss your case with you at your convenience. All consultations are free, discreet, and confidential. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

Menu