DUI Lawyer in Santa Clarita, Lancaster and Palmdale

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The Santa Clarita Valley and the Antelope Valley are commuter country. Many residents drive the 5 or the 14 into the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles every day, and losing a license can mean losing a job. A first DUI arrest here starts two cases: a license case with the California DMV and a criminal case in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The United Firm | La Liga Defensora, A.P.C. defends first-offense DUI cases from Santa Clarita, Valencia, Newhall, Saugus, Canyon Country, Stevenson Ranch, Castaic, Lancaster and Palmdale, and the whole process can start with a phone call.

Protect your license in the first 10 days

After a DUI arrest with a test result of 0.08% or more, or a refusal, the officer usually confiscates your license and gives you a pink 30-day temporary license. You have 10 days from the arrest to request an Administrative Per Se hearing with the DMV (Vehicle Code 13558). If nobody requests it, a first-offense suspension starts on its own: generally four months after a test result over the limit and one year after a refusal. A timely request usually keeps you driving until the hearing, and the hearing gives us an early look at the officer’s account.

Which courthouse will hear your case

Misdemeanor DUI cases in this area are prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney, because neither Santa Clarita, Lancaster nor Palmdale has its own city prosecutor for misdemeanors. Arrests in the Santa Clarita Valley are usually heard at the Santa Clarita Courthouse, 23747 W. Valencia Boulevard in Valencia. Arrests in Lancaster, Palmdale and the rest of the Antelope Valley are usually heard at the Antelope Valley Courthouse, 42011 4th Street West in Lancaster.

Most local arrests are made by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which provides police services to Santa Clarita, Lancaster and Palmdale by contract, or by the California Highway Patrol on the freeways and state highways. Knowing the agency tells us whose reports, videos and testing records to request.

Your first court date

The date on your release paperwork is the arraignment, where the charges are read and a plea is entered. In many misdemeanor DUI cases, an attorney can appear for you under Penal Code 977 with your written consent, although a judge may order you to appear in a DUI case. We make sure you know ahead of time which dates require you.

What a first DUI can involve

A first DUI under Vehicle Code 23152(a) or (b) with no injury is normally a misdemeanor. The law allows informal probation, fines and penalty assessments, a licensed DUI education program (usually three months for a first offense, nine months for a result of 0.20% or more), and a court-ordered license suspension. Many first offenders can drive on a restricted license, often with an ignition interlock device. Results depend on the evidence and the facts, and no lawyer can promise an outcome.

Where we look for weaknesses

The legal basis for the stop or detention, and whether any checkpoint followed the required guidelines.
Field sobriety tests given on a highway shoulder at night, in wind or cold, or on uneven ground.
Breath-device calibration and maintenance logs and the required 15-minute observation period.
Blood-draw procedures, chain of custody and lab methods, and the option of retesting your sample.
Long drives and late tests: the timing between driving and testing when the result is close to the limit.
Sheriff’s body-worn camera and CHP dash-camera footage.

Depending on what we find, options may include a motion to suppress evidence, negotiation for a lesser charge, or trial. We explain each choice in plain terms.

No office visit needed

You can call, go over what happened, and sign your fee agreement from your phone. We request the DMV hearing, get the reports and video, and keep you informed by phone, text and email.

Frequently asked questions

Where will my Santa Clarita DUI case be heard?

Usually at the Santa Clarita Courthouse in Valencia. Antelope Valley arrests are usually heard at the Antelope Valley Courthouse in Lancaster.

Who prosecutes a DUI in Santa Clarita or Lancaster?

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office handles misdemeanor DUI cases in these cities.

How long do I have to save my license?

Ten days from the arrest to request a DMV hearing. After that, the suspension generally begins automatically when your temporary license expires.

Can I drive to work in Los Angeles after a first DUI?

Many first offenders qualify for a restricted license, often with an ignition interlock device. Eligibility depends on the test result, any refusal and your record.

Do I have to go to every court date?

Not necessarily. In many misdemeanor DUI cases a lawyer can appear for you, but the judge can require you at certain hearings.

Arrested for DUI in Santa Clarita, Lancaster or Palmdale? Call (855) 636-0550 for a free phone consultation. We request your DMV hearing, and you can hire us by phone.

Call (855) 636-0550

Attorney Advertising. NotGuilty.com is a website of The United Firm | La Liga Defensora, A.P.C., 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1000, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Attorney responsible for this page: Shawn F. Matian (Cal. Bar No. 244148). The domain name is not a promise or prediction of any result. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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