Glendale DUI Accident Lawyer

Blood Alcohol Content Levels

Glendale has a blood alcohol content (BAC) limit of .08% for when you’re driving a motor vehicle. If your BAC is above that level, you will be charged with driving under the influence (DUI). However, other limits have been set by legislature in addition to the .08% rule.

●      Commercial Vehicle Drivers: Must have a BAC below .04%

●      Drivers Under the Age of 21: Must have a BAC below .01%

Refusing a breathalyzer test to ascertain your BAC may result in a one-year suspension of your driver's license. It is sometimes preferable to take the test since an experienced DUI attorney in Glendale can challenge the results.

Possible DUI Penalties

DUI punishments vary depending on whether this is your first offense and other factors. While a first violation may be classified as a misdemeanor, successive offenses may be classified as felonies, with severe consequences. Remember that if you drive for a living, you could lose your job in addition to facing legal consequences. 

The penalties for driving while under the influence of narcotics are similar to those for a DUI conviction. The gravity of the charges will be influenced by aggravating factors such as causing an accident while driving under the influence, especially if property is damaged or a person is hurt or killed during the incident.

If someone is killed while you are driving under the influence, you may be charged with DUI manslaughter or even DUI murder if it can be proven you were aware of the potential consequences of your actions. That’s why it’s important to speak with a Glendale DUI attorney as soon as possible to understand the full ramifications of the charges against you and prepare a legal defense.

Can I keep my driver’s license?

It is usually not until after people are arrested for a Glendale DUI that they realize they may lose their license for a while. The moment DUI defendants are booked, the police will confiscate their driver’s license and replace it with a temporary one that is valid for only a month.

Defendants should retain defense counsel immediately at this point. This is due to the fact that the Department of Motor Vehicles only gives ten days from the date of the arrest to request a hearing to contest the suspension.

DMV hearings are similar to trials on a smaller scale: Evidence can be provided, witnesses can be cross-examined, and defense attorneys can usually appear on behalf of defendants, removing the need for them to appear. Even if the DMV court suspends the defendant's license for a first-time DUI violation, the defendant can normally continue driving provided an ignition interlock device (IID) is installed.

Potential Defense Against a DUI Charge Used by a DUI Attorney

There are several legal defenses our criminal defense team will explore in your case. These include:

●      You were not “under the influence” of drugs or alcohol.

●      A mental or physical condition such as anxiety or exhaustion made you appear to be under the influence.

●      The administration and/or collection of the breathalyzer or blood or urine samples were mishandled or done incorrectly.

●      And more, depending on the individual circumstances of your case.