Arrested for hit and run with DUI in Pasadena? You’re facing California’s most serious driving offenses combined—felony charges with state prison time, massive fines, permanent license revocation, and a criminal record that will follow you for life. A hit and run DUI conviction in Pasadena can destroy your career, housing opportunities, and future prospects. You need an experienced criminal defense attorney who knows the Pasadena Superior Court, understands California Vehicle Code sections 20001 and 20002, and has a proven track record of defending clients against these devastating charges.
At Tu Defensor Criminalista, we provide aggressive legal defense for individuals facing hit and run DUI charges throughout Pasadena and Los Angeles County. Our criminal defense team understands the complexities of California DUI law, hit and run statutes, and the local court system at the Pasadena Superior Courthouse located at 300 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101.
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Hit and run DUI represents the convergence of two separate criminal offenses under California law. When these charges are combined, the consequences become exponentially more severe. Pasadena, with its population of approximately[1] 136,462 residents and a median age of 40.1, sees its share of traffic accidents and DUI arrests. The city’s bustling streets, including major thoroughfares like Colorado Boulevard, Lake Avenue, and the 210 and 110 freeways, create numerous opportunities for traffic incidents.
According to recent traffic data[2], Pasadena recorded five fatal car accidents in 2022</a>. Additionally, in 2021, there were an estimated 14 fatal car accidents in Pasadena, which was double the number from the previous year[3]. These statistics underscore the importance of remaining at the scene of any accident and complying with California law.
20002 [4]define the crime of hit and run. Under these statutes, any driver involved in an accident must immediately stop at the scene, provide identifying information, and render reasonable assistance to injured parties.
When a driver leaves the scene of an accident and law enforcement later determines the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the collision, prosecutors may file both hit and run charges and DUI charges. This combination creates a particularly serious legal situation because it suggests consciousness of guilt—fleeing because you knew you were impaired.
The Pasadena Police Department actively investigates hit and run incidents, as evidenced by their regular calls for service reports[5]. Police prioritize cases differently based on severity, with injury or fatal accidents receiving immediate attention while property damage cases may take weeks or months to investigate.
The consequences of a hit and run DUI conviction in Pasadena are among the most severe in California criminal law. Because you face charges under multiple statutes, the penalties compound upon each other, creating exposure to lengthy prison sentences, devastating fines, and permanent consequences.
When charged as a felony, hit and run with injury carries[6] the following penalties:
Even when charged as a misdemeanor for property damage only, hit and run carries serious consequences[7]:
When prosecutors charge you with both hit and run and DUI, you face penalties under California Vehicle Code section 23152, which can include:
First-Time DUI:
Second or Third DUI:
Felony DUI: When a DUI results in injury to another person (which is often the case in hit and run scenarios), prosecutors may charge felony DUI under Vehicle Code section 23153, which carries:
Your sentence may be significantly enhanced if any of the following aggravating factors apply:
In Pasadena, judges at the Superior Court located at 300 E. Walnut St. Pasadena CA 91101[8] take these cases extremely seriously and often impose sentences at or near the statutory maximum when aggravating factors are present.
Understanding the criminal justice process is crucial when facing hit and run DUI charges in Pasadena. The process involves multiple stages, each with important deadlines and strategic opportunities for your defense.
Hit and run DUI cases typically begin when you’re either arrested immediately at the scene if stopped shortly after leaving an accident, or later after police investigate witness reports and identify you through license plate information. When the accident involved injury or death, investigations happen immediately. For property damage cases, the investigation may take weeks or months.
After arrest, you’ll be taken to the Pasadena Police Department for booking. For felony charges, bail can range from $25,000 to $100,000 or more. You also face an administrative license suspension through the California DMV. You have only 10 days from your arrest to request a DMV hearing to contest the suspension. The DMV office in Pasadena is located at 49 S. Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107. Failing to request this hearing within 10 days results in automatic license suspension, even if you’re never convicted of DUI.
Your first court appearance will be an arraignment at the Pasadena Superior Courthouse, 300 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101. At this hearing, formal charges are read, you enter a plea (guilty, not guilty, or no contest), bail may be reviewed and modified, and future court dates are scheduled.
