Van Nuys DUI Lawyer

Defense against Drunk Driving Charges

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), it is in your best interest to hire a skilled Van Nuys DUI attorney who will work tirelessly to defend your freedom. DUI charges are very serious and carry heavy penalties. A first offense can cost well over $10,000, not including legal expenses, if you are convicted. Additionally, those who have been convicted of DUI can have great difficulty getting a job or other personal problems. At the Law Offices of Loren M. Merlin, are determined to help you fight to protect your freedom and keep your future from being impacted by the consequences of a DUI conviction. about

DUI Defense Your case may have a viable defense. You deserve to have a full case review, as in some DUI charges, there are so many errors or flaws that a case dismissal can be achieved. Never proceed into court for any hearing or appearance without first getting defense counsel on your side. Read more about DUI defense...

DUI Penalties Over recent years, the penalties for DUI have continued to increase. A first misdemeanor DUI has jail time, fines, community service, DUI school and if you are lucky, probation. Any DUI offense that includes an accident or injury is likely to be a felony charge. A 4 th DUI with 3 priors will result in a felony charge as well. Read more about DUI penalties...

First DUI Offense Many people have their first experience with the criminal justice system on a first time DUI offense. This is a dangerous legal problem; there is every possibility that you will lose your legal right to drive for an extended period of time. Get your case reviewed by our firm immediately. Read more about first DUI offense...

Aggravating Factors There are several factors that could increase the level of your DUI offense, and also the penalties that could be imposed. These include excessive speeding, reckless driving, the presence of a child in the vehicle, or any accident or accident that caused an injury or death. Read more about aggravating factors...

Second DUI Offense A second DUI offense carries heavier punishments than a first time. The period of license suspension is increased, fines increased, jail time increased, and you may be required to have an ignition interlock device installed in all of your vehicles, once your license is reinstated. Read more about second DUI offense...

Under 21 DUI State legislators have adopted a "zero tolerance" policy for underage drivers. Any person operating a vehicle that is below the legal drinking age, and registers at .01 or higher BAC will face consequences, including license suspension. The higher the BAC, the more serious the punishments will be, including the length of time of suspension, the fines and other penalties. Read more about under 21 DUI...

DUI Accidents When an accident takes place, law enforcement has professional accident investigators to determine who was responsible. If one of the parties involved appears to be intoxicated, that person will be tested for BAC. If the BAC is above the legal limit, the charges filed will reflect the DUI offense and the accident, and will have more severe penalties. Read more about DUI accidents...

DUI with Injury An injury accident that is alleged to have been caused by a DUI driver will be addressed very harshly in court. This type of legal problem, if not handled by a legal professional, could lead to years in state prison if there was serious bodily injury to an innocent person. Read more about DUI with injury...

Vehicular Manslaughter The most tragic of all car accidents are those in which an innocent person loses their lives. If it is believed that the underlying cause was drunk driving, the penalties will be exceptionally severe. A felony charge of vehicular manslaughter has the potential of 4 years in state prison, with one added year for every other person who lose their lives. Read more about vehicular manslaughter...

Felony DUI Several types of situations can result in charges being filed as a felony offense. These include a 4 th DUI offense within 10 years, a case in which serious bodily harm or death is the result of an accident caused by a DUI driver, and also some cases in which a child or children were present in the vehicle and the driver is alleged to have been under the influence while driving. Read more about felony DUI...

Drug DUI Drug intoxication is punished as heavily as alcohol intoxication for drivers. Whether the medication was legally prescribed for a physical condition by a doctor, or the person had consumed, smoked or injected an illegal drug, if their condition was a danger to other drivers, a charge of DUID will be filed. Read more about drug DUI...

New DUI Laws The DUI laws are amended as time passes, and most recently in 2010. Some of the changes include the possibility that first time DUI offenders could be required to have an ignition interlock device installed in any vehicle that person operates, at their own cost. Repeat offenders (with one or more prior convictions for DUI) that are on probation will have a BAC limit of .01. License suspension in a 3 rd DUI will be for a 10 year period. Read more about new DUI laws...

DMV Hearings You have 10 days from the time of your arrest to schedule a DMV hearing to challenge the suspension or revocation of your driver's license. This hearing should be handled by our attorney, who is familiar with the process and how to take action for you in a DMV hearing. Read more about DMV hearings...

Ignition Interlock Device The installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) could be a requirement if you are convicted of any DUI offense. This device will require a breath test before your vehicle will start. It monitors you and there is a computer report generated. If you have registered as having alcohol in your breath and tried to start your vehicle, you will face serious legal repercussions. Read more about ignition interlock device...

Driver's License Suspension One part of any DUI offense is related to the suspension or revocation of your driver's license. The period of suspension will vary and is determined based upon the seriousness of the offense. A first time DUI could lead to up to 1 year of license suspension. Read more about driver's license suspension...

Breathalyzers & BAC The most common method of testing for alcohol in the blood is the breathalyzer test. As with any testing device, the readings can be faulty if the device has not be maintained or properly calibrated. Roadside testing units are most prone to incorrect test administration and faulty readings of BAC. Read more about breathalyzers & BAC...

Field Sobriety Tests If you are stopped by police for a minor or serious driving infraction, or for suspicion of DUI, the officer involved may ask you to perform several field sobriety tests. You are not required by law to submit to these tests; they are only for the purpose of gaining more evidence that you are intoxicated. Read more about field sobriety tests...

Sobriety Checkpoints The law is extremely strict with regard to sobriety checkpoints. The location of the checkpoint must be published in advance, and the way that drivers are selected to pull over cannot include profiling based upon the type of vehicle or other determination, but must be strictly random, such as every third car that passes. Read more about sobriety checkpoints...

Life after DUI Your life after a DUI can be tough if you are convicted. You will be unable to drive, you will have to spend some jail time, and provide community service; usually at the roadside, picking up trash or some other activity. You will owe expensive fines and will be required to attend DUI school. The other option is having your case dismissed or achieving an acquittal at trial, and freedom from the problem. Read more about life after DUI...

DUI Expungements If you have an earlier DUI conviction on your criminal record, it can create a problem for you that is difficult to solve. When a potential employer does a background check, they see that you were convicted of DUI. In a tough job market, it is likely that you will be passed over for someone with a clean record. You can clear your criminal record in many cases. Read more about DUI expungements...

Unlawful Police Stops The police cannot stop you without probable cause. This doesn't mean it doesn't happen! There are countless cases in which a person is pulled over in violation of their constitutional rights. If this is the case, you can be confident that this will be brought to the attention of the court at once. An illegal police stop can result in a case dismissal. Read more about unlawful police stops...

Contact a Van Nuys DUI lawyer from the Law Offices of Loren M. Merlin at once if you have been arrested for a DUI offense