Long Beach DUI Attorneys | Drunk Driving Defense Lawyers Since 1987
The Long Beach DUI lawyers at Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP have successfully defended both misdemeanor VC 23152 DUI and VC 23153 felony DUI charges in Long Beach Court for 3 decades. Long Beach lawyers, Paul Takakjian and Stephen Sitkoff, have each practiced criminal law in Southern California for over 35 years. As former prosecutors in the Long Beach Court, Mr. Takakjian and Mr. Sitkoff utilize both their decades of DUI defense experience and relationships with Long Beach prosecutors and judges ensure our clients receive the best case outcomes. DUI defense is a complex area of criminal defense practice, and it is critical that you consult with a skilled criminal lawyer with experience and expertise in defending drunk driving charges out of Long Beach Court. Call us now at (562) 606-5117 for a free no-obligation case analysis to review the facts of your case and to learn how we can defend you.
Why Consult With Our Long Beach DUI Lawyers?
A successful outcome to your drunk driving case requires a dynamic legal defense. Whether you were over the limit or not, law enforcement is required to police in accordance with the law, and prosecutors must still prove their cases beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, an experienced Long Beach DUI lawyer is an essential element to achieving the best possible outcome in court and preventing a driver’s license suspension. Mr. Takakjian and Mr. Sitkoff previously prosecuted both misdemeanor and felony DUIs in Los Angeles County and since 1987, specialized in defending drunk driving offenses in Long Beach and throughout Southern California.
When you hire our Long Beach DUI lawyers to defend you, your defense will be comprised of:
- Over 70 years of Long Beach DUI defense experience
- A former Long beach Deputy District Attorney
- A former CHP and LASD breath testing instructor
- A Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist
- A former Superior Court Commissioner
- An AV Rated and 10.0 AVVO rated attorney
Our Long Beach DUI Defense Approach
A winning drunk driving defense strategy requires experience and diligent investigation to diagnose and locate evidentiary weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. Factual weaknesses such as the arresting officer failing to comply with Title 17, a malfunctioning breathalyzer, a fermented blood specimen, or the arresting officer lacking probable cause to stop you, can be utilized to leverage more advantageous plea agreements or secure an acquittal of your Long Beach DUI at trial.
DMV Admin. Per Se License Suspension Hearing
Following an arrest for DUI in Long Beach, you may find your driver’s license absent from your property. This is no mistake as the arresting officer is required to seize your California license as the first step in the DMV’s Admin. Per Se (APS) suspension action. Although you will be without your driver’s license, the arresting officer will serve you with a temporary license, which our clients often refer to as the “pink paper.” Officially known as the DS 367 form, the “pink paper” serves as not only your valid license for the next 30 days, it also notifies you of your responsibility to notify the DMV within 10 CALENDAR DAYS from the date of your arrest to request an APS license suspension hearing at one of the four Los Angeles County DMV Driver Safety Offices or DSOs. Your failure to submit a timely request would result in an automatic suspension of your license. If you have been arrested in Long Beach for a DUI involving a blood alcohol content (BAC) above 0.08%, the DMV can take this independent suspension action against you even if your DUI charge is dismissed or reduced to a lesser offense such as Wet Reckless, Dry Reckless, or Exhibition of Speed.
Winning Your DMV APS Hearing
To avoid a DMV suspension, you must prevail at your APS hearing. At your hearing, your Long Beach DUI lawyer can present defense arguments and cross-examine witnesses to exploit inconsistencies and weaknesses in the police report versus their testimony. The following should also be examined:
- Whether the police officer had reasonable suspicion to stop you
- Whether there was probable cause to arrest you for drunk driving
- Whether the results of the blood or breath test were properly collected
- Whether the officer or a witness observed you in control of the vehicle
- Whether the officer and/or crime lab complied with Title 17
- Whether the officer properly completed the DS 367 form properly
Your Long Beach DUI And The Criminal Court
Located at 275 Magnolia Ave in the city of Long Beach, the Long Beach Courthouse will serve as the venue for the criminal aspect of your drunk driving case. Although your notice to appear in court will advise you of a mandatory appearance, a privately retained DUI lawyer can appear without your presence provided your case is filed as a misdemeanor, and not a felony DUI. The pretrial process often takes several months, and multiple court appearances before a reasonable plea agreement can be reached. However, the process could take longer if you and your DUI attorney elect for trial. The outcome in Long Beach court would determine your criminal sentencing and punishment, with the outcome occurring independently from your DMV outcome. Therefore, it would be possible to prevail at your DMV hearing resulting in a set aside of the APS suspension, but receiving a DUI conviction in court.
Penalties For A First DUI In Long Beach
Most DUIs are charged as misdemeanors. Potential penalties for a misdemeanor first offense DUI in Long Beach include:
- Up to 6 months in LA County Jail
- Up to $1,000 fine
- Informal (unsupervised) probation up to five years
- Three, nine, or twelve-month alcohol and/or drug education program
- 6-month driver’s license suspension
- 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 service or labor
Factors That can Lead To Enhanced Long Beach DUI Penalties
If you have been arrested for a first offense DUI in Long Beach, in addition to the mandatory penalties you face if convicted, you may face enhanced penalties if aggravating circumstances exist, such as:
- You caused an accident resulting in injuries
- You caused a fatal accident
- You had a minor child in your vehicle
- Your blood alcohol content (BAC) above 0.15 percent
- You refused blood or breath testing after being arrested
Consult With Our Long Beach DUI Lawyers To Learn How We Can Help You
We have specialized in Long Beach DUI defense since 1987 with an unrivaled track record of success. With over 70 years of combined trial experience as former Long Beach DUI prosecutors and law enforcement instructors, Mr. Takakjian and Mr. Sitkoff are considered amongst the best DUI lawyers in Long Beach. Call us now at (562) 606-5117 for a free consultation to review the facts of your case and each of your options at our Long Beach office. We proudly serve the following cities in the greater Long Beach area:
San Pedro, Seal Beach, Signal Hill, Bellflower, Cerritos, Torrance, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Wilmington, Harbor City, and Carson.