For misdemeanor cases, arraignment occurs in the Criminal Clerk’s Office – Misdemeanor, 1st Floor / Room 103, (626) 396-3398. For felony cases, arraignment occurs in the Criminal Clerk’s Office – Felony, 2nd Floor / Room 202, (626) 396-3393.
After arraignment, your case enters the pre-trial phase, which may include discovery (obtaining evidence), motion practice (filing motions to suppress evidence or dismiss charges), and plea negotiations with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. If your case proceeds to trial, the prosecution must prove every element of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
A conviction is not inevitable when you’re charged with hit and run DUI in Pasadena. Experienced criminal defense attorneys employ numerous strategies to challenge these charges, suppress evidence, and achieve favorable outcomes.
One of the most effective defenses to hit and run charges is demonstrating that you did not know an accident occurred. Under California law, you must have known, or reasonably should have known, that you had been involved in an accident that caused property damage to be guilty of hit and run. This defense applies when the contact between vehicles was minimal, you were unaware that you struck a parked car, or road conditions obscured the accident. Expert testimony from accident reconstruction specialists can prove vital in establishing that the accident was so minor you could not reasonably have been aware of it.
In cases where you were not arrested at the scene, prosecutors must prove you were actually driving the vehicle. This can be challenging when multiple people had access to your vehicle, the vehicle was reported stolen, or witness descriptions are vague or contradictory. Your attorney can challenge the prosecution’s identification evidence and create reasonable doubt about whether you were actually the driver.
Even if the hit and run charges are difficult to contest, your attorney can challenge the DUI elements of your case through:
Other defenses include demonstrating no property damage or injury occurred, showing you made a good faith effort to return to the scene, establishing emergency circumstances that justified leaving, and identifying procedural defenses and constitutional violations such as illegal search and seizure, coerced confessions, or denial of right to counsel.
Pasadena prosecutors take hit and run DUI cases extremely seriously and typically seek maximum penalties. Understanding why these cases receive such aggressive prosecution helps explain the importance of having experienced legal representation.
Pasadena, with its population of 136,462 people[1], experiences significant traffic volume throughout the city. The combination of residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, tourist destinations like Old Pasadena and the Rose Bowl, and major thoroughfares creates constant interaction between vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. This population density means any impaired driver poses substantial risk to the community.
Hit and run accidents are particularly traumatic for victims who are left without assistance, information, or accountability. California has implemented increasingly strict DUI enforcement policies over the past decades. According to data, while DUI arrests have decreased, there has been a substantial recent increase in alcohol-related DUI collisions resulting in death. Nearly 40% of all traffic deaths are related to the consumption of alcohol[9]. This data demonstrates why prosecutors take these cases so seriously.
Additionally, nearly three quarters of drivers arrested for DUI are first time offenders[9] and most of those have no previous criminal record. Despite this, judges and prosecutors remain committed to imposing severe penalties to deter future offenses.
When you leave the scene of an accident, prosecutors argue this demonstrates “consciousness of guilt”—awareness that you were impaired and attempting to evade detection. This inference strengthens their case and makes securing an acquittal more difficult.
Time is critical when facing hit and run DUI charges in Pasadena. The decisions you make in the first hours and days after an arrest can determine the outcome of your case.
California law requires you to request a DMV administrative hearing within 10 days of your DUI arrest to contest your license suspension. Missing this deadline results in automatic suspension, regardless of what happens in your criminal case. An experienced attorney can request this hearing immediately and begin preparing your defense at the DMV.
Critical evidence can disappear quickly after an accident: surveillance camera footage may be recorded over, witnesses’ memories fade or they become impossible to locate, physical evidence at the accident scene is removed or altered, and your vehicle may be repaired or sold. Your attorney can immediately begin preserving this evidence through formal requests, private investigators, and expert analysis.
Many people arrested for hit and run DUI make incriminating statements to police, family members, insurance companies, or on social media. These statements can be used against you in court. An attorney protects your Fifth Amendment rights and prevents you from inadvertently damaging your defense.
