DOWNEY CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND DUI LAWYER
Downey, CA is a city in Southeastern Los Angeles County, nearby Norwalk, Paramount, Bellflower, Bell Gardens, Santa Fe Springs, South Gate, Lynwood and Pico Rivera.  Convenient to the 5, 605, 710, 90 and 19 Freeways, getting to Downey from Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County, South LA, the San Gabriel Valley and East LA are all fairly easy.  Downey has a population of over 110,000 residents, largely Latino.

Downey has slightly above-average income and home values for California.  Crime rates in Downey are fairly average for the United States and slightly below average for Los Angeles.  Still, crimes do happen, and arrests and criminal charges are fairly common.  As with most of LA and California, DUI and DOMESTIC VIOLENCE enforcement in Downey are quite strict.  Other criminal offenses include:  DRUG CRIMES, DUI CAUSING INJURY, DUI W/ PRIOR, FELONY DUI, VIOLENT CRIMES, THEFT CRIMES, PROSTITUTION/SOLICITATION, WEAPONS OFFENSES, SEX CRIMES, HOMICIDE, JUVENILE OFFENSES, PROBATION VIOLATIONS, FELONY, MISDEMEANOR, MARIJUANA, DUI DRUGS, GANG CASES, VANDALISM, EXPUNGEMENT, APPEALS, CIVIL RIGHTS, THREE STRIKES, INFRACTION (TRAFFIC), ILLEGAL FIREWORKS, JURY TRIALS, WATSON MURDER, FINANCIAL CRIMES, FEDERAL CRIMINAL DEFENSE and MORE.

Downey Police Department is in charge of law enforcement for Downey.  Criminal matters (misdemeanors and felonies) are heard at the Downey Courthouse, prosecuted by the LA County District Attorney's Office.  Laws are strictly enforced and violations are aggressively prosecuted in Downey.  If you have been arrested in Downey, Norwalk, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Paramount, Santa Fe Springs, Lynwood, South Gate, or anywhere else in Los Angeles, you need a skilled, passionate Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney on your side to fight for you, asserting your rights and working hard to achieve the best outcome possible in your case.  Contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Loncar now for a free consultation with a Los Angeles Criminal Defense and DUI Lawyer.  888.200.9454

EXAMPLE OF A DOWNEY ARREST AND CRIMINAL CASE:
Victor, a Norwalk resident, is at a barbecue celebrating a relative's high school graduation in Downey.  At the barbecue, Victor has 3-4 beers, and also eats a large amount of food.  He does not feel the effects of alcohol, as the drinks were spread out, he had a large meal and is a big guy.  He has no doubt about his ability to safely drive a car home.  Victor, unfortunately, does not have a valid California driver's license; it had been suspended due to a failure to appear in court on a traffic violation.

Victor knows that his license has been suspended and is driving very carefully.  He is sure to maintain a safe speed, stay in his lane and keep a safe distance from other vehicles.  After driving about a mile, Victor sees a police car following him closely.  After a few seconds, the Downey PD officer puts on his lights to pull Victor over.  The traffic stop is on a busy street, lined with gas stations and restaurants.

The officer approaches Victor and asks him if he knows why he is being pulled over.  Victor replies that he does not know.  The officer then asks Victor if he had been drinking any alcohol.  Although Victor has a right to refuse to answer that question, he admits to having two beers at a graduation party.  The officer asks Victor to step out of the vehicle and begins a DUI investigation.  Victor performs the field sobriety tests pretty well and submits to a preliminary alcohol screening (PAS) device (a handheld breathalyzer law enforcement officers use at the scene to determine if a driver is DUI).  The PAS device yields results of .11 and .10.  This is just above the legal limit of .08.  Victor is placed under arrest for DUI.

After arresting Victor, the officer searches the passenger compartment of Victor's vehicle, finding a bag of what appears to be methamphetamine in a backpack in the back seat.  Victor is now charged with DUI (VC 23152(a) and VC 23152(b)) and possession of a controlled substance (HS 11377).  Due to not having a license, Victor is also charged with driving on a suspended license (VC 14601).  Victor is released that night, but must appear at Downey Courthouse in about a month.

Victor hires a skilled Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney and DUI Lawyer, who immediately recognizes that Victor's best defense is to file a PC 1538.5 Motion to Suppress evidence on grounds that the stop violated Victor's Fourth Amendment rights against illegal search and seizure by police.  The lawyer obtains copies of the video on the officer's patrol car, as well as surveillance from a fast food restaurant.  Both videos show that Victor has not committed any traffic violation that would justify the stop.  Victor's lawyer files the motion and it is granted.  Since the initial stop violated Victor's rights, ALL of the evidence the officer gathered after the stop is excluded.  All charges against Victor are dismissed.  

Victor's lawyer had also scheduled a DMV hearing to save Victor's license from suspension by the DMV for the DUI arrest.  After a DUI arrest where the chemical tests show a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) above the legal limit of .08, the DMV will automatically suspend the driver's license 30 days after the arrest, unless a hearing is scheduled within 10 days of arrest.  Victor's lawyer uses the same argument at the DMV hearing to get Victor's suspension set aside.  He has also cleared the failure to appear in traffic court on Victor's behalf.  Victor now has his license back and has no criminal convictions on his record.  Best possible result!

Being arrested and charged with a crime is scary.  We can help!  If you have been arrested or charged with a crime anywhere in LA, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Loncar now for a free consultation.  888.200.9454

Nicholas M. Loncar, Esq. 
Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney
t: 213-375-3775 | f: 213-375-3099
Mobile: 323-803-4352 
NL@iDefendLosAngeles.com
1200 Wilshire Blvd | Suite 406
Los Angeles, CA | 90017
www.iDefendLosAngeles.com