Criminal Charges and DMV Action
Berglund Law Office, P.C. is a law firm that specializes in defending persons arrested for DUI. DUI Attorney Robert D. Berglund vigorously represents his clients to ensure that they are treated fairly under the law and receive the best possible outcome in their cases. CONTACT our office if you received a DUI in Inglewood. If you were arrested for DUI involving alcohol you will have two separate actions against you: criminal charges and a DMV administrative action.
10 Days to Request DMV Hearing
DUI is a criminal offense, not to be mistaken with a traffic violation such as speeding or running a red light. If you were arrested on suspicion of DUI involving alcohol with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher, the Inglewood Police Department or other law enforcement officers likely confiscated your driver's license and issued a pink "temporary" license that is good for 30 days.
Automatic Driver's License Suspension
You only have 10 days from the DUI arrest date to request a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Administrative Per Se (APS) hearing from the El Segundo Driver Safety Office. If you fail to request an APS hearing, your driver's license will be automatically suspended upon expiration of the temporary license (which is 30 days after it was issued). How long the license remains suspended will depend on whether you have prior DUI offenses and how many, and whether you refused to submit to a breath or blood test after you were arrested. You should CONTACT an experienced Inglewood DUI lawyer as soon as possible following a DUI arrest to ensure that your driving privilege is protected.
Criminal Charges Filed
If you are arrested for DUI in Inglewood, a misdemeanor or felony criminal complaint will likely be filed against you. A DUI conviction can have a devastating impact on a person's life, adversely affecting employment, finances, child custody agreements, and freedom. Do not take a DUI arrest lightly and dismiss it as nothing more that a traffic ticket. A DUI conviction can result in jail time, even a misdemeanor 1st DUI offense. A misdemeanor 3rd DUI offense carries a minimum jail sentence of 120 days.
Inglewood Courthouse
Misdemeanor and felony DUI cases are both filed at the Inglewood Courthouse. Misdemeanor DUI arrest reports from the Inglewood Police are forwarded to the Inglewood City Attorney's Office for criminal prosecution. Felony DUI arrest reports are forwarded to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Do not go to court before speaking with an experienced Inglewood DUI lawyer. CONTACT our office today for a free and confidential Inglewood DUI consultation
Types of DUI Cases
You can be arrested for a DUI involving alcohol, illegal drugs, marijuana, and prescription drugs. If the Inglewood Police officers believe that your ability to drive has been impaired, a DUI investigation will be initiated. If you were observed driving recklessly, got into an accident, fail to perform well on the field sobriety tests, blow .08 or higher on a Preliminary Alcohol Screening Test, and/or show other signs of impairment, you will be placed under arrest for DUI. Inglewood Police are constantly receiving training in how to conduct DUI investigations. Inglewood officers are also getting increased training in how to recognize drug impaired drivers and you can expect to see an increase in drug DUI arrests, especially with the California's legalization of recreational marijuana.
DUI Defenses
The possible defenses to the charges vary depending on the type of case and the specific circumstances. Despite the DUI training that they receive, officers still make mistakes during DUI investigations. In addition to listening to your recollection of the events of the incident, a good DUI Lawyer will thoroughly review the Inglewood police report, review any and all available audio or video of the investigation and arrest, and consult with an expert to review breath and/or blood analysis records. A customized strategy will then be developed to best defend you against the DUI charges.
DUI Enforcement in Inglewood
DUI patrols and DUI checkpoints are common in Inglewood. Checkpoints are frequently held along Manchester Ave. and La Brea, two of the main roadways through the city of Inglewood. The city of Inglewood is home to the National Football League's Rams and Chargers franchises. The city hosted the NFL's Super Bowl in February, 2022. Inglewood attracts thousands of visitors and media every month. Inglewood Police have a very visible presence to ensure that the city is safe for visitors. This includes keeping DUI drivers off the streets. You can expect to see DUI checkpoints around the new stadium, including during the time periods when tens of thousands of fans are leaving football games. Inglewood officers know that a lot of fans drink while attending sporting events and will view this as an opportunity to make easy DUI arrests. Officers will conduct DUI checkpoints and look at drivers to see if there are any objective symptoms of impairment. If they observe any, the driver will be asked to pull over to a designated location and a DUI investigation will be performed. One mistake in judgment following an afternoon or night of fun can result in an arrest for DUI. Visit our DUI checkpoints page to learn more about how checkpoints are conducted.
Dedicated Inglewood DUI Lawyer
If you have been arrested for DUI, CONTACT a lawyer that specializes in defending DUI cases. DUI Attorney Robert D. Berglund will personally speak with you about what happened. He will ask you to tell him your story and explain exactly what happened, understanding that each and every DUI case is unique in its own way. This information will allow him to evaluate your case carefully and look for any problems of proof that the prosecution may have in proving its DUI case against you. Do not delay if you are facing Inglewood DUI charges, CONTACT our office today for a free and confidential consultation.