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Former Senior LA Prosecutor.
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The DUI Filing Process

After a driver has been arrested for DUI and released, he or she will be provided a future arraignment date in court. This date may be several weeks or even months later. Before a criminal case is filed, there are several steps and reviews that will be completed by the police and prosecution. It is very important to have an attorney retained as soon as possible and in many cases, an attorney’s early intervention can lead to charges being rejected or significantly reduced.

Review by Police

After a driver is arrested on suspicion of DUI, the arresting officer will prepare an incident report that will become the basis for criminal charges. Other officers involved in the case may prepare supplemental reports and if there was a collision involved, an accident investigation report may be prepared as well. A sergeant or other supervising officer often must sign off on the case before it is submitted for criminal filing. The police will also provide the DMV with a copy of the incident reports and the results of chemical testing. These will be used in the driver’s administrative DMV hearing if a timely hearing was requested within 10 days of the driver’s arrest.

Submission to the Filing Prosecutor

If the supervisor approves, the case will be submitted to the relevant prosecutorial offense for criminal filing consideration. The incident reports and case file will be provided to a liaison officer who is based out of the prosecutor’s office. Typically, the liaison will include any submissions or exculpatory evidence provided by the defense before it reaches the filing prosecutor.

The agency responsible for filing criminal charges and prosecuting the driver will depend on where the offense occurred and what level of criminal charges are being filed. In Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is responsible for prosecuting felony level offenses and misdemeanors that occur in cities that do not employ their own City Prosecutor. If the defendant has three or more prior DUI convictions within the previous 10 years, he or she can be charged with felony DUI. The driver can also be charged with a felony if there was a DUI collision that resulted in injury or death to another person.

Misdemeanor offenses can be prosecuted be either the District Attorney’s Office or the relevant City Attorney’s Office. Cities such as Los Angles, Pasadena, Burbank, Long Beach and Torrance all have their own City Attorney offices that are responsible for handling misdemeanor prosecutions, which include the majority of DUI offenses.

The filing prosecutor will review the incident reports to see if there is a legally provable case. The prosecution must be able to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt and charges may be rejected if there are significant problems of proof. The prosecutor will also review the defendant’s criminal record and the specific underlying facts of the case. If there are aggravating factors, such as prior DUI convictions, excessive speeding or the presence of minors in the vehicle, the prosecution can file sentencing enhancements that will increase penalties and jail time upon conviction.

The prosecutor will file a complaint alleging a DUI offense committed by the defendant. If the complaint is filed on or before the defendant’s arraignment, the defendant’s attorney would be expected to appear in court to address the charges. Even if the arraignment date is missed, the prosecution has a year to file misdemeanor charges.

If you or someone you know have been arrested for DUI and want to learn more about the filing process, it is critical that you discuss your situation with a knowledgeable DUI attorney immediately. As a former Deputy District Attorney with over 14 years of prosecutorial experience, Michael Kraut works hard on behalf of his clients through all stages of the DUI process.

For more information about the DUI filing process, and to schedule your free consultation, contact Michael Kraut at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers located at 6255 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 1520, Los Angeles, CA 90028. Mr. Kraut can be reached 24/7 at 888-334-6344 or 323-464-6453.


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Michael Kraut is outstanding! He genuinely cared about my case and instructed my mom and I throughout the entire process. He was very clear on what he needed in order to receive the best results. He kept us updated until the end. I thank him so much for getting my charges rejected. I highly recommend him to anyone with legal needs! Shaquan
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I contacted Michael with concern for my personal and business reputation. He was very reassuring and confident the entire time. After about 3 weeks it was determined that no charges were being filed by any agency and I was in the clear of any investigation. One thing that is amazing is just how FAST Michael is at replying to phone calls, texts, and even emails! We are talking under 30 minutes in most cases. That is unheard of for most attorneys! Michael is incredible and not your typical run of the mill attorney. For best results hire him if you feel like you might be under investigation or could face charges. Even if you know you are innocent it is best to take care of the smoke before it becomes a fire. Brad
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Michael Kraut is-hands down-the best criminal defense attorney and I can't begin to thank him for all that he did for me and my family. I reached out to him in the middle of the night and less than a couple hours later, he had gotten back to me and scheduled a meeting. He's a no-nonsense attorney who knows how to get the job done! From the second we retained him, I had peace of mind in knowing that we were in the best hands possible. If Michael Kraut couldn't get it done, I knew that it couldn't be done at all. You can't put a price tag on your freedom. He was worth every single penny. Lida
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Michael Kraut is an outstanding attorney. He was extremely professional, and straightforward, yet sensitive with my case. I am confident I made the right choice by hiring Michael. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking a truly experienced lawyer. Daniel
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Michael Kraut - I cannot thank you enough for all that you did for ​my son. When I came to you I read that you used to be a district attorney but I never knew how much that meant until I watch you in court. I knew it took 3 months but the final day when I heard the judge say that all charges were dismissed it was all worth it! I will always be grateful for all that you did for us. A.N.
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