Torrance Lawyer
DUI Attorney in Torrance
A DUI arrest can unravel stability overnight. One moment can threaten your driver’s license, employment, insurance rates, and professional reputation. What began as a routine traffic stop turns into a criminal case, and the language of the law replaces ordinary conversation.
After an arrest, what you need most is information you can trust. Understanding the process and what happens next can make the difference between a manageable situation and a lasting problem. A Torrance DUI lawyer can explain what the charges mean, which parts of the case they can challenge, and what immediate steps protect your license and your record.
At Esfandi Law Group, your defense begins immediately. Founding attorney Seppi Esfandi, a UCLA School of Law graduate and former Deputy Public Defender, has spent more than two decades defending clients throughout Los Angeles County. His team acts quickly to examine reports, test results, and procedures, uncovering the details that often decide whether a case is dismissed, reduced, or sent to trial.
What Does a Torrance DUI Attorney Do?
A DUI attorney does far more than appear in court. From the first phone call, your lawyer investigates every detail: the stop, the test, the arrest, and the paperwork that followed. Each part has legal standards that the state must meet.
At Esfandi Law Group, we begin by:
- Requesting discovery to examine reports, video, and calibration records;
- Challenging probable cause for the stop and arrest;
- Reviewing blood- and breath-testing procedures for violations; and
- Representing you at the DMV administrative hearing, which must be requested within ten days of arrest to preserve your right to drive.
Fast, thorough work by your Torrance DUI attorney in those first weeks often determines whether a case moves toward dismissal or conviction.
How Can a Torrance DUI Defense Lawyer Protect My License?
A DUI arrest triggers two separate actions: one in criminal court and one with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Many people lose their license simply because they don’t act quickly enough. An experienced defense lawyer handles both fronts simultaneously.
At the DMV hearing, we contest the suspension, subpoena the arresting officer, and demand proof that the testing equipment met statutory requirements.
In court, we challenge the criminal charge itself, analyzing the state’s evidence line by line. Our goal is straightforward: to keep you legally driving while we work toward a dismissal, reduction, or diversion.
What If It’s a First-Offense DUI?
A first arrest can feel like the end of everything. It isn’t. California allows several forms of relief for people with clean records. Seppi Esfandi helps clients qualify for diversion, avoid jail time, and minimize penalties that can threaten their employment or professional licensing. Our strategy often includes:
- Referral to a voluntary alcohol-education program early in the process to demonstrate responsibility;
- Submitting character references and proof of steady work; and
- Negotiating for a “wet reckless” charge, which carries lower fines and may involve shorter license-related consequences.
When handled early and strategically, we can often resolve a first-offense DUI with reduced long-term impact on your record.
What Happens with Repeat or Felony DUIs?
When prior convictions or injuries elevate charges, the stakes rise quickly. A Torrance felony DUI lawyer must understand not just the law but the people enforcing it. Los Angeles County prosecutors aggressively track patterns. One misstep can add months, or even years, to a sentence.
We counter them with precision. Prosecutors must prove every prior conviction. Police procedures such as testing, timing, and jurisdiction all matter. In felony DUI or DUI with injury cases, our team often brings in accident-reconstruction or toxicology experts to challenge causation and impairment.
Felony defense demands credibility. Seppi Esfandi’s twenty-plus years in South Bay courtrooms give your case that authority.
Can a Torrance DUI Defense Attorney Keep Me Out of Jail?
Courts consider cooperation, employment, and treatment progress when deciding sentencing alternatives. A skilled defense attorney can negotiate for community service, residential programs, or electronic monitoring as an alternative to incarceration.
Because Esfandi Law Group approaches cases proactively, we frequently resolve them before trial through diversion, deferred entry of judgment, or conditional dismissal. Early engagement makes that possible. Waiting until after the arraignment narrows your options.
What Does a Torrance Drunk Driving Defense Lawyer Handle?
Every DUI carries different challenges. Your defense lawyer manages each phase of the process, including:
- Pre-filing intervention—contacting prosecutors before they file charges;
- Misdemeanor and felony defense—protecting clients from license loss, fines, and incarceration;
- DMV representation—requesting administrative hearings and fighting suspensions;
- Chemical-test disputes—examining lab certifications and chain of custody; and
- Post-conviction relief—petitioning for expungement to clear eligible records.
This list is not exhaustive. DUI law intersects with professional licensing, immigration, and family law. What matters most is having counsel who recognizes the broader impact of every decision.
What If I’m Charged with Refusing the Breath or Blood Test?
Refusal allegations add complexity to a case, but we can still defend them. Under California law, officers must clearly advise you of the consequences before recording your refusal. When a warning is rushed, incomplete, or given under poor conditions, we may be able to suppress the result. Our team examines reports and body camera footage to determine whether the advisement complied with the law. In many cases, we can demonstrate that confusion, rather than defiance, caused the alleged refusal, keeping your driving privilege intact.
How Does Esfandi Law Group Build a Defense Strategy?
As your Torrance drunk driving defense lawyer, our strategy follows a deliberate, step-by-step approach that protects your rights and strengthens your position at every stage of the process.
- Initial consultation—we listen, identify immediate goals, and outline next steps;
- Case investigation—we analyze reports, contact witnesses, and secure video or lab records;
- Personalized strategy—every defense aligns with your facts and goals, not a template;
- Vigorous representation—we negotiate and litigate with equal focus and preparation; and
- Ongoing support—we maintain open communication throughout your case, explaining every step in both English and Spanish.
That plan gives structure to uncertainty and restores control when everything feels unstable.
Why Choose Esfandi Law Group?
Effective defense begins with preparation, not promises. Seppi Esfandi brings more than 23 years of experience in criminal litigation and has earned recognition among California’s leading defense attorneys, including being named to Expertise.com’s list of the Best DUI Lawyers in Los Angeles.
Clients choose Esfandi Law Group because the firm strikes a balance between courtroom skill and strategic negotiation. Prosecutors are aware that our cases are thoroughly prepared, which often results in stronger positions during pretrial discussions. Judges know our filings are accurate and thorough. Clients know that when they reach out, they receive clear communication and direct attention from their attorney.
The firm serves clients in both English and Spanish, ensuring that every person involved in a case, client or family, has full access to information and support at every stage of the process.
Looking for a Skilled Torrance DUI Lawyer? Esfandi Law Group Will Fight for You
When the stakes include your license, record, and reputation, experience matters. Seppi Esfandi and our team at Esfandi Law Group have defended thousands of DUI cases throughout Los Angeles County and the South Bay. Our precision, discretion, and preparation define every result.
Every motion, filing, and negotiation serves one purpose: your freedom. Beyond verdicts, we help clients rebuild stability, restore professional standing, and move forward with confidence. Contact us today for a confidential consultation. Protect your future now with a defense led by an experienced Torrance DUI attorney who understands both the law and the local courts.
Resources:
- Sentencing for driving while under the influence, Cal. Veh. Code §23612, link.
