Contact An Attorney Before Taking Breath Or Blood Test in California?
You can certainly try to contact an attorney before deciding whether or not to take the breath or blood test. Still, realistically speaking, the police are not going to let you use your phone while they are investigating you for DUI. It's unlikely that you could successfully discuss things with an attorney then.
If you have been pulled over and the police believe that you have been drinking and driving, most attorneys will advise you to cooperate with them and take a breath or blood test.
If you refuse, you will lose your driver's license for one year. In addition, you will probably end up with a DUI conviction because it will be hard to rebut the presumption related to a DUI refusal in Los Angeles County.
What To Do After Release from Jail
After your release from jail in Los Angeles County, you'll receive a ticket with your next court date, time, and location. If you're bailed out, the bail bond company will provide you with a half-slip of paper detailing your court date and the reason for your booking.
It's crucial to take this paperwork to a qualified DUI attorney who can guide you through the process. The paperwork will also include an ECI reading, which is the reading from the breath test.
If you have a California driver's license and are arrested in LA County for a DUI, the police will usually take your license and send it to the DMV. They will give you a pink slip that serves as a temporary license for 30 days.
If you were to be pulled over during this period, you could show the police the pink slip as proof of lawful driving. Once you hire an attorney, they will handle the DMV hearing for you, providing you with the support and guidance you need during this challenging time.
It's essential to avoid giving the police information because they will only try to use it against you in a later prosecution. This will make it more difficult for your attorney to represent you. Another mistake would be to attempt to handle a DUI case without an attorney. Since you are not an attorney, you won't know which questions to ask or how to defend your case correctly.
Will I Have To Go After a DUI Arrest?
In Los Angeles County, you will typically have a court date within about 30 days of a DUI arrest. It's crucial to note that a warrant will be issued for your arrest if you do not appear at that court date.
However, if you hire an attorney, they can make that first court appearance for you, alleviating some of the stress and pressure. This is the practice of my firm; we attend the first court appearance, review the paperwork, meet with you, and speak to the prosecutor to get a feel for what we are up against.
We will ask for two or three weeks to continue reviewing all of the paperwork, allow you to review it, and decide how to proceed.
