DUI Lawyer in Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach DUI lawyer Richard Wagner has experience fighting for his clients facing DUI charges. Having an experienced attorney for your DUI in Laguna Beach will make sure that you achieve the best possible outcome when facing DUI or other criminal charges.
Drivers who get a DUI in Laguna Beach may not be aware of the potentially drastic consequences and repercussions of a DUI arrest. Therefore, it is important to seek legal assistance from a Laguna Beach DUI attorney as soon as possible to help protect your future.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be hazardous, putting everyone on the road at risk. When the Orange County DA charges you with a DUI, you can face severe legal repercussions, including:
- Hefty Fines and Restitution
- Jail time
- The loss of your driver’s license
- Damage to your reputation
Laguna Beach is a city in Southern Orange County, California sitting alongside the Pacific Ocean. Laguna Beach is surrounded by Crystal Cove State Park, Laguna Woods, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, and the unincorporated community of Emerald Bay.
Laguna is known for the Pageant of the Masters, the Festival of Arts, and the Sawdust Art Festival. Laguna Beach is also a well-known surf spot and a great place to play volleyball and go mountain biking.
The Laguna College of Art & Design (LCAD) is a small private college located in Laguna Canyon.
The Laguna Beach Police Department is located at 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach. Officers from LBPD patrol Pacific Coast Highway and Laguna Canyon Road (Highway 133), Forest Avenue, and Broadway Street, looking for impaired drivers.
Contact Richard Wagner today to confidentially discuss your unique situation and begin building your defense.
Criminal Charges for a DUI in Laguna Beach
Many drivers face DUI charges after being pulled over or involved in a motor vehicle accident. You can be charged with the crime of driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) that is equal to or in excess of the legal limits. Generally, you are not allowed to drive with a BAC at or above:
- 08% for drivers 21 and over in a non-commercial vehicle
- 04% for drivers 21 and over while driving a commercial vehicle
- 01% for drivers under 21 or for drivers 21 and over who are on DUI probation
However, California also has vehicle code sections that prosecutors use to charge you with a crime for driving under the influence of alcohol, even if your BAC does not exceed the legal limits. Vehicle Code Sections 23152(a) and 23153(a).
For a free legal consultation with a DUI lawyer serving Laguna Beach, call (714) 721-4423.
DUIs in Laguna Beach and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
You will likely have to defend a criminal case if you are arrested and charged with a DUI. You will also have to face an administrative hearing before the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). All drivers accused of a DUI have these two battles to fight.
The DMV gives you ten days after your DUI arrest to arrange the hearing with the DMV. Drivers who fail to arrange for this hearing in a timely and proper manner will have their driving privileges automatically suspended or revoked.
The DMV has the power to suspend or revoke your license even if the DUI charges against you are reduced or dismissed. A professional DUI defense lawyer in Laguna Beach can help you decipher how the criminal case and DMV hearing work.
Laguna Beach DUI Lawyer Near Me (714) 721-4423.
Penalties for a DUI Conviction in Laguna Beach
You can face severe criminal penalties if you are convicted of a DUI in Orange County courts. The penalties for a DUI also become harsher as you accumulate more DUI convictions.
DUI charges can also become aggravated if the incident has certain aggravating facts, such as
- minors in the vehicle,
- injuries to others,
- excessive speed and reckless driving,
- high BAC,
- Refusing to take blood or breath test,
- Hit and run or accident.
Given the gravity of the situation, it is absolutely essential that you contact Laguna Beach DUI lawyer Richard Wagner without delay.
How A DUI Lawyer Can Help
A DUI attorney could potentially make the case that the police officer had no legitimate or legal justification for the traffic stop or didn’t adhere to the necessary protocols when conducting sobriety evaluations or setting up a Laguna Beach DUI checkpoint. Richard Wagner might be able to get your charges dismissed or reduced to a less severe charge.
Laguna Beach DUI Evidence
A knowledgeable Laguna Beach DUI attorney can serve subpoenas to obtain and inspect the video footage and audio recordings including radio dispatch tapes of your DUI investigation that led to your DUI arrest. A complete investigation will entail an examination to see if your rights or privileges were violated and a compilation of data to build your defense.
Your DUI Lawyer should review all statements from percipient witnesses and physical evidence obtained in your DUI investigation such as blood samples or breath samples.
Your DUI Defense Attorney should get all the evidence related to your case, including a thorough review of the Driving Under the Influence Report, as well as the Age 21 and Older Officer’s Statement, DMV form DS367. Your DUI Defense Attorney is entitled to get from the prosecution all relevant evidence seized or obtained as a part of the investigation. PC 1054. This includes all exculpatory evidence. Brady v. Maryland (1963) 373 US 83.
Subpoenas can be served on the police or crime lab to discover evidence about the blood testing procedures and the breath test, including records on whether the officer has been properly trained on how to administer the AlcoSensor V-XL breath machine, and whether the breathalyzer was working properly at the time of the test, examine calibration check and accuracy check records.
You should rely on a professional DUI lawyer for your Laguna Beach DUI to assess your legal options and strategy. The goal is to build a strong defense while helping you handle your court case and DMV hearing.
DUI COURT / DMV INFORMATION
If you were arrested in Laguna Beach for Driving Under the Influence, your case will be heard in the Orange County Superior Court, Harbor Justice Center, located at 4601 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach, California.
The DMV is the Driver Safety Branch, located at 790 The City Drive, Suite 420, Orange, California, (714) 703-2511.
LAGUNA BEACH DUI LAWYER | FREE CONSULTATION
If you were arrested for DUI in Laguna Beach, call Richard Wagner, a knowledgeable and experienced DUI Defense Lawyer for drunk driving arrests in Laguna Beach (714) 721-4423 to discuss your defense strategy confidentially.