Los Angeles DUI Lawyer Blog
The holidays are a time to enjoy the season with friends and family. There are many holiday parties and gatherings to attend and with those parties come alcoholic drinks. While it is a part of the celebration of the season, it is important to keep in mind that the government continues to crack down on drinking and driving, especially during the holiday season.
Take precautionary measures during the joyous season to prevent yourself from getting arrested. Have a plan before you attend a party. Determine who is going to be the designated diver, or get a hotel room nearby. Another good option is a cab, and may be worth the cost when compared to the costs of a DUI.
DUIs can get pretty costly. There is the cost of hiring a Los Angeles DUI Defense lawyer. A private lawyer may be very necessary when it comes to being legally represented in Court. You want to assure that your rights are protected and you are not putting in a guiltysplea when you case has a strong probability of being reduced or dismissed. Many attorneys charge a flat fee for criminal defense cases and require that the fee be paid up front. However, at the Law Offices of Ronald Hoffman, we understand that many people’s financial situations are difficult in this economy. Therefore, we provide affordable and reasonable payment plans that allow our clients to pay as they can afford it. Our goal is to provide clients with knowledgeable and experienced legal representation they can count on, even if they cannot afford to hire an attorney with costs entirely up front.
A public defender can also be hired for no to little cost depending on your income. However, it is not always highly recommended due to the fact that public defenders have an extensive case load and are often unable to give you the focused attention you deserve.
In addition to the costs of legal representation are the DUI fines and fees themselves. You may be imposed up to $1,000.00 at the discretion of the Judge. However, even if you are fined around $350.00 there are additional fees and fines that must be added on for processing and the Court’s own fees. This can increase the fine to about $1,30000 to $1,500.00, depending on the jurisdiction.
There are also additional costs with attending alcohol rehabilitation classes, and other court ordered educational programs. All of these costs can add up. However, once you have been arrested on suspicion of DUI, it is highly recommendable that you understand how much the costs will entail and that they will be necessary in order to ensure you have the highest probability of having the charges against you reduced or dismissed.