I need an SR22 auto insurance after being charged with DUI here in Los Angeles, California. How long do I have to maintain it and how long will my DUI stay on my record?

Virgil

Los Angeles, CA

It’s a good thing that you are now thinking about getting SR22 auto insurance after being charged with DUI in Los Angeles, California. You need the SR22 auto insurance so that you can get your driver’s license back at the end of your suspension period. That is actually a requirement by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to reinstate your driver’s license. You have to carry the SR22 auto insurance for three years under normal circumstances. But the terms can be extended with the presence of stricter enforcement of DMV laws and lobbying against drunk drivers.

The bad part about your DUI charge is that this violation would stay on your driving record for 10 years. It would be rated for points by auto insurance companies for three years, so that would be some relief, but most preferred insurers don’t take drivers with DUI violations, so it may be a long wait until you get that kind of policy. But you can absolutely get a free online rate quote for your SR22 auto insurance from this website.

I know that on my first court date for my DUI charge here in Los Angeles, California, I would have to plead guilty or not guilty for the charge. What other things usually happens during the first court hearing?

Izzie

Los Angeles, CA

Aside from the advisement of your rights, reading the charges against you and entering a plea of guilty or not guilty, there are some other things that would happen on your arraignment or first court date for your DUI charge in Los Angeles, California. This is when the court will decide whether or not to set bail, or whether any preliminary bail amount set by the police must be changed.

You driver’s license will also be confiscated and your California driving privileges will be suspended. If you have refused a blood alcohol test, the judge will schedule an administrative hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles to determine if your privileges should be revoked for refusing the test. During the arraignment, the court will also schedule a future date and time for further proceedings regarding your DUI case. The judge would specify what the reason is for the next court appearance or proceedings. The reasons could include a preliminary hearing, a pre-trial conference, pre-trial motions, or trial.

I have a DUI charge here in Los Angeles, California and I think they have a strong case against me? Do you think I should simply plead guilty to my DUI case?

Jackson

Los Angeles, CA

No, you don’t have to plead guilty to your DUI case in Los Angeles, California even if you think that they have a strong case against you. The truth is that a DUI conviction in the state of California carries significant penalties and ramifications which you will feel for many years if you simply plead guilty to your DUI case. It would be very foolish to assume that there would be no chance of success in a DUI case yet we are repeatedly faced with this common mistake.

Every Municipal Court Judge encourages those who are accused of DUI to retain a DUI defense lawyer at the time of arraignment because they know that there is something that could be accomplished by a defense lawyer in a DUI case. An experienced DUI lawyer would tell you that there are a lot of defenses to DUI charges and the honest truth is that you will never have the advantage if utilizing those possible defenses unless you consult a knowledgeable DUI defense lawyer. And I’m pretty sure that any DUI lawyer you consult will tell you that you don’t have to immediately plead guilty on your DUI charge.

I heard my mom and my sister talking about getting an SR22 auto insurance or something like that. I kinda have an idea about it but I don’t really know exactly what it is. Is this one required after my sister’s DUI charge here in Los Angeles, California?

Harriet

Los Angeles, CA

Yes, Harriet, an SR22 auto insurance is required after your sister’s DUI charge in Los Angeles, California. This form would be an agreement between the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the insurance company which states that they are providing the required coverage for your sister. This also means that if for any reason the insurance company is no longer providing the coverage for her, they would have to notify the DMV about it. If this happens, the DMV could suspend her driving privileges again for not maintaining the required high risk auto insurance coverage.

So the SR22 auto insurance could be basically considered as a contract between the DMV and the insurance company. The first thing that your sister should do is to work out a deal with her insurance company if they could be able to provide her the SR22 auto insurance. If they can’t file the SR22 form for her, she would have to seek out other insurance company that could provide her the necessary coverage. I recommend that she get an online rate quote for her SR22 auto insurance directly from this website.

A friend of mine was recently charged with DUI here in Los Angeles, California and he doesn’t want to go to trial because he wants to have this over and done with. I heard that he is hoping to have the DUI charges reduced that’s why he is planning to plead guilty. Question is, if his DUI charge will be reduced to wet reckless, will this be considered as a prior in case he gets arrested again for DUI in the future?

Abbie

Los Angeles, CA

You gotta tell your friend that there is a lot at stake if he pleads guilty for his DUI charge in Los Angeles, California and just hope that his charges will be reduced. Yes, there are certain ways that the DUI case could be resolved without proceeding to trial. But I strongly suggest that he seeks professional legal advice first before doing anything he might regret later on. On the other hand, there are some DUI cases that plea bargaining would be appropriate and he has to remember that each DUI case is different, and there are times that admission of guilt to the DUI charge would be in his best interest.

He may have the DUI charge reduced to wet reckless which is an alcohol-related reckless driving. In several respects, wet reckless is no different from a DUI charge which means that if he gets arrested for a similar offense within 10 years, the wet reckless conviction would be considered as a prior DUI conviction. Moreover, most auto insurance companies would treat a wet reckless conviction just like a DUI conviction. But there would be some benefits of having the DUI charge reduced to wet reckless because there would be no mandatory DUI school with this charge and no mandatory driver’s license suspensions or restrictions.

I was told that there is an alternative to jail term if my cousin will be convicted for his DUI in Los Angeles, California. What kind of alternative is this and how does this work?

