Buena Park combines family-friendly entertainment spaces with shopping areas and heavy commuter traffic. The movement of traffic along major roads such as Beach Boulevard and the 91 Freeway allows law enforcement officers in Buena Park to remain vigilant about DUI enforcement, but can also lead to over-policing and wrongful arrests. If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence, a Buena Park DUI lawyer can help you understand your rights.
The law firm of Gibbons & Gibbons is family-operated and benefits from over 60 years of courtroom experience. With over 400 cases tried to verdict, our experience has established us as leaders in aggressive advocacy and honest client service. We assign appropriate importance to each case because we see beyond the paperwork to recognize you as a person. We believe you deserve a strong defense because your future matters.
Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is considered a crime in California and across the nation. This means that anyone caught driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08% or more can be charged with a DUI. The limit is 0.04% for commercial drivers and 0.01% for those under the age of 21.
A person can also be charged with a DUI if they are under the influence of prescription drugs, if it impairs their ability to drive.
Scientific evidence and complex technical processes form the basis of DUI cases, which sets them apart from other criminal cases. Police use breathalyzers, blood tests, and field sobriety tests to establish whether someone is impaired. However, these tools are not foolproof. Any mistake, like incorrect officer protocol execution, faulty breathalyzer calibration, or even your medical condition, can result in reduced charges or complete case dismissal.
The North Justice Center at 1275 N. Berkeley Ave., Fullerton, CA, serves as the venue for hearing cases in Buena Park. The North Justice Center addresses numerous criminal charges, with DUI cases being one of the most frequent.
Buena Park is a part of Orange County. In 2020, there were 7,885 DUI arrests in Orange County, 215 of which were felony arrests, 31 were juvenile arrests, and 7,639 were misdemeanor arrests.
In California, first-time offenders face extensive penalties for DUI convictions. These include:
When DUI cases become aggravated due to factors like high BAC levels, multiple violations, accidents, or minors being present in the vehicle, the punishment intensifies to include felony charges and possible state prison time.
Your car insurance premiums could increase significantly, and there’s also a risk that the insurance company may cancel your policy altogether. Your current employer might discipline you or even fire you from your position when driving duties are mandatory for your job.
Job seekers with a DUI on their record face diminished employment opportunities because numerous employers conduct background checks. The revocation or suspension of professional licenses can impact healthcare workers, educators, and real estate professionals, among others.
A DUI conviction can also negatively affect personal relationships as well as child custody agreements. The combined effects of social stigma and court-imposed requirements such as counseling and probation create significant burdens for you and your loved ones.
A DUI charge does not immediately result in a conviction. Your case details determine which legal defenses are potentially available. A seasoned lawyer can call into question the legal basis for the traffic stop initiation or the improper execution of field sobriety tests. Defense strategies can challenge breath and blood test results based on calibration mistakes or poor sample management, as well as medical conditions influencing BAC levels.
Some evidence might be deemed inadmissible if constitutional rights were violated during its collection. Defense lawyers can arrange for lesser charges or alternative sentencing options, such as diversion programs, for DUI offenders. Early involvement of a defense lawyer enhances your ability to construct a powerful strategic defense that safeguards your legal rights and future.
You can beat a DUI case in California by contesting essential factors, including the traffic stop’s legality, testing accuracy for breath or blood tests, and police procedural correctness. Evidence that shows probable cause is lacking, that medical conditions impacted test results, or that field sobriety tests were unreliable may result in reduced charges or dismissal. The outcome of your case depends largely on its individual details.
Yes, you can often plea bargain a DUI in California. A prosecutor may consider lowering the charge to “wet reckless” when there are case weaknesses, including questionable evidence, and the defendant has no prior convictions. A plea deal can lead to reduced penalties and potentially prevent jail time or license revocation. Implementing a strong legal strategy increases your chances of negotiating a beneficial agreement.
The odds of beating a DUI case depend on multiple factors, including evidence quality, legal representation quality, and the arrest circumstances. A large portion of DUI charges end in conviction, but many charges get reduced or dismissed when defense teams expose procedural mistakes, faulty testing procedures, or an absence of probable cause. Working with an experienced lawyer greatly enhances your likelihood of achieving a positive outcome.
California courts frequently reduce DUI charges, especially for borderline BAC cases and first-time offenders or when evidence lacks strength. Legal or procedural complications during DUI cases often result in plea deals that downgrade charges to “wet reckless.” Different counties show variations in statistics, but charge reductions often happen when the prosecution lacks a strong case or when a defendant has effective legal representation.
If you or someone you know has been charged with a DUI, an attorney at Gibbons & Gibbons can help you. Contact us today to speak with a representative.