Los Angeles DUI Charge Reductions
A California DUI Guide
A good Los Angeles drunk driving defense lawyer always seeks to reduce the charges against his or her client. Lesser DUI charges impose fewer restrictions on the client’s current activities, and have fewer long-term consequences. Here is a guide to DUI charge reductions in California.
Charge Reduction Best Option: Traffic Violations
Other than a dismissal of Los Angeles DUI charges from a California court, the best charge reduction is one that drops the DUI charges to a simple non-criminal violation, such as failure to yield. The usual penalties of a DUI are avoided, as is the blot on your record.
Charge Reduction Next Best Option: Exhibition of Speed
If a DUI lawyer cannot get the prosecution to break for a traffic violation, he or she may position the client for pleading to a charge of exhibition of speed. This is a criminal misdemeanor roughly equivalent to reckless driving. The punishments for this charge reduction are a considerable improvement over those for a DUI conviction, including no license restriction. Exhibition of speed is also not priorable, meaning that if you are charged with a DUI in the future, the exhibition of speed charge reduction does not count as a prior DUI offense for sentencing.
Unfortunately, the exhibition of speed charge counts as two points on your California DMV record, just like a DUI conviction.
Charge Reduction Baseline Option: Dry Reckless Driving
The standard charge reduction that many Los Angeles DUI defense lawyers attempt on behalf of their clients is the dry reckless driving charge. This can be a difficult prospect because prosecutors know that the dry reckless driving charge, like exhibition of speed, is not priorable. In addition the probation, jail time and fines associated with the charge are significantly less than those for a DUI charge.
Unfortunately, the dry reckless driving charge counts as two points on your California DMV record, just like a DUI conviction.
Charge Reduction Minimum Option: Wet Reckless Driving
At the minimum, a Los Angeles driving under the influence defense lawyer will push to reduce the charges to wet reckless driving. This results in slightly shorter probation times and potential jail time. For persons with more than one prior DUI conviction, reducing the charges to wet reckless driving shields the defendant from sentencing enhancements.
Unfortunately, the wet reckless charge still results in a license suspension, just like a DUI. A wet reckless driving charge counts as two points on your California DMV record. Also, this charge reduction is priorable for DUI for ten years.
Protect your rights and your future with the unique legal edge offered by Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff LLP. The partners of Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff are all former Los Angeles County deputy district attorneys. Their knowledge of the prosecution’s side of drunk driving cases gives them the critical understanding of the weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. They know when, where and how to put effective pressure on a prosecutor and leverage better terms for your DUI charge.
Call 866.299.4111 and discuss your situation with one of the attorneys of Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff LLP.