Driving Under the Influence – DUI
A DUI / Drunk Driving conviction can result in loss of reputation, costly fines, required attendance at alcohol-education classes, suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, increase in or cancellation of your auto insurance, placing an ignition interlock device in your car, and, in some cases, jail or prison. In Southern California, where most commuters travel the freeways, and public transportation is generally lacking, losing the privilege to drive can be devastating to a person’s career, as well as one’s personal life.
We aggressively defend DUI charges both in court and at DMV hearings by carefully strategizing with our clients to develop a top-notch defense. We investigate why the police stopped your car, how you performed on the field sobriety tests (FSTs) and whether the breathalyzer had any history of malfunctioning. We specialize in developing successful defenses to DUI charges by utilizing the science behind blood-alcohol and our specialized knowledge of proper police procedure during a DUI arrest. Our aggressive courtroom approach leads to charges being dropped or reduced when we can demonstrate a weakness in the prosecutor’s case, such as a traffic stop lacking proper legal cause, a breathalyzer machine not operating properly, alcohol absorption that is insufficient to show true impairment, or other problems of proof that often exist.
At the Law Offices of Hart J. Levin we will work immediately to protect your rights, and fight on your behalf to avoid a serious criminal conviction being on your record. You must be advised that you have 10 days from your arrest to request a DMV hearing to prevent automatic suspension of your driving privileges. We ensure that your DMV hearing is set timely and defend you at the DMV hearing (even without you there), to protect your driving privileges.
We work tirelessly to defend your driving privileges and reduce or dismiss the charges against you using every tool at our disposal.
Criminal Defense
We provide expert criminal defense in the following areas:
Drug offenses including sales and possession, theft crimes, violent crimes, embezzlement, white collar crimes, and all other felony and misdemeanor criminal offenses.
Criminal cases range in severity from low level misdemeanors (facing up to a maximum of one year in jail), all the way up to serious or violent felonies (facing a maximum of life in prison without parole [LWOP] or even the death penalty). Felony sentencing can be extremely complex and requires expert knowledge of the most current law to ensure sentencing is fair and compliant with law. We have had several sentences reduced or overturned due to illegal sentencing schemes used by prosecutors which essentially amount to double punishment for a single crime.
Many criminal offenses can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony, known as “wobblers.” Our top-rated criminal defense expertise has been the driving force behind many felony cases being pled down to misdemeanors.
Criminal convictions can lead to life altering results, including time is prison or jail, loss of reputation, a criminal record that makes it impossible to find work, etc. It is imperative to use a criminal defense expert in cases where your livelihood is on the line.
As a former LA Deputy District Attorney, Hart Levin prosecuted thousands of cases achieving outstanding results, some of which appeared on television. As a defense attorney, Mr. Levin utilizes his expert knowledge of the law, relationships with local judges and prosecutors, and relentless and tireless drive to defend each of his clients to ensure they get the outcome they deserve.