Why Hire Orange County DUI Defense
Lawyer Group?

Driving under the influence of drugs is punished similarly to driving while intoxicated with alcohol. It is also prosecuted similarly, only that there are no BAC limits. The prosecutor only needs to prove that you had an illegal substance in your system while you drove, which impaired your capability to drive carefully as a sober person would.

Note that DUID law prohibits driving while intoxicated with illegal drugs, over-the-counter medication, and prescription drugs. Marijuana also counts as an illegal drug for DUID purposes despite its use being legalized. It also does not matter whether you have a lawful prescription for the controlled substance or not.

Even a first DUID offense can make you lose your driving privilege. You could also be subject to probation, DUI school, fines, and a jail term. This is not a minor issue, and any DUID case is worth fighting, both at the DMV level and in court.

You commit a general DUI offense when you drive an auto while impaired by alcohol or drugs. DUI is one of California's primary causes of traffic accidents, so state laws are strict on anybody convicted. California has established several statutes under which DUI offenders are charged. They include:

• VC 23152(a) simple DUI prohibits driving while impaired.
• VC 23152(b) makes it unlawful to drive with a BAC level of .08% or higher.
• VC 23152(c) makes driving illegal while addicted to drugs.
• VC 23152(d), commercial DUI law. It prohibits any commercial driver from driving with a 0.04% or higher BAC.
• VC 23152(e), DUI by Uber, Lyft, Taxi or Limo drivers law. It prohibits the drivers of any of these vehicles from driving with a BAC of 0.04% or more.
• VC 23152(f) DUID law. It illegalizes driving while intoxicated with drugs.
• VC 23152(g) makes it unlawful to drive while under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs.

Our lawyers understand all these laws and will defend you aggressively regardless of what charges you face. So contact us for a consultation and case review.

You may face DUI with injury charges under VC 23153 if you cause injury to someone else because of your DUI. Although it is often prosecuted as a felony, this is a wobbler crime. Irrespective of whether you have been charged with a felony or misdemeanor, you will be subject to more severe consequences than a standard DUI.

To help you fight your DUI with an injury charge, we will cross-check to see whether all the arrest, chemical testing, and investigation procedures were followed properly. We will then develop a solid defense strategy if there are any errors the prosecution and arresting officer made. We will also work with qualified accident reconstructionists to analyze whether or not you were to blame.

Under certain circumstances, DUI penalties will be enhanced if the crime had aggravating factors. If you drive while intoxicated and have a minor passenger in the vehicle, you will face increased penalties. Under VC 23572, DUI child endangerment sentence enhancement comprises mandatory additional time in jail in addition to the standard DUI consequences. This means you cannot avoid jail time if found guilty of DUI with a minor passenger.

VC 23572 is straightforward. The court is less concerned about factors like your driving pattern, intoxication level, or whether you intended to hurt the minor and is keen on whether you were driving while intoxicated and a child passenger was in the vehicle.

If arrested for DUI and are below the legal drinking age of 21 years, consequences can be more severe. You are likely to face license suspension for a year plus other penalties. Underage DUI is prosecuted under two laws:

• VC 23140 prohibits underage driving with a BAC of 0.05% or higher.
• VC 23136 zero-tolerance law prohibiting underage driving with a BAC of 0.01% or higher.

Under VC 23136, any measurable BAC is enough to sustain a conviction even if the child's ability to drive was not impaired. Child DUI offenders can often be granted a favorable plea deal with help from an experienced DUI attorney or even a case dismissal. If your child has been arrested for DUI, hire a lawyer with experience specifically in underage DUI cases.

The DMV hearing decides whether the DMV will take administrative action against your driving privilege. The DMV has no right to impose other penalties like fines, a jail term, or a DUI school. These penalties are imposed in criminal court.

Remember that a DMV hearing does not come automatically. You must request one within ten days of arrest to prevent your license from being suspended. Failure to request the hearing in ten days would make you lose that right.

At the DMV hearing, the primary matters of concern include whether the police had probable cause to stop and arrest you and whether your BAC level is 0.08% or more. Other matters can also arise if they affect your DUI case. At Orange County DUI Defense Lawyer Group, we boast experienced lawyers who will defend you at the DMV hearing and help you obtain the best possible outcome.

A first, second, and third DUI offense committed within ten years is usually a misdemeanor. A fourth offense within the same period is generally a felony, also called a felony DUI. This crime carries more severe penalties than a first, second, or third offense. If arrested for felony DUI, our lawyers are prepared to fight for you. We will do all we can to lower the severe felony charge to a misdemeanor, pursue lenient penalties, or help you avoid a conviction.

VC 20001 illegalizes leaving an accident scene when a person is hurt or dead due to the crash, while VC 20002 prohibits leaving an accident scene when someone's property has been damaged due to the accident. Fleeing an accident scene where the above has occurred amounts to hit and run charges. The law mandates that once you are involved in an accident, you should stop at the scene, exchange info, and try to help anyone that was hurt. Failure to do so will subject you to hit and run charges.

A hit and run is itself mostly a felony. Add a DUI on top of it, and the consequences will be more severe. A DUI hit-and-run offense occurs when you flee a scene of an accident you caused while driving under the influence. A conviction of a DUI hit and run will subject you to several years in prison. Therefore, since the stakes are high, you must seek the best DUI defense.