DUI: Most Common DUI Mistakes

10 Biggest mistakes made by DUI Attorneys & DUI Defendants

The 10 BIGGEST Mistakes made by BOTH DUI Attorneys and Defendants

1. Not taking the matter seriously. This is a charge that will follow you for the rest of your life, if you are convicted. A DUI conviction will remain on your California criminal record forever, and could be subject to review by present and future employers, insurance companies, lenders, and others. If convicted, you will likely face increased insurance rates, or have your automobile insurance policy dropped altogether. Would a conviction be permanent record? The California DMV will keep track of a DUI conviction until you are dead! And then your descendants can pull it up from public records. You should defend yourself at all costs…

2. Not hiring an attorney who is qualified in DUI. Or hiring a general criminal lawyer who has never handled a DUI case can be costly in so many ways. The California DUI laws are extremely complex and you will need competent representation. You must raise the right defenses at the right time or you will lose them. The equipment and evidence pertaining to California drunk driving cases is very technical and scientific in nature. Facts will disappear, memories fade and witnesses vanish. A winnable case can quickly become a losing case. What should you do? You need legal advice and you need it fast. The California DUI Lawyer you choose can make a critical difference in the outcome of your case.

3. Hiring an attorney based on the amount of the fee alone. The State of California has virtually unlimited resources when it comes to prosecuting your case. You need to hire an attorney and pay a fee which will allow him to put time and effort into your case to counter the prosecution’s efforts to come down hard on you: their responsibility from the legislature and from private groups who demand the DA’s prosecute DUI with the utmost vigor and maximum penalties. DUI and Domestic Violence cases get a lot of outside pressure. You need to be represented.

When it comes to defense, you’ll undoubtedly get what you pay for. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and you could be pleading guilty before you know it. You’ll need a lawyer who understands California’s DUI laws, and is not afraid to protect you at trial.  This does not mean that our fees are at the high end. Our fees are reasonable and we make what payment arrangements are necessary to assist you at this difficult time in your life.

4. Failing to request a California DMV hearing within TEN (10) DAYS of your arrest. California law mandates that individuals arrested for DUI have their licenses suspended if their BAC levels are measured at 0.08% or above, or if they refuse to take the breath test. If you don’t request a hearing, you could lose your license for a minimum of 90 days.  If you do request a hearing, you can at the least, make a case to maintain your right to drive.

Should the DMV prevail in taking away your driving privileges at your hearing, you should know that the evidence collected by your Los Angeles County DUI Attorney can be put to good use defending you at the criminal trial.

5. Driving after your license has been revoked. You have no right to drive after revocation and driving then is more serious an offense than your original charge. California criminal & DMV penalties are actually higher for driving with a suspended license charge when the license suspension or revocation resulted from an California DUI conviction or related Drunk Driving offense.

Driving with a Suspended Drivers License in California following a DUI is considered a misdemeanor crime, not just a traffic infraction. If caught, you will be arrested and faced with a minimum fine of $1000! Your vehicle may also be impounded. Of course, if this were to happen during your court appearances, the Judge and DMV will predictably come down on you harder than ever as you are disregarding the Judge’s and the State’s authority.

6. Talking to people other than an attorney about your case. Anything you say to ANYONE can be used against you. When you discuss your arrest with friends or family, you risk turning them into involuntary witnesses against you. It is in your best interest to remember the details of your arrest and keep your thoughts to yourself and only discuss your case with your attorney. This strategy will help you in your overall defense. In any criminal case, you must be represented by a competent defense lawyer.

As to self representation? Yes, you can, but it is said that a person who represents themselves in court has a fool for a lawyer. (Don’t be offended – This applies to lawyers too, who might one day end up a defendant). An uneducated and awkward attempt to represent oneself is often very annoying to a presiding judge who will likely end up exasperated with you as you inadvertently turn the judge’s courtroom into a circus with a self representation attempt. It is so foolish a move that the judge will likely insist you sign a waiver if you choose to attempt to represent yourself. If he could shake his head while you are signing it he would. It is simply foolish and everyone in the court is awaiting for the inevitable result.

