Torrance DUI Lawyers | Former South Bay Prosecutors
If you have been recently arrested for a DUI in Torrance or anywhere in the South Bay, it is imperative that you consult with qualified Torrance DUI attorneys with experience defending drunk driving charges out of Torrance Court. Even as a first offense, a DUI in Torrance carries a number of mandatory penalties that can carry consequences that extend beyond your immediate punishment. Since 1987, the DUI attorneys at Sitkoff & Hanrahan, LLP have successfully defended both felony and misdemeanor DUI charges in Torrance Court and the El Segundo DMV Driver Safety Office. With over 70 years of combined DUI defense experience, former Torrance Court prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys Eugene Hanrahan and Stephen Sitkoff provide our South Bay clients with an unparalleled advantage in both the courtroom and DMV Driver Safety Office. Highly rated and recognized amongst the most experienced DUI attorneys in Torrance, Mr. Hanrahan, and Mr. Sitkoff, personally handle each of their cases with a genuine commitment to obtaining only the best case outcomes. If you are in need of an experienced DUI lawyer or legal counsel in Torrance, call our South Bay DUI defense firm now at (424) 757-0865 for a free consultation to review the facts of your case or to schedule an appointment at our Torrance office location.
Our South Bay DUI Defense Approach
Drunk driving defense is a complex area of criminal defense practice, which involves defending your criminal matter out of the Torrance criminal court and the administrative suspension matter out of El Segundo DMV Driver Safety Office. Therefore, the experience and expertise of your DUI lawyer can be the single most critical factor towards achieving the best possible resolution to your drunk driving case and preserving your driving privilege. As former Torrance Court prosecutors, we know the investigative rules and procedures law enforcement and crime labs must follow in order to properly and legally capture and preserve chemical evidence, as well as the procedures they must follow in order to ensure integrity and reliability of the chemical evidence. More importantly, we know what evidence Torrance prosecutors need to prove their DUI case against you, as well as how to attack the evidence they do have. Clients who entrust the defense of their DUI cases to us can count on us to perform the following tasks:
- Subpoena the arresting police officer to face a thorough cross-examination of his/her police report, DUI investigative training, and Title 17 compliance at your DMV Admin. Per Se (APS) hearing
- Subpoena radio, communication, and dispatch logs to verify the timeline the arresting officer represents in his/her police report
- Subpoena dash and body cam video, as well as audio recordings to compare to the arresting officer’s representations in his/her police report
- Subpoena maintenance and calibration records for each breathalyzer instrument used
- Subpoena a split sample of your chemical specimen (blood/urine) for independent testing by our independent forensic toxicology lab
DUI Punishment In Torrance Court
The penalty for a South Bay DUI conviction depends on the specific circumstances of your case and whether there are aggravating factors involved such as a traffic collision, blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level above 0.15, excessive speed (speed enhancement), or chemical test refusal. Your punishment can be further enhanced with mandatory jail time if you have prior drunk driving convictions within the last 10 years, whether the convictions occurred in or outside of the state of California. An skilled Torrance DUI attorney can help you avoid the following the potential punishments you face if charged with a DUI in Torrance Court:
- Jail time up to 1 year
- Fines up to $1,000
- Summary or informal probation for up to 5 years
- Drunk driving education program up to 12 months
- Driver’s license suspension for 6 months or 1 year for chemical test refusal
- Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device (IID)
- 2 points on DMV Record
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) victims impact panel
- Hospital and Morgue (HAM) program
- Community labor or service
2nd misdemeanor DUI punishment in Torrance:
- 4 days of mandatory imprisonment and up to 1 year in jail
- Fines up to $1,000
- Summary or informal probation for up to 5 years
- Drunk driving education program up to 18 months
- Driver’s license suspension for 2 years
- Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device (IID)
- 2 points on DMV Record
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) victims impact panel
- Hospital and Morgue (HAM) program
- Community labor or service
3rd misdemeanor DUI punishment in Torrance
- 120 days of mandatory imprisonment and up to 1 year in jail
- Fines up to $1,000
- Summary or informal probation for up to 5 years
- Drunk driving education program up to 30 months
- Driver’s license suspension for 3 years
- Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device (IID)
- 2 points on DMV Record
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) victims impact panel
- Hospital and Morgue (HAM) program
- Community labor or service
Torrance Courthouse
If you have been arrested for drunk driving in the South Bay, you likely have an upcoming court date at the Torrance Courthouse for your arraignment hearing. Located at 825 Maple Ave in the city of Torrance, 90503, this court serves as the jurisdictional court for all criminal matters arising out of the South Bay cities of Los Angeles County. There are 3 independent prosecutorial agencies within the courthouse and the agency which assumes the prosecution of your case will be determined by the city you were arrested in and/or the charge level (felony or misdemeanor). The 3 agencies are:
- Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office – (310) 222-3552
Prosecutes all felonies committed in the South Bay and all misdemeanors committed in
South Bay cities with the exception of Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach and Torrance - Redondo Beach City Attorney’s Office – (310) 318-0633
Only prosecutes misdemeanor crimes committed in the cities of Redondo and Hermosa Beach - Torrance City Attorney’s Office – (310) 618-5810
Only prosecutes misdemeanor crimes committed in the city of Torrance
How Much Does a DUI Lawyer Cost in Torrance, CA?
You’ve been charged with a DUI, and now you may be wondering how much it is going to cost you in attorney’s fees as well as fines. On top of any associated fines imposed by the court (see above), your criminal defense is likely to cost you as well.
While cost is an important factor in hiring your defense, quality is equally, if not more, important. Hiring an experienced local DUI lawyer will help ensure that you get the legal defense you need. The investment you make in your legal team will be well worth it because they will guide you every step of the way and will help you seek the minimum sentence possible for your specific circumstances. The difference between representing yourself and paying for a defense attorney can be the difference between being jailed for your crime or living free.
Flat Rate vs. Hourly Rate
Some law firms will charge you a flat rate for your defense whereas others will charge you an hourly rate dependent on how many hours they spend working for you. Also keep in mind that there may be additional fees or expenses that the law firm will pass along to you. Hourly rates can vary drastically, but an experienced DUI attorney in Torrance, CA typically charges between $100 and $500 per hour. The best way to determine what your costs will be is to understand your attorney’s fee structure and request an estimate of total costs before committing to hiring a particular attorney.
Factors That Affect Cost
Some factors that can affect the total cost of your defense are the expertise of your attorney or law firm, your prior criminal history, the complexity of your case, any required appeals for your case, and the use of expert witnesses in court.
At Sitkoff & Hanrahan, LLP, we provide free consultations and estimates for your specific circumstances, so you can make an informed decision about whether our legal counsel is the best match for you. Whether this is your first DUI arrest or you have been accused of DUI in the past, we are here to help. You can contact us through our website or give us a call at (424) 757-0865 to schedule your free consultation.
Contact Our Torrance DUI Attorneys Today For A Free Consultation
Whether you are facing a first offense misdemeanor DUI or a 4th offense felony DUI, you can rest assured that as a client of our firm, you will receive first-class legal representation and a genuine commitment to a successful resolution of your case. Mr. Hanrahan and Mr. Sitkoff are highly decorated former senior deputy district attorneys who previously prosecuted both misdemeanor and felony drunk driving cases out of Torrance Court and since 1987, have specialized in DUI defense in the South Bay. Please contact us now at (424) 757-0865 for a free no-obligation consultation to review the facts of your case and each of your potential outcomes. We proudly serve the following South Bay communities: Gardena, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, and Torrance.
