When it comes to DUI cases in Los Angeles, the truth is that somebody's character and standing in the community don't help them whatsoever when trying to resolve a DUI matter.
The prosecutors don't care. What the prosecutors care about is your level of dangerousness. In other words, how dangerous were you out there on the road? Were you going fast? Did you crash into any vehicles? Was your blood alcohol so high that you were highly likely to kill somebody out on the road?
These are the things they care about. People who don't have a record have a great stand in the community, a great job, a great family — the prosecutors don't care about that. It isn't very sensible to them.
That's the truth about DUIs. These attorneys or salespeople on the phone tell you to get character letters, and all that regarding a DUI is a complete waste of time. Again, these attorneys telling you to start going to AA meetings are a complete waste of time unless you have an alcohol problem.
If you have an alcohol problem, the prosecutors will probably give you more restrictions and more punishment because they will consider you a more dangerous individual.
Of course, I always encourage people to take care of their problems on their own if they have an alcohol problem or a drug addiction. But once you get the courts involved, there are ramifications behind that.
Blood Alcohol Level
When it comes to DUI cases in Los Angeles, your best strategy is to rely on the expertise of your DUI defense attorney. They are the ones who will have all the facts and a good feel for what might make a difference in your case.
The fundamental factor and truth behind DUIs in Los Angeles is that the prosecutors will first look at your blood alcohol level. The higher it is, the more dangerous you are on the road. That will be one of the key factors that determines the type of punishment and conviction they seek.
If your blood alcohol level is a .08 or very close to a .08, you will have a good argument that they will not prove that you're DUI because the machine they use to test your blood alcohol level is not 100% accurate, especially if you took the breath test. The blood test is more accurate, but your attorney, with the assistance of an expert, can conduct a blood split and determine the whole blood level, which should hopefully be lower and closer to the .08 than what the prosecutors have.
So, truth be told, whenever you're thinking about where you stand on your DUI, obviously, you consult with your attorney, but you're also going to look at what you did out there on the road. If you're going over 100 mph on the highway and your blood alcohol level is over .08, expect to get smashed by the prosecutors.
They're not going to let people be out there doing 100 mph with alcohol in their system. That's a recipe for disaster, and those are the type of people who will get punished.
DUI and Common Sense Manner
The absolute truth about DUIs in Los Angeles is that they are viewed in a common-sense manner. They're out there — when I say they, we're talking about the judges, the prosecutors, law enforcement — they're there to protect the public.
So, if you didn't do anything dangerous, you're driving fine, and you pass most of the police's tests, and you're close to the legal limit, you will have a strong argument. If you have a great attorney behind you, you're probably going to have an excellent result that you can live with. Your attorney will be in a perfect position to do damage control.
So, the first step is to get in front of an attorney. Tell them what happened. Be honest. Your honesty is crucial in building a strong defense. Don't leave anything out, and then start to get your strategy together for precisely what you're going to do. In most of these cases, which involve another truth PowerPoint, will not be fought in a jury trial because prosecutors usually won't file a claim unless they have strong evidence.
There are exceptions to this. Sometimes, police rush to judgment, fail to gather your version of events, and don't speak to all witnesses or seek all the evidence. In those cases, you may have a chance to win the case, but this is something that your attorney is going to have to be honest with you from the get-go.
Don't listen to a salesperson over the phone or an attorney who tries to get your business. They're trying to quote you a fee to do a trial, and they haven't even looked at any evidence. Because if they do the problem and you lose, they still get paid. You go to jail and end up with the worst possible outcome for your case.
It's essential to thoroughly assess a DUI case before quoting trial fees. This ensures that the fee is fair and reasonable, and it's not just about maximizing the amount of money you pay.
Let them find out what's going on with your case; then your case can be handled the right way, with a plan designed to help you, not try to get as much money from you, and give you the bad news later. Your attorney is your strategic partner in navigating your DUI case.
So, look at some of these attorneys and what they're saying. Often, they are simply salespeople answering the phone. The truth in these DUI cases is that you need to get in front of an attorney who has done these cases before, knows what they are doing, and can give you some solid advice and help you make reliable strategic decisions to get the best result. Your choice of attorney can significantly impact the outcome of your case.