Handling DUI Bench Warrants in Los Angeles

Did You Miss Your DUI Court Hearing?

Anyone who misses a criminal court hearing for their DUI will have a bench warrant issued against them, which means that they can be arrested on the spot. If you failed to appear at your DUI court hearing, contact a Los Angeles DUI attorney at Gold & Witham.

Our experienced team has the defense strategies you need to combat a drunk driving charge, even if you have committed the additional offense of failure to appear.

Get in touch with our DUI lawyers for your free consultation.

How Much Jail Time for a DUI Warrant in California?

What typically happens after a DUI arrest is that the suspect is taken to jail to await formal charges. DUI offenders typically are not held for long before they get to appear before a judge. After this, they are let go and told to return for their formal DUI hearing.

If the DUI warrant was issued because the person failed to appear in court or violated the terms of their probation, the judge may issue a bench warrant for their arrest. If the person is then found guilty of DUI, they may face additional jail time as a result of the warrant.

According to CPC § 1320, failure to appear in court to face your DUI charge is a misdemeanor with penalties such as:

• Up to six months in jail, and/or
• Fined up to $1,000

The consequences for failing to appear for a felony DUI are more severe. Penalties for failure to appear for a felony DUI in California include:

• Fine up to $5,000-$10,000,
• County jail sentence up to 1 year, or
• Prison for 16 months to 3 years

Is There a Warrant Out for My Arrest?

Some people are unaware whether there is a warrant out for their arrest. If there is even a chance that you were issued a bench warrant for failure to appear, you should contact our firm.

Our Los Angeles DUI lawyers can help you figure out your situation and defend you against your charges.

Call Gold & Witham today for a free evaluation of your case!