Pasadena DUI Lawyers | Former Pasadena Prosecutors
Our Pasadena DUI Defense
DUI is one of the most common criminal offenses in Northeast Los Angeles, and Pasadena police and prosecutors pursue DUI charges aggressively. DUI penalties can potentially result in jail time, fines, DUI education classes, probation, ignition interlock device (IID), and driver’s license suspension. Although the punishment for drunk driving in Pasadena can be harsh, the consequences can be mitigated by a skilled DUI lawyer with experience successfully defending drunk driving charges in Pasadena Court.
For 3 decades, Pasadena DUI defense attorneys, Paul Takakjian and Stephen Sitkoff, have specialized in defending drunk driving cases both in criminal court and the DMV Driver Safety Office. If you are seeking the best possible outcome to your DUI case, contact our Pasadena office now at (626) 628-9185 for a free consultation to learn what your defense options are and how we can help you.
Pasadena DUI Penalties
The punishment for drunk driving in California has become more punitive over the years with the trend of increasingly harsher penalties expected to continue. Although a first offense VC 23152 DUI punishment out of Pasadena Court will not typically involve jail time, you could face enhanced sentencing which could result in mandatory jail time if you are a multi-offender with prior drunk driving or Wet Reckless convictions within the last 10 years. Your punishment would be further enhanced to include incarceration in state prison if you are charged with a felony DUI with injury under VC 23153.
If you are charged with a first offense DUI in Pasadena, you face the following:
- Up to 6 months in Jail
- Up to a $1,000 fine
- Informal probation for up to five years
- Three, nine, or twelve-month alcohol
- 6-month license suspension
- Mandatory 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
If you are charged with a 2nd offense DUI in Pasadena, you face the following:
- Mandatory 96 hours and up to 1 year in jail
- Up to 5 years of summary probation
- Up to a $1,000 fine
- 18 month SB38 (multi-offender program)
- 2 year license suspension
- 2 points on DMV record
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) victims impact panel
- Hospital and Morgue (HAM) program
- Community service or labor
- Ignition Interlock Device (IID)
If you are charged with a Felony DUI with injury in Pasadena, you face the following:
- Up to 4 years in prison
- Up to a $5,000 fine
- Formal probation up to five years
- Drunk driving education program
- Driver’s license suspension
- 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
- Felony strike under California 3 Strikes Law
- 1-year license suspension
DMV Admin. Per Se (APS) Suspension Hearing
In every drunk driving arrest where the arresting officer suspects you of driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content (BAC) above 0.08%, he or she is required to seize your driver’s license and issue you a 30 day temporary license. Often referred to as the “pink paper,” but officially known as the DS 367 form, the temporary license serves as your license for the next 30 days. In addition, it also gives you notice of your responsibility to notify the DMV within 10 CALENDAR DAYS from your arrest date to request an APS license suspension hearing. DMV APS suspension action occurs separately from the Pasadena Court action. Therefore, even if you avoid a drunk driving conviction through dismissal or plea bargain to a lesser offense such as Wet Reckless, Dry Reckless, or Exhibition of Speed, your driver’s license can still be suspended if you lose your DMV hearing.
Call Our Pasadena DUI Attorneys Today To Learn How We Can Help You Avoid A DUI Conviction And License Suspension
The Pasadena DUI lawyers at Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP have successfully defended both misdemeanor and felony drunk driving cases out of Pasadena Court since 1987. Former Pasadena prosecutors, Paul Takakjian and Stephen Sitkoff, have each practiced criminal law for over 35 years and will personally defend you. Call us today at (626) 628-9185 for free case analysis to review your case details or to book a meeting at our office located at 225 S. Lake Ave., in Pasadena. Call us today if you have been arrested in:
