If you've been stopped on suspicion of DUI, your legal rights could be at risk, even if formal charges haven't been filed. It's crucial to understand that delaying contact with an experienced DUI attorney could lead to serious consequences. Therefore, it's imperative to reach out to a DUI attorney as soon as possible after the stop.

Contact the Hedding Law Firm immediately after a DUI stop to protect your legal rights and preserve all available defenses. The sooner you call, the sooner we can achieve a fair outcome for your DUI case. Let's review what happens after a DUI stop: 

• When an officer stops you for suspected DUI, they have the option for how to resolve your stop: The officer can ask you to submit to bodily fluid tests (breath, blood, urine) on the scene. Refusal to do so triggers an automatic suspension of your driver's license under the “administrative per se” DUI statutes. If you have been issued an administrative per se suspension, you have ten days to request a hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles. It is, therefore, essential to consult with an attorney so that you do not miss this window of opportunity to challenge your license suspension.
• If you submit to a breath test on scene and it comes back over the .08 blood alcohol limit, you will also face suspension of your driver's license. In addition, the officer will issue you a citation to appear in court. The source is later filed with the court, as well. This is the formal filing of criminal charges against you.
• If your blood or urine is taken for testing, there will likely not be an immediate result. Instead, the officer will send your sample to a law enforcement laboratory for testing. This does not mean that you are off the hook. If the piece comes back at greater than .08, a prosecutor will file formal criminal charges against you. You will be summoned to court by mail or process server.
• Once formal charges have been filed, your DUI attorney will step in to negotiate with the prosecutor or prepare for trial as needed. They will need time to interview witnesses, review the prosecutor's evidence, and prepare their defense. The more time they have, the stronger your case will be.

As you can see, the DUI process involves many steps, and each of them can be significantly influenced by the advice of an experienced DUI attorney. By seeking legal advice early in the process and preparing your defense promptly, you can significantly improve your chances of a successful outcome in a criminal case.

What Will an Attorney Do for Me?

Many people arrested for DUI wonder how an attorney can help them. Usually, this is either because they concede that they were drunk or believe that the evidence that the police gathered against them cannot be challenged.

First, it is essential to understand that most DUI cases never go to trial. Instead, they are resolved through a plea bargain process. The defendant pleads guilty in exchange for the prosecutor recommending that the judge impose a particular sentence – which usually avoids jail time or other serious consequences.

There may be legal defenses that could result in an acquittal or the case being dropped in some cases. These include the following:

• Arguing that the initial stop was not legally justified
• Establishing that you have a medical condition that could inflate breathalyze results or cause symptoms that could be confused with those associated with alcohol intoxication
• Impeaching the credibility of the officer who arrested you
• Uncovering problems with the way your blood or urine samples were handled

Determining whether these or other defenses exist in your case is a complicated legal matter that requires significant legal training. For this reason, if you have been arrested for DUI in California, you should speak to an attorney as soon as you can. A lawyer will thoroughly evaluate your case, determine whether any defenses exist, and advise you on how to proceed.