Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys are well aware of the harsh penalties associated with a Los Angeles driving under the influence conviction. Unfortunately, not even an individual's celebrity status exempts them from such penalties. For example, actress Lori Petty was given five years of probation after pleading no contest to a driving under the influence charge yesterday. Petty was arrested for driving under the influence this past May in the Los Angeles area after she hit a skateboarder with her car. The unidentified skateboarder was treated for minor injuries by paramedics at the scene and released. Police arrested Petty and she was later released after posting $100,000 bail. The actress was also ordered by the court to undergo alcohol abuse counseling, which she had already completed by the time of her sentencing.
Penalties for driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol in Los Angeles can vary widely depending on the facts of each case. Factors such as how far over the legal limit of .08% your blood alcohol concentration was found to be at the time or your arrest, whether there was a child in the car with you at the time, if you were speeding and prior driving under the influence convictions can all weigh heavily against you. Typical penalties for a driving under the influence conviction can be up to six months in a county jail, up to $1,000 in fines (not including court costs, which can be extremely expensive on their own), suspension of driving privileges, court-ordered alcohol abuse education classes, probation and even the installation of an ignition interlock device to test your breath before you drive. Many first time driving under the influence offenses in Los Angeles are classified as misdemeanor criminal offenses. The factors mentioned above can potentially serve to bump your particular case up to a felony criminal offense, which would subject you to enhanced penalties such as longer jail terms and higher fines upon conviction. Multiple DUI convictions can land you in jail for as many as three years. With so much on the line, you need an experienced Los Angeles DUI defense attorney by your side when dealing with driving under the influence charges.
If you have been charged with driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol, call the attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP today to begin preparing your defense. Our attorneys have a combined five decades of experience in defending against DUI charges and they will fight for you.
