THE KAVINOKY LAW FIRM

Some California DUI cases are best taken to trial, but others can be successfully resolved with a skillfully negotiated plea bargain. A plea bargain should be just what the name implies – a good deal for both you and the prosecution. You receive reduced charges and/or punishment in exchange for pleading guilty and saving the prosecution the trouble of a trial.  A top California DUI attorney from The Kavinoky Law Firm is skilled in every aspect of negotiating plea bargains and will do everything possible to reach an acceptable settlement in your drunk driving case.

A prosecutor is most likely to offer a favorable plea bargain when it seems as if his or her chances of winning your California DUI case at trial are fairly low.  Your California DUI attorney will do everything possible to leverage a better settlement by improving your prospects of winning at trial, even if your case never goes that far.

There are many ways that your California DUI attorney can strengthen your defense and increase your changes of obtaining a favorable plea bargain. One way of doing this is through the use of pretrial motions. Motions are official requests to the court to take specific actions. Some common motions used in California DUI cases are motions to suppress evidence, motions to strike prior convictions, and Pitchess motions, which are requests to look at a police officer’s personnel record to find prior complaints that bolster your claim that the officer acted inappropriately in your case.

There are a number of other ways that you can improve your prospects for a favorable plea bargain in your California DUI case.  One way to strengthen your defense is with voluntary substance abuse treatment, if it’s called for in your case. Not every California DUI arrest signifies that the driver has problems with alcohol, but many individuals arrested for drunk driving can benefit from rehabilitation.

A skilled California DUI attorney is invaluable when it comes to negotiating a favorable settlement in a drunk driving case. A knowledgeable DUI lawyer has experience in negotiating settlement terms and knows how to point out flaws in the prosecution’s case that are likely to prompt a settlement.

There are a number of lesser charges that can be included in a plea bargain for a California DUI case. These include reckless driving involving alcohol, also known as wet reckless. This is a less-serious charge than DUI and carries fewer repercussions. An even better plea bargain involves reckless driving not involving alcohol, also known as dry reckless. In some cases, you may be offered a plea bargain that allows you to plead guilty to exhibition of speed. This is an excellent outcome to a California DUI case. In a few rare cases you may be offered the opportunity to plead guilty to a traffic infraction such as an unsafe lane change. This typically involves a fine only and is an outstanding outcome to a California DUI case.

Your attorney may negotiate a plea bargain in your California DUI case that includes alternate sentencing. Some alternative sentences in California DUI cases include alcohol or drug treatment, electronic monitoring, Caltrans work, community service, work furlough, etc. Although some of these options may seem undesirable, they are all far better than spending time in jail or prison.

A plea bargain can provide an excellent outcome in some California DUI cases. To learn more about plea bargains in drunk driving cases, please contact a knowledgeable California DUI attorney from The Kavinoky Law Firm today at 1-800-NO-CUFFS for a free consultation.