Any Long Beach DUI attorney will tell you that driving under the influence is incredibly dangerous. The obvious hazard of having an accident aside, local courts are taking a zero tolerance to this offense, and being even slightly over the limit can mean spending a few days in prison, paying a hefty fine and having your license suspended. Having proper legal counsel at your side is the only way to avoid a conviction, or to have the charge reduced to something for which you will not spend time in prison. Having even one conviction for a small offense can change your life for the worst.
At California Drunk Driving Law we have seen many perfectly respectable members of the community struggle to find employment, enroll in colleges or go on overseas trips, simply because they were not well represented when they were pulled over for driving under the influence. A well qualified Long Beach DUI attorney would be able to assist you roadside, as well as in the court room. There are a lot of things that the average person is not aware of, and these factors can greatly reduce the chance of a conviction, and possibly negate the charges altogether.
It can be difficult to choose a Long Beach DUI attorney before you ever get in trouble for driving under the influence, but having a number you can call in an emergency is essential. Many arresting officers and District Attorneys will try to get any person arrested for drunk driving charged with as much as possible. This is unfortunate, but ambitious charges are also easier to overturn, and if you have a good attorney at your side you stand a good chance of walking away without a conviction.
When deciding on who to use as your Long Beach DUI attorney, make sure to check out their credentials. You want someone who is experienced in defending drunk driving cases, as well as an attorney with a good reputation in the local drunk driving courts. An inexperienced attorney or one who is not entirely familiar with drunk driving law can often land you in more trouble than you started in. There are many abstract clauses that if neglected can lead to a conviction when this was avoidable.
Remember, there are certain circumstances that can lighten or worsen your sentence, and it is always good to keep these in mind. If you have a child under 14 in the car, more than one person has been injured, you are driving in a double fine zone, you have a previous conviction or you refuse to take a chemical test, you are probably going to end up with a conviction. The best thing to do when you are pulled over for driving under the influence is call your Long Beach DUI attorney before you even speak to an officer. Remember that anything you say will probably be used against you in court.