In some cases, your attorney may be able to intervene before formal charges are filed. Early intervention can sometimes result in charges being reduced or declined altogether. Additionally, effective defense requires time to investigate the accident circumstances, interview witnesses, retain expert witnesses, identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, and prepare for negotiations or trial.
Our approach to defending hit and run DUI charges combines aggressive advocacy, meticulous investigation, and strategic litigation designed to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients.
When necessary, we take cases to trial and fight for acquittal through careful jury selection, aggressive cross-examination, expert testimony, and compelling closing arguments that highlight reasonable doubt.
Hit and run DUI cases arise in various circumstances, each presenting unique legal challenges and defense opportunities.
The Pasadena Police Department conducts DUI checkpoints to monitor and detect drunk driving[10] in Pasadena and other areas. If you panic and attempt to avoid or flee a checkpoint, this can escalate to hit and run charges if you strike another vehicle, checkpoint equipment, or a person while fleeing. Defense strategies for these cases focus on whether the checkpoint was properly established, whether officers had reasonable suspicion to detain you, and whether pursuit of your vehicle was legally justified.
Pasadena attracts millions of visitors annually for events including the Rose Bowl, Rose Parade, and various cultural attractions. These events create massive traffic congestion and increased police presence. Hit and run DUI incidents during major events receive particular attention from law enforcement and prosecutors. If you’re visiting Pasadena from another state or country when arrested, you face additional complications including difficulty returning for court appearances and enhanced flight risk from the court’s perspective. An experienced local attorney can appear on your behalf for many court hearings, minimizing the need for you to return to California repeatedly.
Pasadena’s walkable downtown, the Rose Bowl area, and various bike paths create numerous opportunities for vehicle-pedestrian and vehicle-cyclist interactions. Hit and run DUI cases involving pedestrians or cyclists are prosecuted with particular severity because pedestrians and cyclists are vulnerable road users, injuries tend to be more serious, and public outrage is more intense. These cases require immediate retention of medical experts and accident reconstruction specialists.
Sometimes drivers under the influence crash into fixed objects—trees, poles, buildings, parked vehicles—and flee the scene. These single-vehicle accidents often result in hit and run charges when you damage another person’s property or debris from your vehicle is left at the scene. Defense strategies focus on challenging identification evidence and demonstrating lack of knowledge that property damage occurred.
Beyond the immediate criminal penalties, a hit and run DUI conviction creates lasting consequences that affect every aspect of your life.
Many employers conduct background checks and a felony hit and run DUI conviction will appear on these checks permanently. This can result in termination from current employment, inability to obtain professional licenses, disqualification from positions requiring driving, and barriers to career advancement. The total financial cost can easily exceed $100,000 when you account for fines, restitution, attorney fees, increased insurance premiums, loss of income, DUI school costs, and ignition interlock device fees.
Landlords frequently conduct background checks, and a felony conviction can disqualify you from rental housing. For non-citizens, a hit and run DUI conviction can trigger deportation proceedings. The stress of criminal prosecution takes a severe toll on marriage and family relationships, mental health, social relationships, and self-esteem.
Unlike some misdemeanors, felony convictions are difficult or impossible to expunge from your record. This permanent record affects background checks for employment, housing, and education, professional licensing applications, firearm ownership rights (lifetime ban for felonies), jury service eligibility, and voting rights.
Successfully navigating a hit and run DUI case requires understanding how the Pasadena Superior Court operates and what to expect at each stage of the proceedings.
All criminal cases in Pasadena are heard at the Pasadena Superior Courthouse, 300 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101[8], Los Angeles County Northeast Judicial District. This courthouse handles criminal matters for Pasadena and surrounding communities including Altadena, Arcadia, Monrovia, and Sierra Madre.
The courthouse operates Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Arriving early is essential as security screening can create long lines, and courtrooms begin hearings promptly at scheduled times.
Parking for a fee is available in the parking structure located on the southeast corner of Marengo Avenue and Walnut Street. The entrance to the structure is on 240 Ramona Street. Ceiling clearance is 6′ 6″.
