The Law Office Of

Juan Carlos Pallares

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The Law Office Of

Juan Carlos Pallares

The Law Office Of

Juan Carlos Pallares

Criminal Defense

Assisting You In Your Criminal Defense Cases

Criminal Defense Matters

Because criminal cases are unique in nature, we are trained to pick out the special portions of each case that make them unique. In addition, we may be able to spot certain arguments and factors that could mitigate or even negate any potential crime. When all is said and done, hiring an attorney to represent you in your criminal matter is a necessity.

I’ve just been arrested for DUI. What should I expect?

The officer is required by law to immediately forward a copy of the completed notice of Driver License Suspension or Revocation.

Your driver license will be suspended or revoked and the report sent to the DMV. The DMV will automatically conduct an administrative review that includes a review of the officer’s report, the suspension or revocation order, and any test results. A DUI is a misdemeanour under California law, but there are steep penalties.

Here is an overview of what to expect after a DUI:

Your license will be suspended 30 days, but you may request a hearing with the DMV to try to avoid suspension.
You will be criminally arraigned. A plea will need to be entered and possible go to trial.
If convicted possible penalties include fines, jail time, alcohol/drug treatment and limits on your driving privileges. The penalties vary depending on whether you have a past DUI offense and whether anyone was injured as a result.

How Much Does a DUI Cost in California?

DUI is a criminal conviction in CA which will result in a permanent criminal record. A first DUI conviction in California is a misdemeanour. The expected consequences and costs for being charged and convicted with a DUI in California can be severe, even for a 1st-time offense. These are some common penalties that you can expect to face.

License suspension

For a first DUI conviction, generally, your license will be suspended for 6 months. There’s also a four-month administrative suspension imposed by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if the driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or more.

Fines

This is a criminal fine prescribed by law.

A first DUI carries $390 to $1,000 in fines plus a number of “penalty assessments” that can substantially increase the amount the driver has to pay. The total can be several thousand dollars or more

Jail

It’s possible for a first offender to receive 48 hours to six months in jail.

Court Assessments

These are fixed fees related to the cost of processing your case and are non-negotiable. These are only assessed if you are convicted.

Sentence-Relates Costs

Alcohol Education Classes.
Car Impounded/Storage Fees
Ignition Interlock Devices

Other Sentence-Related Costs

A guilty plea or conviction of a DUI can be found in any future background checks, which can negatively affect a person’s employment and personal life.

First time DUI offenders usually receive informal probation from 3 to 5 years. Normally, as a condition of probation, the offender must complete DUI classes consisting of 30 hours of classes over a 3 month period. However, for defendants with a BAC of.20% or more, the program is nine months with 60 hours of class time.