If you are facing a DUI charge that will be heard at the Torrance Courthouse – serving Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills Estates, and Lomita – you need an experienced DUI attorney who knows his or her way around this court’s processes and procedures on your side. The fact is that every California courthouse has its own culture that includes having its own way of processing cases. This means that the better acquainted your DUI lawyer is with the Torrance Courthouse, the better protected your legal rights will be. Waiting to consult with a skilled DUI lawyer can leave you at a distinct disadvantage from the outset.
Why Familiarity Matters
Your DUI attorney’s familiarity with the courthouse in which your case is being tried matters for a number of important reasons that include:
- The stronger the relationship your criminal defense attorney has with the prosecution, the better positioned he or she will be to negotiate your case’s best possible resolution.
- Your criminal defense lawyer’s knowledge of how the courthouse runs can help to ensure that your case will proceed smoothly – with no administrative missteps, which can have serious consequences.
- Your criminal defense attorney’s understanding of the court’s preferences, practices, and procedures will help him or her tailor your defense strategy for optimal results.
Over the Legal Limit
In the State of California – and in nearly every other state in the nation – the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08 percent, and this measurement is generally established with a breath and/or blood test. It is important to note here that, even if your BAC is below 0.08 percent, you could face DUI charges (or lesser related charges) if it is determined that your driving was, nonetheless, negatively affected by your alcohol consumption.
Pulling You Over
In order for a police officer to pull you over, he or she must have reasonable suspicion for doing so, which amounts to a reason for believing that you were breaking the law in the first place. This can be something as simple as having expired tags on your license plates or having a burned-out headlight. But it can also be in reaction to what the officer considers erratic driving, which can indicate impairment. If you are pulled over for a minor infraction – or for anything other than suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol – the officer needs probable cause before he or she can arrest you for DUI. Probable cause can amount to physical indications, such as red, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, or the smell of alcohol, for example.
Despite the fact that the results of a portable breath test on the side of the road cannot be introduced in court (due to unreliability), such results do provide probable cause for arresting you and giving you a breath test back at the station. While you cannot be forced to take a breath test prior to arrest, your refusal to do so can lead to an automatic driver’s license suspension and can increase the overall consequences of a conviction. If you have been arrested – under the implied consent law in which getting behind the wheel implies your consent to be tested – you don’t have the right to refuse a breath or blood test, and doing so can lead to additional legal penalties.
The Prosecution
It is the prosecution’s job to convict you of the DUI you’ve been charged with, and you can count on the prosecutor who is handling your case to be adept at what he or she does. This is where having a focused DUI attorney on your side – an attorney who knows how the prosecutor in your case operates – can prove invaluable. Every court system is powered by people, and your DUI attorney’s close working relationships with the people who make up the Torrance Courthouse can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
Ultimately, the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt before a DUI conviction can stick, and this is a high standard to achieve. Beyond a reasonable doubt means that it would be unreasonable to believe you are not guilty. As such, your dedicated DUI lawyer will skillfully gather and compile all the available evidence in your case to help ensure the prosecution is unable to reach this lofty standard – in defense of your legal rights and in pursuit of your case’s optimal outcome.
Why You Need an Experienced DUI Attorney Near Me
Facing a DUI charge without professional legal counsel backing you up leaves you at a serious disadvantage for all the following reasons:
- Your experienced attorney will knowledgeably endeavor to keep your record clean, which can limit your financial, legal, and social consequences.
- Having an attorney on your side provides you with the best chance of maintaining your driving privileges and of avoiding the expense, embarrassment, and inconvenience of having an ignition interlock device installed.
- By obtaining your case’s best possible conclusion, you may be able to avoid exorbitant increases in your car insurance premiums.
- Without an experienced attorney’s guidance, you are unlikely to limit the testing requirements that can be heaped upon you with a conviction.
The more experience your DUI attorney has in the Torrance Courthouse, the better prepared and positioned he or she will be to resolve your case as favorably as possible.
It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced DUI Lawyer near Me
Being pulled over by the police and slapped with a DUI charge is exceptionally stressful, and bringing your strongest defense – in pursuit of an advantageous outcome – is paramount. This is where Mark Rosenfeld at the Law Office of Mark Rosenfeld comes in. Mr. Rosenfeld has a wealth of experience successfully trying cases like yours in the Torrance Courthouse – serving Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills Estates, and Lomita – and he is here for you too. Our dedicated legal team has the experience, keen legal insight, and familiarity with the Torrance Courthouse to help secure a beneficial case resolution for you. Please don’t wait to learn more about how we can help you by contacting or calling us at 310-424-3145 today.