Toluca Lake Criminal Defense Attorney

TOLUCA LAKE CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND DUI LAWYER

Toluca Lake is a small community in Southeast portion of LA's San Fernando Valley, located nearby Burbank, North Hollywood, Valley Village and Studio City.  It is just a short trip from the Law Offices of Nicholas Loncar on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City.  Toluca Lake is a very small, well-educated, affluent community.  With under 10,000 residents, it has some a low population density compared with the rest of Los Angeles.  Named for the natural lake located in the region, Toluca Lake is scenic, quiet and peaceful.  Restaurants and other local businesses line the major streets, such as Riverside Drive, Cahuenga Boulevard and Moorpark Street.  Homes and apartments fill in the rest, with Lakeside Golf Club on the South side.

Crime rates are fairly low in this safe community.  The gang violence and street-level drug trade that plagues much of Los Angeles has virtually no presence in Toluca Lake.  Also with a higher mean age than the LA City and LA County average, there is not as much of a party scene as nearby Studio City and North Hollywood.  Still, generally law-abiding citizens do find themselves in handcuffs and facing criminal charges.  Toluca Lake is policed by the LAPD, and criminal cases proceed to the Van Nuys Courthouse.  Cases are aggressively prosecuted by the Los Angeles City Attorney (misdemeanors) and the LA County District Attorney's Office (felonies).  Traffic tickets are often handled by the law enforcement agency directly (LAPD or CHP) and can also be fought by an attorney, usually without your presence being required in court.

DUI and Domestic Violence cases are most common.  With little else to occupy their time, police in Toluca Lake are able to focus their efforts on targeted DUI enforcement, and receive special training in DUI and domestic violence investigations.  Theft crimes, retail, automobile and residential, are not as common as in other parts of LA, but do happen.  Marijuana and Drug crimes do happen as well.

If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Toluca Lake, Studio City, Universal City, North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, Los Feliz, or anywhere else in Los Angeles, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Loncar for a free consultation with a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney.  

EXAMPLE OF A TOLUCA LAKE ARREST AND CRIMINAL DEFENSE CASE:Bob is a Burbank resident and a medical marijuana patient.  Bob is driving home from dinner in Toluca Lake (and had also visited a local medical marijuana dispensary earlier that day) when he is pulled over for going through a red light a little late.  Upon approaching Bob's vehicle, the officer notices the smell of marijuana, likely from the medical marijuana Bob had purchased that day.  Bob had not yet smoked marijuana that day, but smokes marijuana in his home every night.  There might also be an odor of burnt marijuana on some of his clothing and other belongings as he did not shower before heading to the beach for the day

The officer asks Bob if he knows why he is being pulled over.  Bob admits to running through the light a little late, but seems alert and answers the question succinctly.  Bob hands over his documents and the officer asks him to step out of the car.  Bob is asked to perform some field sobriety tests and does fine, losing his balance once when his leg was raised, but otherwise followed all directions well and performed the tasks asked of him.

Despite Bob's decent performance of the FSTs, the officer places his under arrest for DUI.  At the station, Bob refuses to submit to a blood or urine test, now facing a potential 1 year license suspension as well as DUI charges in court.  At the DMV hearing, the issue will be whether Bob actually refused, including whether the arrest was a lawful DUI arrest.  The criminal (court) DUI case against Bob consists of the smell of marijuana and one minor mistake on the FSTs.  Here, the DMV hearing is much tougher.  

Bob hires a Los Angels Drug DUI Lawyer who gets started right away on Bob's defense.  The attorney schedules a DMV hearing, and subpoenas the arresting officer to testify at the hearing.  With a strong cross examination and skilled argument, the lawyer is able to convince the hearing officer that there was not enough evidence to make a DUI arrest, negating the refusal.  Bob wins the DMV hearing and will not face the 1 year suspension.  In court, Bob has a right to take his case to trial and to make the government prove that he is guilty of a crime.  Bob's lawyer is able to persuade the prosecutor to offer Bob a reckless driving instead ("dry" reckless).  Bob does not wish to endure the stress, time and cost of trial, opting instead to plead guilty to reckless driving.  The DUI is dismissed and Bob's reckless driving conviction cannot be used against him as a prior DUI should a future DUI arrest occur.

Being arrested, or being charged with a crime is a scary thought.  It is also an unfamiliar experience for many.  Having a passionate, aggressive Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney on your side is absolutely essential.  Not only will you have a better understanding of the court process, but it is important to have someone who understands those procedures to assert your rights and assert defenses on your behalf.  Your arrest does not have to lead to a conviction.  You may be able to avoid charges altogether, avoid a conviction, avoid jail time, save your driver's license, or get your charges reduced to something less serious.  We will fight hard to get you the best possible outcome in your criminal case.

Nicholas M. Loncar, Esq.
Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney
t. 818-646-8788 | f: 818-646-8772
MOBILE: 323-803-4352
www.iDefendLosAngeles.com
[email protected]
12198 Ventura Blvd | Suite 207
Studio City, CA | 91604