Los Angeles County
Los Angeles DUI Lawyer
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The Short Answer
A Los Angeles DUI means a criminal case at one of LA County's many courthouses plus a separate DMV action with a 10 day deadline to request a hearing. First offenses typically resolve with probation, fines, and DUI school rather than jail, and litigation-ready defense regularly produces wet reckless reductions or better. We defend DUI cases across LA County from our Burbank office and handle both the court case and the DMV hearing.
Los Angeles runs the largest DUI docket in America, spread across courthouses from the Metropolitan Courthouse downtown to branch courts in Van Nuys, Burbank, Glendale, and beyond. Where your case lands shapes how it should be fought, because filing standards and courtroom customs genuinely differ.
Farris Law Firm defends LA DUI cases from our Burbank office with a deliberately limited caseload: the police report read line by line, the video actually watched, and the DMV hearing used as a weapon rather than treated as a formality.
DUI Cases We Defend Across Los Angeles
First offense DUI (VC 23152)
Misdemeanor prosecuted by the LA City Attorney in the city, or the DA elsewhere in the county. Probation and fines are typical; reductions are common with prepared defense.
Repeat offense DUI
Mandatory jail minimums and long programs. Alternatives like electronic monitoring and residential treatment can substitute for custody with the right advocacy.
Felony DUI
Injury cases and fourth offenses. Serious exposure that demands immediate, litigation-grade defense.
Commercial and rideshare drivers
Stricter 0.04 BAC limits and career-ending license consequences that reshape defense strategy.
Marijuana and drug DUI
No reliable impairment number exists for THC, which makes these cases far more defensible than prosecutors admit.
Typical First Offense Terms in LA County
Standard outcomes for an uncomplicated first offense. Aggravating factors raise exposure; defense work lowers outcomes.
| Charge | Level | Exposure |
|---|---|---|
| Informal probation | 3 years | Standard first offense term |
| Fines and assessments | About $2,000 | Payment plans available through the court |
| DUI school | 3 to 9 months | Length rises with BAC |
| License action | DMV suspension | Interlock and restricted options usually keep you driving |
How We Fight LA DUI Cases
The same litigation pressure that wins cases in Orange County works across LA's courthouses:
- Suppression motions on unlawful stops and arrests
- Title 17 attacks on breath and blood testing procedures
- Rising BAC, GERD, and medical defenses
- Checkpoint compliance challenges: DUI checkpoints have strict operational rules
- Knowing the difference between City Attorney and DA policies, and using it
- The reduction ladder: wet reckless, dry reckless, exhibition of speed
Frequently Asked Questions
Which LA courthouse will my DUI go to?
It depends on where you were arrested: city of LA misdemeanor DUIs typically go to the Metropolitan Courthouse, while Valley arrests go to branch courts like Van Nuys or Burbank. Read us your citation in a free call and we will tell you the courthouse, the prosecutor, and what to expect there.
Who prosecutes my LA DUI?
Inside the city of Los Angeles, misdemeanor DUIs are handled by the City Attorney; felonies and cases elsewhere in the county belong to the District Attorney. Their diversion and reduction policies differ, and defense strategy should account for who is across the table.
Was the checkpoint I was stopped at even legal?
Checkpoints must follow strict rules on supervision, neutral selection formulas, signage, and publicity. Violations can suppress the stop entirely. Bring us the location and time and we will investigate how it was run.
Can I keep driving for work?
Usually yes, through restricted or ignition interlock licenses even if a suspension is imposed, provided the DMV hearing is requested within 10 days. Protecting your ability to work is one of the first things we handle.
Charged or under investigation? Talk to a defense attorney tonight.
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