 ◊ Experience You Can Trust ◊
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 ◊ Successful DUI Defense Strategies ◊
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I Was Arrested For DUI. What Am I Looking At?
When you are charged with a DUI in California, you actually have two cases pending against you. One case is criminal, and the other is civil (administrative). Your criminal case is prosecuted by the Prosecutor’s Office. The civil case is a DMV Administrative Per Se License Hearing (or APS hearing). This hearing pertains to your driver’s license and is handled by the California Department of Motor Vehicles Office of Driver Safety, in the City of Orange, separate from your court date.
You only have 10 days after your arrest to request an APS Hearing or it is waived. Be sure to request this hearing or retain a DUI lawyer in Orange County to do it for you within the 10 day time period or you automatically forfeit your right to contest your pending driver’s license suspension.
As you know, prosecutors, the courts, and even the law, all want to show how tough they are against persons that drink and drive. The punishment includes potential jail time, loss of your license, loss of a job, and thousands of dollars in fines if not handled correctly. Don’t let the system excessively punish you without looking at all sides, including the impact on you. Although you probably are still dealing with the impact from your arrest, this may be more serious than you realize.
Potential DUI Punishment for Orange County DUI cases:
The law has a maximum (six months in jail, and a fine and fees that total $5000) and a minimum (three years probation, an alcohol school, and base fines of $390). DUI cases are sometimes reduced to another charge, which would reduce the sentencing range below the minimum. The prosecutor can, and will, add punishment if there were any of the following:
- a blood alcohol level of at or above a .16%;
- children in the car;
- an accident (with or without injury);
- an allegation that you were speeding while DUI; or
- any prior conviction for DUI within 10 years.
The good news is that there is a way to avoid losing your driving privileges, and you probably will not face any jail time for a first time DUI. We can help avoid the more severe punishment for any of the above. But that takes action on your part, and we can help. Professionally handling DUI cases in Orange County, using our expertise, knowledge, and experience in this field, is all we do.
Why choose your law firm? What can you do for my DUI case?
Our approach to DUI defense is to carefully review all the evidence in the case, to look closely at all facts and all legal defenses that help our clients. We look closely at the reason you were pulled over for DUI, to see if a probable cause issue might lead to a motion to suppress evidence, and thus dismiss the DUI, and look carefully at all aspects of the field sobriety testing and scrutinize the breath test or blood testing to hold the testing machine, or agencies, up to the strict requirements of the law. For example, machines can malfunction or not be properly calibrated, blood levels can fail to take into consideration the rising blood alcohol pattern, and the blood sample can ferment and produce alcohol, causing an increase in the blood alcohol level.
What our past DUI clients have stated about us
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“Robert is the true definition of an expert and professional. I came into this situation knowing that I needed the best and I was recommended to Robert Miller & Associates. I can GLADLY say not only would I HIGHLY recommend him, he is the ONLY attorney I would ever think about hiring. My entire case was dismissed.” – from a client’s Avvo review
As one client stated about their experience:
“During two meetings with Robert and several telephone conversations we were able to craft a defense strategy. In several court appearances Robert was able to convince the district attorney of our defense. Ultimately the case was dismissed. Robert gets a five star rating from me. He is professional and easy to reach either by phone or email or even text message. His fees are fair and very competitive.” (Maurice N., from a Yelp review).
What other attorneys say about our expertise
“I highly endorse Mr. Miller. Very experienced and caring attorney who produces great results in representing clients! I want all people with legal problems to contact him first.” (Mark Clay, Esq., from one of over 60 attorney endorsements through Avvo.)
Our Results in DUI Cases
- Prescription and Illegal Drug DUI (DUID) cases
- DUI with Accident cases
- DUI with High Blood Alcohol Level (.15, .20, or higher) cases
- DUI with Priors (Second time DUI, Third time DUI, or Fourth DUI cases)
- DUI and a Hit and Run Accident cases
- DUI with a Suspended License cases
- Under 21 DUI Cases
- DUI and Child Endangerment Cases
- DUI for Military service members
- Commercial Driver’s License Holder DUI cases
- Felony DUI cases
- DUI cases for people who live out of state, or out of the country and cannot appear for court
See our results page for details on how we have won cases just like yours.
Meet our Top DUI Lawyer Orange County
- The author of three books on DUI, including two for other DUI attorneys in the profession, published by Aspatore Press.
- Two time graduate of the DUI Trial Skills College at Harvard Law School, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- Rated a 10.0 and ranked in the “Superb DUI Attorney” category on Avvo
- Awarded the Orange County top DUI lawyer “Clients Love Us” award on Yelp;
- Certified in Field Sobriety Testing;
- Graduate of additional scientific coursework on scientific testing on breath testing, and blood testing;
- Member of the National College of DUI Defense;
- Member, DUI Defense Lawyers Association;
- Member of the California DUI Lawyers Association, among many other certifications and professional organizations.
Legal Expert Press Appearances
Attorney Fees and Pricing for the best DUI lawyers Orange County
You will find that the price of hiring a professional DUI defense attorney to help you fight your case in court and/or at the DMV’s Administrative Per Se hearing, varies greatly between DUI lawyers in the area. Some lawyers will charge as little as $500.00 to represent defendants one time, to plead them guilty in one court date. On the other hand, it is also possible to hire an attorney who values their professional services extremely highly, and you can pay $10,000.00 or more for representation as a flat fee, the flat fee being the normal fee structure in this area of law.
It is not wise to hire attorneys on the low end of the price range. If you’re interested in pleading guilty at the first court date, you don’t need a lawyer to help with that. Most low fee lawyers are either very inexperienced, or have a high volume law practice, and are not motivated to work hard to get the best possible result for his or her clients. On the other hand, at the high end of the price range, an expensive attorney might be including costs, such as trial, or experts, that are not needed in your particular case.
Because of our ability to use technology to keep overhead costs low, our Orange County DUI lawyers are able to pass the savings to our clients and to offer quality representation at an affordable price. Our pricing is below the average price of other law firms in this field of law, considering our years of experience and track record. We pride ourselves on doing the very best we can to help our clients minimize, or avoid the punishment for a conviction for DUI in every way possible. Not only do we spend substantial time in constant education and special training to become true experts in Orange County DUI defense, but we also do our best to have competitive pricing.
We have discounts for students, for present and past military service, and we accept all forms of payment and offer affordable payment plans with reasonable down payments.
Why Hire Us for Your DUI Case?
Contact Us Now – Let’s Get Started.
