DUI Defense Lawyers in Glendale and Los Angeles County

What a DUI Charge Means

California’s DUI law, VC 23152, makes it unlawful to drive:

• under the influence of alcohol (23152(a));
• with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or more (23152(b));
• a commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.04% or more (23152(d));
• under the influence of any drug (23152(f)).

Lower limits apply to drivers under 21: 0.05% under VC 23140, and 0.01% under VC 23136.

A DUI is a misdemeanor (VC 40000.15). A first conviction carries 96 hours to 6 months in county jail and a fine of $390 to $1,000 (VC 23536), and adds two points to your record (VC 12810(b)). A DUI within 10 years of three or more prior DUI or “wet reckless” convictions can be charged as a felony (VC 23550).

Every driver lawfully arrested for DUI is deemed to have consented to a breath or blood test (VC 23612), and the DMV suspends or revokes the license of a driver who refuses for one year (DMV).

How Our Attorneys Defend DUI Charges

We look at each step that led to the charge: why you were stopped, what led to the arrest, which chemical test was used, and how it was given and recorded. We also look at your record, because prior convictions change the penalties a DUI carries. Then we defend the case in court and appear at every hearing. We do not handle the DMV hearing, which is a separate process with the DMV.

DUI is one of the misdemeanor charges we defend alongside the traffic tickets and other driving charges we handle, such as reckless driving and driving on a suspended license.

Our attorneys have over 45 years of combined experience in fighting traffic tickets.

Questions About DUI Charges

What Happens After a DUI Arrest in California?

Two separate processes start. The court case decides whether you are convicted and what penalties the court imposes, from jail and fines to probation conditions. The DMV action, called Administrative Per Se, decides what happens to your license, and it runs independently of the court case (DMV).

On the DMV side, the DMV says a driver has 10 days from receiving the suspension or revocation order to request a DMV hearing. For a first DUI arrest, the DMV suspension is four months (DMV). If the court case ends in a DUI conviction, the DMV suspends the license for 6 or 10 months (DMV first-offender information).

How Much Does a DUI Really Cost?

The total depends on the case, so no single figure is accurate. The costs come from several places:

• The court fine. $390 to $1,000 for a first offense (VC 23536), plus the penalty assessments that California courts add to every fine (Amador Superior Court).
• The DUI program. The DMV requires proof that you completed one before it fully reinstates your license.
• Insurance. The DMV requires an SR 22 proof of insurance, kept for three years (DMV first-offender information). A DUI conviction in the past 10 years also rules out California’s Good Driver discount (Insurance Code 1861.025).
• The DMV reissue fee. $125 after an Administrative Per Se suspension, according to the DMV’s fee page on October 6, 2026 (DMV reissue fees).

Our posts on how much a DUI really costs and the hidden costs of a DUI conviction go into more detail.

What Are My Options When Facing a DUI Charge?

The options depend on the evidence and your record, and a lawyer evaluates both before advising you. In a DUI case, that review covers:

• the reason for the stop;
• what led to the arrest;
• the breath or blood test, and how it was given and recorded;
• your prior record, including any earlier DUI or “wet reckless” convictions, which count as priors (VC 23103.5).

Our post on options when facing a DUI charge explains more, and our reckless driving page explains what a “wet reckless” is.

Does a Marijuana DUI Work the Same Way?

The charge is different. Driving under the influence of any drug, including marijuana, falls under VC 23152(f), and that section sets no numeric limit, unlike the 0.08% limit for alcohol (VC 23152). A drug DUI case therefore turns on the evidence that the driver was under the influence. Our post on how marijuana DUI cases work explains more.

Where We Defend DUI Charges

Our office is in Glendale, and we defend DUI charges in courts across Los Angeles County. We also take cases in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties, and anywhere else in California. See our Glendale office page and our county traffic ticket guides.

Related

• Our Glendale office
• Reckless driving
• The hidden costs of a DUI conviction
• How much a DUI really costs
• Options when facing a DUI charge
• How marijuana DUI cases work

Defend Your DUI Case

A DUI charge affects your license, your record and your insurance at once. Call (310) 455-6810 or contact us today for your free consultation.

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