Los Angeles DWI Attorneys

 

DUI, as we all know, means driving under the influence, but a more serious offense is a DWI. A DWI is driving while intoxicated and carries with it a minimum fine of $500 and loss of license for six months. For a DUI, you lose your license for 90 days and pay a minimum fine of $300. Both are very serious offenses and accidents can happen with both instances.

In the United States, a DUI is between a .05 and .07 blood alcohol level. A DWI is above a .08 and is considered a crime. If your blood alcohol level is above .18, it is considered Aggravated DWI and will result in losing your license for a year and paying a mandatory fine of $1,000. To the right is a chart of the amount of alcoholic drinks compared to your weight. This will show you your blood alcohol level and whether you should drive or not. If you are arrested for your second or more offense, your penalties will be harsher.

An officer will pull over a driver if they suspect they have been driving. This may be because they are driving unusually, such as really slow, swerving, taking very wide turns, driving off the road, stopping when not necessary, illegal turns, driving at night with their lights off or on the wrong side of the road. People who are driving while intoxicated usually do not speed, because this requires quick reflexes. When you are drunk, your reflexes are slowed down. When you are pulled over for a DWI, the police officer can usually look at you and by observing your behavior can tell you are intoxicated. Here are a few visual cues the officer may take:

• Slurred speech
• Bloodshot eyes
• Red face
• Smell of alcohol on breath
• Hard time answering or understanding questions
• Slow motor skills
• Unbalanced while exited the car
• Unaware of location or what time it is
  

If the officer sees these after pulling you over, he or she may decide to do a field sobriety test. These are usually to see if you can operate while multitasking. They are things people can normally do fine while sober, but have difficulty doing while intoxicated. The officer is usually sure of your intoxication before he or she administers these tests, but they use these to confirm their suspicions. These may include:

Tests for DWI

• Walk and turn
• Walk touching heal to toe
• Say the alphabet
• Count fingers (1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1)
• Count backwards
  
• Stand on one leg
• Follow an ink pen with eyes
• Take a breathalyzer test

Some Los Angeles DWI attorneys can argue with the results of a breathalyzer test. They are known to have some flaws, such as registering other substances as alcohol. These can deliver false results. If the driver hasn't been drinking, it may come up on the test that they have alcohol in their system.

When people in Los Angeles have been arrested for a DWI, they usually will hire an attorney. They recommend that you not answer any questions, even when the officer initially pulls you over and asks if you have been drinking. This is because you have a right to not answer any questions that will incriminate you. They recommend you not admit you have been drinking, but instead ask that you speak with an attorney before answering their questions.

 

You also do not have a right to an attorney until you have an opportunity to have a breathalyzer test. You are able to refuse the chemical test, but you should know that you'll receive a longer suspension of your drivers license. This is because of the reasoning 'better safe than sorry.' Instead of presuming you are innocent until proven guilty, the judge will assume the refusal is an admission of guilt. 

A DWI attorney is recommended to represent you in court instead of representing yourself. You also should not consider using a regular attorney because they can actually hurt your case worse than help it. It is compared to the analogy of using a family doctor compared to a brain surgeon. A DWI attorney is specializing in these cases and knows the ins and outs of the laws instead of having a broad sense of all law. DWI can help you contest evidence, find flaws in the case against you and perhaps help lower your sentence and fines. 

When you are looking for a Los Angeles DWI attorney, make sure you find one that has many cases under their belt, and successful cases at that. Be sure they have a good reputation and have had strong defenses in the past. This will give you better chances with your case. You shouldn't just look at the Bar Association or referral services. They have lists and will just give you the next attorney on the list instead of on that comes highly recommended.

 

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