DUI Lawyer in Orange County

Frequently Asked Questions About DUI Defense

What should I do if I’m pulled over for DUI?
If you are pulled over for suspected driving under the influence in Orange County, California, there are certain actions you can take to positively affect any DUI charges which may follow.

First, remain calm and be polite in all of your communication with law enforcement.
Politely refuse to answer any questions regarding how much you have had to drink.
Politely refuse to partake in field sobriety tests (these are not required by law).
If asked, it is wise to comply with an officer’s request that you take a chemical test, most often a breathalyzer test, to determine your blood alcohol level. Refusal of a chemical test will result in the suspension of your driver’s license.
Contact an Orange County DUI attorney as soon as possible.

I received a pink slip of paper, a “notice of suspension” from the police officer when I was arrested for DUI. What is this?
The pink slip of paper you receive upon an Orange County DUI arrest is a notice of suspension that your driver’s license will be suspended in 30 days. You have only 10 days from the date of your arrest to contact the DMV and schedule a hearing regarding the suspension of your license.If you fail to schedule a DMV hearing, your license will be automatically suspended after the 30 day temporary license expires.

Can an attorney help me with my DMV hearing?
Yes, an Orange County DUI attorney or lawyer can schedule your hearing for you and offer you legal counsel before the hearing. The attorney can also represent you at the DMV hearing in order to help you get the best outcome possible. Because an attorney will have the specific legal knowledge applicable to reinstating driving privileges, he or she will have more success than if you tried to represent yourself.

What are some DUI-related offenses a driver may face?
In addition to a standard misdemeanor DUI charge, a driver may face a felony DUI charge, multiple DUI arrests, DUI auto accidents, out of state DUI charges, vehicular manslaughter, or driving under the influence of drugs charge. The Orange County DUI attorneys and lawyers at Gold & Witham handle all these types of driving under the influence charges.

What are the penalties for an Orange County DUI?
For a first-time driving under the influence conviction, the penalties include: 120 day license suspension, community service, DUI rehabilitation programs, mandatory installation of ignition interlock device, fines and court fees, and a county jail sentence of up to six months. An aggressive and experienced Orange County DUI lawyer can often successfully help a driver avoid these penalties.

Will my license be suspended?
When arrested for driving under the influence in Orange County, California, your driver’s license will be suspended if:

You fail to schedule your DMV hearing within 10 days of your Orange County DUI arrest
You refuse to submit to a breath test or blood test to determine your blood alcohol level
Your lose your DMV hearing
You are convicted of driving under the influence, either with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher, or because your driving abilities were impaired by alcohol or drugs, or both.

Is the legal limit different for commercial drivers and drivers under 21 years old?
A commercial truck driver may be charged with driving under the influence if his or her blood alcohol concentration is .04% or higher, and a driver under 21 may be charged with DUI if driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .01% or higher. The DUI attorneys and lawyers at Gold & Witham have over forty years of combined legal experience in DUI defense. As such, we are able to provide an unmatched level of legal counsel and DUI defense to clients in Orange County.

Contact an Orange County DUI lawyer at Gold & Witham today!