Criminal Cases – Misdemeanor: Criminal Clerk’s Office, 1st Floor / Room 103, (626) 396-3398 Criminal Cases – Felony: Criminal Clerk’s Office, 2nd Floor / Room 202, (626) 396-3393 Traffic Court: Traffic Clerk’s Office, 1st Floor / Window 1-4, (626) 396-3399
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office handles felony prosecutions in Pasadena. These prosecutors are experienced and typically take aggressive positions in hit and run DUI cases.
If you’re involved in an accident in Pasadena, whether or not you’ve been drinking, understanding your rights is crucial.
California law requires you to:
Failing to fulfill these duties constitutes hit and run, even if you return to the scene later or contact police within hours.
Once arrested, California’s implied consent law requires you to submit to chemical testing of your blood or breath. Refusing this test results in automatic one-year license suspension for first refusal, enhanced criminal penalties if convicted, and admission of your refusal as evidence of consciousness of guilt. The refusal consequences are often worse than the test results.
Lack of knowledge is a valid defense to hit and run charges. If the contact was so minimal you genuinely didn’t realize an accident occurred, you may have a strong defense.
If you were not the driver, you cannot be convicted of hit and run or DUI. However, you’ll need to provide credible evidence about who was actually driving.
Yes. Your duty to stop applies no matter who caused the accident. Fleeing the scene is illegal regardless of fault.
Fear or panic is not a legal defense to hit and run charges. However, an attorney may be able to use this as a mitigating factor during sentencing.
There is no specific time limit. For serious injury or fatal accidents, police typically investigate immediately. For property damage, investigation may take weeks or months. The statute of limitations is one year for misdemeanors and three years for felonies.
Yes, depending on the circumstances and evidence strength, charges may be reduced through negotiation. This might include felony reduced to misdemeanor, DUI reduced to wet reckless, or hit and run reduced to a lesser offense.
You face multiple license suspensions: DMV administrative suspension for DUI, court-ordered suspension upon conviction, and potentially permanent revocation for felony hit and run with serious injury.
Felony hit and run DUI can result in state prison sentences, but not every case results in prison. Factors include injury severity, your criminal history, prior DUI convictions, your level of cooperation, and the quality of your legal representation.
Some misdemeanor convictions may be eligible for expungement under California Penal Code section 1203.4 after successful completion of probation. Felony convictions may be eligible for reduction to misdemeanor status and subsequent expungement in limited circumstances.
If you’re facing hit and run DUI charges in Pasadena, every moment counts. The decisions you make now will affect your freedom, your future, and your family for years to come. You need an experienced criminal defense attorney who knows the Pasadena court system, understands California DUI and hit and run law, and has a proven track record of achieving favorable results for clients.
At Tu Defensor Criminalista, we provide aggressive, comprehensive defense representation for individuals throughout Pasadena and Los Angeles County. Our team combines decades of criminal defense experience with in-depth knowledge of local courts, judges, and prosecutors.
We understand that being charged with hit and run DUI is one of the most stressful experiences of your life. You’re facing the possibility of prison, the loss of your license, devastating financial consequences, and a permanent criminal record. You need an attorney who will fight for you with the same urgency and dedication you would fight for yourself.
When you hire Tu Defensor Criminalista, you can expect honest assessment of your case and realistic expectations, aggressive advocacy at every stage, thorough investigation and expert analysis, strategic negotiations with prosecutors, trial-ready preparation if negotiations fail, and compassionate support throughout the process.
Don’t wait to protect your rights and your future. The 10-day deadline for requesting a DMV hearing approaches quickly, and critical evidence may be lost with each passing day.
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We proudly serve clients throughout Pasadena and surrounding Los Angeles County communities including:
We handle cases at Pasadena Superior Courthouse and throughout Los Angeles County’s court system.
In addition to misdemeanor DUI defense, we handle:
Throughout this page, we have cited various government sources, public records, and statistical data to provide accurate, reliable information about hit and run DUI charges, penalties, and the Pasadena court system.
For more information about DUI law, hit and run offenses, and the California criminal justice system, visit:
Attorney Armando Josué Cespedes is rated 5.0 on Avvo, with 34 five-star reviews from clients praising his dedication, professionalism, and results. Many note how his trial skills and attention to detail led to reduced charges or outright dismissals.
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