Orange County DUI Defense Lawyers

A DUI charge can be a nightmare. Because public opinion is so unsympathetic to intoxicated driving, California voters and lawmakers have authorized harsh criminal penalties as well as onerous civil punishments that can last long after your criminal case is over. A first-time DUI in Orange County is punished with time in jail or three to five years of probation; fines and court costs of at least $1,400; months of mandatory DUI classes; and sometimes community service. In a completely separate administrative case, the DMV will also suspend your driver's license for at least four months. And then there's the financial cost of a DUI, which includes an immediate, sharp increase in your auto insurance premiums and the cost of missing work because you can no longer drive. If you're facing a DUI charge in Orange County, it pays to get help from an experienced drunk driving defense lawyer.

Wallin & Klarich can help. We have spent more than 30 years defending clients in Orange County and throughout Southern California from DUIs, "wet reckless" charges and other alcohol-related charges. Thanks to that experience, we never let our clients plead guilty just because of a number on a breathalyzer test, because we know these flawed tests can often give false positives that unfairly convict our clients before any trial. We know exactly what the prosecution must prove in order to convict you -- and we know how to counter those arguments, using flaws in the test, illegal behavior by the arresting officer and other evidence that breaks down the case against you. In cases where a guilty plea is truly appropriate, we will negotiate with prosecutors for lowered charges or alternative sentencing. Our goal is help you minimize the effect of a DUI on your family, your job and your life.

Aggressive Driving Under the Influence Defense

Among law enforcement and those who work with them, it's well known that "breathalyzer" blood-alcohol concentration tests are extremely unreliable. Decades of scientific research shows that the outcome of a breath test can be skewed by multiple factors, including health conditions and medications; non-alcohol chemicals present in your mouth or your system; how much you've eaten recently; and even the training of the officer giving the test. If your test results were at or around California's 0.08% legal limit, it's easy to see how these flaws in the test might push you over the line, turning you from a legal driver into a DUI "criminal." By law, you must submit to a breath or blood test in California or face penalties -- but Wallin & Klarich can and will challenge any test results that we believe are inaccurate or flawed, getting your charges dropped or reduced as much as possible.

These defenses may also be useful in our efforts to help you save your driver's license. In California, the DMV will automatically suspend your license 30 days after any DUI arrest -- regardless of whether you were convicted of intoxicated driving. In car-centered Orange County, this can be a disaster for most drivers, who need a car to get to work, take care of a family and perform other necessary tasks of daily life. You can save your license by asking the DMV for an administrative per se hearing on the suspension, but you have just ten days to make that request. If you miss that deadline, you can't fight it at all. Wallin & Klarich can represent you at that hearing, arguing strongly for your right to retain your license and your freedom.

Experienced Defense From Wallin & Klarich

At Wallin & Klarich, we approach each case with the belief that we could easily be defending one of our own family members. Because we've defended Orange County DUIs for more than three decades, we've seen firsthand how stressful the charge can be to our clients and their families. That's why we're committed to always being available when our clients call: 24 hours a day, seven days a week and every day of the year. And we offer free initial consultations, so there's no risk to you in calling Wallin & Klarich for an expert opinion on your case. We promise to be there when you call.