 There is no question that being charged with DUI is a very serious matter. It can be frightening, frustrating, and confusing, especially if you’re certain that he did nothing wrong. Law-abiding citizens generally hold police and law enforcement officials and fairly high regard, and after being charged by these officials with wrongdoing, begin to question whether they may actually be guilty after all. However law enforcement officials are anything but infallible, and the methods used to determine sobriety are often very subjective and prone to error. This makes it even more important to contact a Los Angeles DUI defense attorney immediately after being charged. At Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff LLP, we are former prosecutors who know the law and local courts. We have handled thousands of drunk driving cases and know how to best represent you! Please call us for a free consultation at (888) 579-4844. For instance, many people don’t realize that certain medications can affect breath test results. Even if you have been drinking, factors such as how long it has been since your last drink, your metabolism, certain medical conditions, and your physiology can affect the accuracy of any test results. Moreover a police officer’s subjective judgment plays a large part in determining whether you’re actually charged and arrested for DUI. Officers have been known to make these judgments even before administering any sobriety tests, which can cloud their judgment and their interpretation of the results. A skilled Los Angeles DUI defense attorney can review the evidence and any test results and debate their validity. Additionally, the equipment used in determining your level of intoxication can be faulty or poorly maintained. Your Los Angeles DUI defense attorney should investigate any records relating to the equipment used, such as maintenance and calibration records. Furthermore, the law stipulates that the police officer must observe you for 15 minutes before administering the breath test; failure to do so can compromise the accuracy of the results. If you are aware of any medical conditions or extenuating circumstances that may have affected the results of your sobriety tests, be sure to inform your Los Angeles DUI defense attorney at Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff LLP immediately. This can be very valuable information and mounting a successful defense. It’s important to choose an attorney that you feel comfortable talking to, and can be honest and open with. While it’s never pleasant being charged with DUI and even less so if you are eventually convicted, a competent Los Angeles DUI defense attorney can minimize the impact that these events have on your life. California’s penalties for drunken driving convictions are harsher than ever before. A conviction could mean custody time in jail even for first-time conviction, formal or informal probation, mandatory attendance at drinking driver alcohol programs, the installation of an ignition interlock device, prison time, as well as consequences such as increased insurance rates -- or the inability to get insurance at all -- significant fines, and vehicle impoundment. However, it is possible that your attorney can reduce or minimize the penalties imposed, helping you to obtain the best possible outcome. If you find yourself arrested on charges of DUI, visit www.attorney-criminal-dui.com to get in touch with one of California’s most knowledgeable Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys at Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff LLP. Please visit our web site at www.attorney-criminal-dui.com. |
