What To Do If Arrested For DUI
Driving under the influence, or DUI, is the charge for driving while intoxicated with either alcohol or drugs. In California, your blood alcohol content (BAC) may not exceed .08%, otherwise you are considered to be driving under the influence. Driving with BAC over that limit has been determined to cause impaired concentration, function and alertness, which leads to accidents. If you have been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs you are at risk of losing your license, and possibly even going to jail. Police officers in the Santa Barbara and Ventura County areas have the right to pull over any driver they suspect is driving erratically for some reason. If you have been charged with drunk driving, it is essential you obtain the services of a highly experienced and knowledgeable Santa Barbara DUI attorney who has the skill and determination to possibly get your charges reduced or even dismissed.
For additional information on specific areas of DUI, please visit these pages:
- Underage DUI
- Multiple DUI
- DUI With Injury
- Misdemeanor DUI
- Felony DUI
- Vehicular Manslaughter
- Breath & Blood Tests
- Field Sobriety Tests
- DMV Hearings
Once arrested, the less said in front of law enforcement the better. Your first action should be to contact Attorney Kenneth M. Hallum, who can immediately proceed to handling your DUI case. Unfortunately in our society today, DUI arrests and charges have become a money maker for federal and state bureaucracies. The fines, surcharges, assessments and requirements for recovery programs all add up to thousands of dollars in costs for anyone arrested or convicted of DUI, even a first offense. These legal, financial and social impacts of a DUI trial can be devastating. DUI is a political and economic vortex, of which you receive little or no mercy, compassion , or understanding.
When the evidence against you “seems” overwhelming, that is when you need a DUI attorney dedicated to DUI defense in order to make sure that every possible issue and defense is explored.
A practitioner dedicated to the art and science of California DUI defense, are the qualities of your legal representation that should be of greatest concern when retaining an attorney. Remember, the decision you make today in choosing DUI defense lawyers affects your rights, driving privileges and lifestyle for years to come, because convictions and DMV suspensions due to California drunk driving stay on your court and DMV records for the next 10 years.
Aggressive Santa Barbara DUI Lawyer
If you were pulled over for suspicion of drunk driving, you likely were given a field sobriety test, such as walking in a straight line or counting backwards. If the officer determined you were intoxicated, you would be arrested at that point. You may also given a breathalyzer test, which will measure your BAC exactly. If it measured over the legal limit of .08%, you would be charged with drunk driving. Refusing a BAC test can result in automatic suspension of your license in addition to increased penalties.
Because there are time limits that must be followed in order to properly defend your DUI arrest, it is best to contact Attorney Hallum as soon as possible after your arrest. You have 10 days to schedule a hearing, which will determine whether your license will be suspended at that time or not. If you fail to set up this hearing, you will automatically get your license suspended. There are many legal ways to fight your DUI charge, and as an experienced retired police officer, Mr. Hallum is familiar with these defenses. He has the talent and dedication to pursue every method he can to possibly get your charges reduced or even dismissed and has successfully defended countless individuals who have been charged with DUI. Attorney Hallum will personally handle your DUI case from beginning to end. Contact him today for a skilled defense of your DUI case.
Contact a Santa Barbara DUI Attorney from the Law Offices of Kenneth M. Hallum for an experienced handling of your DUI case.
Hiring a Santa Barbara DUI attorney is critical to your success if you are charged with drunk driving. There are about 2,700 drunk driving arrests in Santa Barbara County, home to more than 300,000 residents. Make sure you look at the testimonials of the lawyer before you make a decision. Testimonials are a good indicator of the past success of the attorney. Also, find out if they are a “local” attorney. Most are national law firms with marketing campaigns in the area. It helps to hire a local attorney who knows the local judges and local laws.
When it comes to getting a DUI, underage drivers are easily at most risk for the most severe punishments available. While they might not spend years in jail for an offense, there are many more consequences that are far worse for young drivers, including license suspension, fines.
DUI penalties are more serious than you think. Getting a DUI is serious business. First-time offenders need to know what to expect before they go to court so that they can be prepared for what they are getting into. The most basic penalties for a DUI include fines, license suspension, probation, and jail time.
Santa Barbara Drunk Drivers Out of an urban population of more than 300,000, Santa Barbara drunk driver arrests account for about 10% every single year. Almost 3,000 drivers are arrested for driving under the influence annually in Santa Barbara, which isn’t surprising.
When it comes to getting a DUI, Santa Barbara is one city that is not afraid to hand them out. In Santa Barbara County, there are almost 3,000 arrests every year for drunk driving. Of those, about 80% are male drivers.
Evaluating A DUI Plea bargain Being charged with a DUI in Santa Barbara is not uncommon. There are almost 3,000 arrests made every single year in Santa Barbara County, which is home to more than 300,000 residents. While 10% might not seem like a lot of DUI arrests, it’s quite high compared to other areas of California.
Preparation course from a Santa Barbara DUI attorney Getting caught driving drunk is never a good experience. Fortunately, knowing what to expect can help you to assure that you were apprehended and charged correctly and that the officer did not do anything that was out of line compared to what is typically required to prove intoxication at the time.
Looking for Santa Barbara DUI Statistics? Santa Barbara is a very popular city in California, located to the north of Los Angeles. This community is home to more than 90,000 residents in the city proper, with another 200,000+ in the urban area. Santa Barbara is connected to Los Angeles and San Francisco by U.S. Highway 101, a main highway in California.