Nevada County, CA DUI Laws and Penalties

DUI arrests and charges can be overwhelming and stressful, and a formal conviction could have a serious impact on your life. If you need help defending your legal rights throughout the Northern California Central Valley, a Nevada County DUI attorney can help right away. To minimize the potential impact of a DUI situation, it’s important to contact an experienced attorney to represent your interests.

The Law Office of Jennifer Granger shares information about DUI conviction consequences, legal strategies, and important reasons to consider contacting an attorney.

What Are Some Possible Consequences of DUI Cases in Nevada County, CA?

There are severe repercussions for driving under the influence in Nevada County and Yuba-Sutter. When considering the potential consequences of a conviction for driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, it’s important to consider that a conviction can be punishable with:

• Fines
• Community Service
• Jail Time
• License Suspension

The consequences you may face typically depend on whether this is a first or repeat offense and whether you were convicted in the past. Since these are serious consequences, it’s important to speak with a trusted DUI attorney to help fight the charges you face and protect your rights.

Legal fees can be an important cost to consider, which usually depends on the attorney’s experience and the amount of time they may need to spend working on your case. Yet, investing in an experienced criminal defense lawyer for your DUI charges can help save money in the long run. Plus, an attorney can identify available defenses to challenge the prosecution’s case against you.

What Are Some Potential DUI Defense Strategies?

An experienced DUI attorney can review your case and help explore whether any legal defenses can poke holes in the prosecution’s case for your DUI charges. Some of the more common defense strategies your attorney may consider include:

• Challenging the accuracy of the testing used to arrest you for a DUI
• Arguing that the traffic stop was illegally performed
• Challenging the chain of custody of the evidence and showing that the collected physical evidence may have been handled inappropriately
• Showing that you were not driving the vehicle at the time of the arrest

In Nevada County and the Yuba-Sutter area, you have a right to defend yourself against DUI allegations. Some of these defenses may help your situation, and if not, there are even more defenses that may be helpful to explore with a knowledgeable attorney.

What are Consequences of a DUI Conviction in Nevada County, CA?

• Up to 6 months in jail
• DMV License Suspension for up to six months
• Fines and fees up to $2500.00
• Court probation for three years

How Can an Attorney Help Fight DUI Charges?

In 2019, the California Department of Motor Vehicles reported 124,141 DUI-related arrests throughout California and 88,043 convictions. There were slightly fewer DUI-related arrests in 2020, with 95,957 arrests recorded.

Attorneys likely played a major part in the difference between the arrest and conviction rates in 2019. An experienced DUI attorney can make a huge difference in helping you avoid a DUI conviction, so you don’t end up part of these DUI statistics yourself.

In Nevada City and Yuba-Sutter, an experienced DUI attorney can provide invaluable and reliable legal assistance throughout a DUI matter. Having an attorney by your side is critical to navigating the complex criminal justice system and avoiding potential and unnecessary consequences. An attorney can help explain the charges you face and work hard to lessen the severity of the penalties.

What a DUI Attorney Can Do

An attorney can:

• Review all available evidence
• Explore any legal defenses available
• Challenge the evidence the prosecution intends to use against you
• Build a compelling defense case

Any DUI allegation is serious, and it’s important to take active steps to fight these charges with an attorney’s assistance. You can work with your attorney to present a solid defense case and explain your side of the story. An attorney can answer your important questions and give you the most successful legal defense possible.

FAQs

Q: How Much Do Northern California DUI Attorneys Typically Cost?

A: Each attorney in California sets their own legal fees and costs. Their fee structures are usually based on their level of experience, their familiarity with handling the type of case, and how long they may need to spend on your case. More experienced attorneys handling complex defense cases may cost more.

An attorney can provide worthwhile assistance for a DUI matter. Most attorneys can review your case at an initial consultation, where you can discuss their written fee agreement.

Q: What Is the Consequence of a First-Time DUI in Northern California?

A: For a conviction of a first-time DUI offense, you typically are fined up to $1,000, you may have your driver’s license suspended for up to ten months, and you may face mandatory jail time for at least 48 hours. An attorney can further discuss the consequences your situation may justify, and they can usually help resolve your situation on more favorable terms.

Q: Does a DUI Go on My Permanent Criminal Record in California?

A: In California, a DUI typically goes onto your permanent record. However, you may be eligible for an expungement, which essentially erases the formal criminal conviction for the DUI. Expungement may be available in specific situations, usually for those who successfully completed a DUI probation period.

If you need help with DUI charges or with an expungement, contact a trusted attorney to discuss your individual situation.

Q: Is It Worth Fighting a California DUI?

A: Yes, it’s worth fighting a DUI throughout California, particularly if it’s a first-time offense. With a strong defense strategy, you might have your DUI charges dismissed.

If you don’t fight these charges, you could face unintended consequences at work, with your professional licensure, and with college admissions. Unfortunately, a DUI conviction can cause an immigrant to be deported, typically if drugs were involved or if there was a child riding in the vehicle. Contact an attorney immediately for legal assistance.

Contact The Law Office of Jennifer Granger – An Experienced DUI Lawyer

DMV Administrative Per Se Hearing

Attorney Jennifer Granger will defend you at the DMV Administrative Per Se hearing to determine whether your driver’s license is suspended. The DMV requires that you set an administrative hearing within ten days of your arrest. If retained within that 10-day window, the law office of Jennifer Granger will contact the DMV to set the hearing, and then later appear at that hearing to argue that your driver’s license should not be suspended.  For many drivers, fighting the DMV suspension is just as important as defense of a criminal conviction.

If you need help resolving DUI charges, contact our legal team right away. We proudly represent clients throughout the Northern California Central Valley. With so much on the line, contact a trusted Nevada County and Yuba-Sutter attorney. We can help you throughout your experience with the defense system and help you make informed decisions about your defense case. Get in touch to schedule an initial case evaluation right away.