7. Failure to appear in Court. The Court will issue a bench warrant for your arrest and revoke any bond you may have. The next time you are stopped for a traffic infraction, you will be arrested for (1) the outstanding bench warrant, (2) the original DUI offense, and possibly for (3) contempt of court. You will be spending some significant time in jail and posting a new –likely LARGER bond– for your future appearances.

8. Taking the witness stand and testifying in your own DUI case.

Don’t make the mistake of testifying at your court hearing unless your attorney deems it necessary. It might be necessary that you may need to briefly refute any false allegations made by the arresting officer or other witnesses, such as claiming you admitted to drinking, if in fact, you never made that admission. Other than these exceptions, the Fifth Amendment entitles you to remain silent. The facts are, that most DUI Defendants are often extremely nervous and awkward on the stand, as opposed to the prosecution’s expert witnesses, so you will rarely make a good impression on the jurors. A nervous and awkward DUI defendant will often cause the jury or judge to wonder whether the defendant is being entirely honest, – – or worse – – perhaps hiding something.

9. Taking the District Attorney’s first offer. The first offer is not a bargain, it’s just to get rid of your case with the least amount of work. By taking this offer without doing proper investigation on your California DUI case, you do not give the judge an opportunity to rule on constitutional challenges. You give up your right to raise these issues and make the State prove its case.

10. Failing to have a back-up or loss-mitigation strategy. While the ultimate goal of taking a case to trial is to effect a “non-guilty” verdict, there are times when circumstances outside of your control will affect the case. If your DUI offense was a felony, and/or there was bodily injury caused to another resulting from your driving impairment, or perhaps you have prior DUI convictions, you should strategically prepare for the sentencing portion of your hearing. You need an experienced and competent California DUI Lawyer on your side who will present you and your case in the best possible light; who will call appropriate witnesses on your behalf, and who will testify as to your significant contributions to your community, your family’s dependence on you, and your remorse and rehabilitative accomplishments and goals since your DUI arrest. It is always wise to be prepared to effectively mitigate any DUI punishments that might be leveled against you.

If ever there’s a time to find a quality, experienced Los Angeles County Area DUI Lawyer, that time is now.

Considering that your very freedom itself may be on the line, it makes sense to opt for the best DUI legal defense available to you. Fortunately, you have the option to call an extremely competent Los Angeles DUI Lawyer.

At the Law Office of Troy Slaten, we know the local courts, the judges, the prosecutors and the minutia of building a strong DUI defense.

The clock is running and that is not a cliché. Time is not on your side.

Your initial phone and office consultations are free and utterly confidential. If your recent ordeal leaves you without transportation, I can make arrangements to come to you, meet you at a local Starbucks, or whatever is necessary to get you the legal representation that you need to get your life back on track.

Let’s talk about your predicament,

Troy Slaten, Esq.
—Los Angeles DUI Lawyer

Law Offices of Troy Slaten
(888) 829-0085


e-Mail Troy Slaten Map to Office

L.A. Criminal Law Attorney Troy Slaten is the managing attorney for the Criminal Law Division of Floyd, Skeren, & Kelly, LLP and has extensive, proven, and respected criminal trial experience with cases ranging from traffic infractions, to criminal misdemeanors, to serious and violent felonies.

Knowledge is Power and we will share our knowledge with you when your very freedom is at stake.

Call our office to schedule an appointment with attorney Troy Slaten. Our offices are open 9 am – 5 pm, Monday through Friday, and our service can reach us if you have a pressing after-hours matter.

Call (888) 829-0085


~ Los Angeles • Orange County • ALL of Southern California ~

Free Consultations · Credit Cards Accepted · Payment Plans


e-Mail Troy Slaten Map to Office
L.A. Criminal Law Attorney Troy Slaten is the managing attorney for the Criminal Law Division of Floyd, Skeren, & Kelly, LLP and has extensive, proven, and respected criminal trial experience with cases ranging from traffic infractions, to criminal misdemeanors, to serious and violent felonies. Knowledge is Power and we will share our knowledge with you when your very freedom is at stake.
Call our office to schedule an appointment with attorney Troy Slaten. Our offices are open 9 am – 5 pm, Monday through Friday, and our service can reach us if you have a pressing after-hours matter. Call (888) 829-0085

~ Los Angeles • Orange County • ALL of Southern California ~

Free Consultations · Credit Cards Accepted · Payment Plans