Kason

Los Angeles, CA

If your cousin would be sentenced to jail for his DUI charge in Los Angeles, California, there is an attractive alternative to a jail term which is an electronically monitored “house arrest,” or home detention. The correctional administrator can offer this program under which minimum security inmates and low-risk offenders committed to a county jail can voluntarily participate in a home detention program during their sentence in lieu of confinement in the county jail.

The home detention usually involves periodic telephone checks, wearing a bracelet or anklet transmitter, or both telephone checks and wearing a transmitter. The restriction isn’t necessarily 24 hours a day but the correctional administrator could permit home detention program participants to seek and retain employment in the community, seek medical and dental assistance or attend psychological counseling sessions or educational or vocational training classes. This is also commonly given to the detainee to pick up cleaning, shop for food and pursue other necessary chores.

I was told that the most important thing for me to do after being charged with DUI in Los Angeles, California is to hire a DUI lawyer. To be honest, I’m hesitant to do that because it might cost too much. Could you tell me why is it essential to hire a DUI lawyer?

Zion

Los Angeles, CA

You need to hire a DUI lawyer as soon as possible to help you on your DUI case in Los Angeles, California. It is actually a valid point that a good DUI lawyer is expensive, but that is because of the value they provide. Think about paying an expensive DUI lawyer in exchange to potential fines, jail time, community service, possible loss of job, etc. A DUI lawyer knows your legal right in your DUI charge. He/she would be able to help you from self-incriminating yourself or any other mistakes you are likely to make.

A good DUI lawyer would also know how to defend you in court. You will need the experience of a good DUI lawyer as they know how to talk to judges, juries and the prosecution and they will know the law far more thoroughly than you will, given their years of legal experience. An experienced DUI lawyer would also know how to work with the particularities of your DUI case and history. I hope in the end, you’d be glad that you seek the services of a good DUI lawyer.

My brother was arrested for drunk driving just two days ago in Los Angeles, California but I was out of state. I haven’t gotten the chance to talk to him or to anyone after he was bailed out. Someone just mentioned to me that he refused to take the breath test. What happens to him now because of his refusal to take the breath test?

Hayden

Los Angeles, CA

Since your brother was driving on a public highway in Los Angeles, California and was arrested for drunk driving, his driver’s license will be suspended for one year because of his refusal to do a breath test. The breath test refusal can also be used against him in court. Many times, it is possible to take administrative legal action to regain his driver’s license and there are many legal reasons why someone would not want to blow into a breathalyzer.

Furthermore, even if the one-year driver’s license suspension is maintained, that suspension is so much better than a DUI conviction. A person should never take a breath test, especially without an attorney present. That being said, even if your brother blew well above the legal limit, there are many ways to fight his DUI charge in Los Angeles. At this point, you have to make sure that you hire a DUI lawyer to help your brother defend his DUI charge. The DUI lawyer would guide him through the proceedings and help clarify the severity of charges brought against him. An experienced Los Angeles DUI lawyer can definitely look at several ways to attack your brother’s DUI charge.

I am battling a DUI charge here in Los Angeles, California and still hoping that I will not be convicted. I was told that if I will be convicted for the DUI offense, I would need to get SR22 for my car insurance? What is this and how important is getting this?

Oakley

Los Angeles, CA

Since you have a DUI charge in Los Angeles, California, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has suspended your driving license. You would have to obtain SR22 insurance policy to reinstate your license. Your insurance company will provide SR22 filling which serves as a proof of insurance to the DMV. In this way, the DMV is assured that an insurance company has provided at least minimum liability coverage for you. Your insurance company will immediately inform the DMV if the policy lapses for any reason.

In Los Angeles, the SR22 filing period is for three years. But the term can be extended depending on individual cases due to stringent insurance laws in Los Angeles. As soon as the SR22 filing period is over, the insurance premiums will be lower, depending on your driving history. The prices of insurance are based on your driving history and also on your driving experience. It’s great that you can get online quotes for SR22 car insurance from this site.

My son just got arrested for DUI . We decided to hire a DUI lawyer and my husband is the one who usually deals with the lawyer regarding my son’s case. What are the possible defenses that he could have on his DUI case?

Monica

Los Angeles, CA

There are many lawyers in Los Angeles, California, but there are only few who are well experienced in DUI cases. I hope the lawyer that you got to defend your son on his DUI charge has a lot to boast on defending DUI cases. A good DUI lawyer knows every aspect of defense to get an acquittal or at best a reduced sentence. He/she needs to be well informed of the different tactics that can be used to make your son’s case have a good outcome. Honest and good communication is necessary between the DUI lawyer and your son to ensure a comprehensive knowledge of the events that have occurred.

A good DUI lawyer needs to go over each item that can be used in your son’s defense. The defenses that the DUI lawyer will use relate to matters such as:
-If your son’s constitutional rights have been breached
-If the police officer concerned followed the correct procedures
-If you son was read his rights when the police officer made the DUI arrest
-If the blood and alcohol level tests were properly carried out
-If the equipment used to monitor blood alcohol levels was maintained and in good working order

An experienced legal expert in the field of DUI Law would know exactly what to look out for and would be aware of the various loopholes that can mean the difference between a successful charge or dismissal of charges.