After you were arrested for driving under the influence in Los Angeles, the arraignment hearing is the next legal step to deal with in the California Vehicle Code 23152 VC DUI court process.
You should hire a lawyer before your arraignment. Many people will go to their arraignment believing they can argue their case in court and possibly get the charges dismissed, but the purpose of the DUI arraignment is different.
Instead, the arraignment is where you are informed of the criminal charges that have been filed against you, your legal rights, and your bail status. You will also be asked to enter a plea on the charges against you, such as no contest, not guilty, or guilty.
Prosecutors have two primary statutes to charge someone for driving under the Influence. Vehicle Code 23152(a) VC defines driving under the influence of alcohol. Vehicle Code 23152(b) VC defines driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or higher. Vehicle Code 23153 VC defines driving under the influence as causing an injury.
Vehicle Code 23152(f) VC defines the crime of driving under the influence of drugs, including controlled substances, marijuana, and prescription drugs. Vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is described under Penal Code 191.5(a). All commercial vehicle drivers are prohibited from driving with a .04% or higher BAC.
The court arraignment will usually occur within a few days if you remain in custody but will be set weeks later if released from jail. When you appear in a DUI case, you are going to expect to go in front of the judge, who will deal with the following:
- any bail issue,
- released on your recognizance, or
- go into custody.
Many times, if it's your second DUI or beyond, the judge will set bail, or the judge will make you do AA meetings while your case is pending if you want to be left out on your own recognizance and not go into custody. Our Los Angeles DUI attorneys will examine this topic more closely below.
Protecting the Public
Even on first offense cases, when you appear in court, if you've had a high blood alcohol level, or you got in an accident, or you're someone considered dangerous out on the road, the judge can make you post bail , or they could make you do AA meetings while you're out.
If you're particularly dangerous, they can make you put a scram device on your ankle that detects alcohol and orders you not to drink while on probation. Of course, they're doing this to protect the public. That's what these DUI cases are all about.
So, when you go to that first appearance, you better go there with an attorney who is prepared with all of the information related to your case to keep you out of custody, minimize the damage to your criminal record, and minimize the potential that you could lose your freedom and go into custody.
Most California DUIs are prosecuted as misdemeanors but could be filed as felonies if either occurred:
- You have prior DUIs on your record,
- If somebody was injured in a DUI accident.
After you are arrested for DUI, you must contact the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within ten days and request an administrative hearing. This hearing is crucial as it can determine whether your driver's license will be suspended. If you don't request this hearing, you will forfeit the right to a hearing, and your driver's license will automatically go into suspension after 30 days.
Some DUI convictions will carry jail time, and some allow defendants to drive still, but they will be required to install an ignition interlock device (IID). Additionally, a DUI conviction can lead to a significant increase in insurance premiums, a permanent criminal record, and potential job loss, especially if your job involves driving or if you hold a professional license.
What Happens at Your DUI Arraignment?
I've been doing this for 30 years and have handled thousands of DUI cases. So, if you need the best, pick up the phone and ask for a meeting with Ron Hedding.
We will talk step by step in addition to bail being set. At your first appearance:
- They're going to show you what the charges are;
- They'll also give your attorney all of the discovery in the case, meaning what evidence they have;
- Do they have police reports? Typically, yes;
- Is there any video evidence?
- Blood alcohol level results.
Often, if someone has a high blood alcohol level during their arrest, the judge could be tempted to raise the bail or order some bail, or they could order you to attend a certain amount of AA meetings weekly.
If there's anything else related to your case, they're supposed to give that to your attorney—the blood result, the breath result—all of these things are turned over, and typically, what I tell my clients is that now that we have everything, contact my office.
We're going to email it to you. Please review it, and now we're going to sit down after you've looked at everything, and I've looked at everything. Now, we've got all of the pieces of the puzzle.
Can You Negotiate with the DUI Prosecutor?
At your first court appearance, your attorney will talk to the prosecutor and find out their position. Then, they'll sit down with you and discuss a game plan to handle your defense. Your attorney can learn what the prosecutor is thinking and what type of offer might be on the table. This information is crucial in deciding whether to fight the case or negotiate a settlement. Your attorney's role is to use this information to put you in the best possible position.
Is it going to be a case where we fight it? It is a situation where we negotiate it. These are the things that occur at your first DUI appearance. The bail is set. You're given the charges. You're given the discovery and paperwork in the case, and your attorney starts to make the moves to put you in the best possible position.
In my professional opinion, based on years of experience, it's crucial to hire an attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney can handle the complexities of the first court appearance and the DMV process, providing you with the support and guidance you need during this challenging time.
Don't be a dummy and think you're just going to show up; everything will work out great for you. You potentially, depending on the circumstances, could get taken into custody. You could get a horrible offer because your attorney is not there to fight for you.
So, pick up the phone now if you need the best. Ask for a meeting with Ron Hedding. The Los Angeles-based Hedding Law Firm offers a free case evaluation by phone or by using the contact form.
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