California DUI Defense Frequently Asked Questions

A: There are a number of potential costs involved with a DUI including court costs, fines, attorneys fees, expert witnesses, DUI traffic school, and increased insurance premiums. Even in the best of circumstances where charges are dropped, once arrested for a DUI you should expect to pay a minimum of several thousand dollars for all of the various expenses. More complex DUI cases can readily exceed ten thousand dollars once insurance, fines, and defense fees are included. We offer all of clients a flat fee that varies depending on the circumstances of the case. We review these circumstances during a Free DUI Defense Consultation, which allows you to know exactly what your attorney fees will be before retaining us.

A: Unless you are willing to plead guilty at your first court hearing, a DUI defense will take a minimum of several months. More complicated DUI cases can easily last six months to a year as they wind their way through the court and DMV systems. Felony DUI cases (ones involving accidents) or cases with multiple priors may well endure for several years. At Kapsack & Bair upon reviewing the individual circumstances of each case during a Free DUI Defense Consultation, we will provide you with a time estimate.

A: Yes, California DMV Administrative Hearings can be won.. We have a great deal of experience defending and winning California DMV Administrative Hearings. In order to restrict your California driving privilege, the DMV Hearing Officer must make three determinations: Who was driving the vehicle, whether the police officer had "reasonable cause" to pull over and arrest the driver (a complicated legal question), and whether the driver had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or above (which is open to many challenges). A vigorous and knowledgeable defense, possibly including expert witnesses, can raise serious questions about one or more of these criteria.

A: After being arrested for a California DUI, you are facing two different proceedings - the courts and the DMV. You must contact the California DMV to request an Administrative Hearing within 10 days to protect your driving privileges. Temporary driver licenses issued to DUI defendants expire after 30 days, but driving privileges will be extended until a DMV hearing has been held and decision rendered. If you win the California DMV hearing, your driving privileges will be protected until the courts render a decision (which also can be favorable).

A: On your ticket, or somewhere else in your paperwork, the date, time and location for your first court appearance will be listed. If you haven't hired an attorney, you must attend court on that date and time. Following the attorney-represented cases the judge will begin calling the non-attorney cases. At some point the judge will ask you to enter a plea to the charges. At this time you must plead either guilty or not guilty. Depending on your plea the judge will ask you several questions aimed at determining whether you want to waive your constitutional rights, including your right to a speedy jury trial. If you plead guilty, the judge will likely pass sentence immediately. Depending on the charges you face, the county you are charged in, and the specific judge, this sentence will vary. Most DUI crimes entail, at minimum, some time in jail or a program that counts as jail, a drinking driver program, a substantial fine, and probation.

A: Possible California DUI penalties include:

• Incarceration from a few days in county jail to many years in state prison
• Probation, either formal (with a probation officer) or informal
• Monetary damages in the form of fines, penalties, and restitution
• Restriction, suspension or revocation of your California Driver License
• Mandatory attendance at treatment programs
• Car impoundment
• Installation of ignition interlock device

The imposition and severity of these various DUI penalties varies depending on prior DUI convictions and the circumstances of the current case. Review the California DUI Penalty Chart for more information. In addition to state sanctions, DUI convictions almost always result in significantly higher insurance premiums, and in some cases, adverse impacts on employment.

A: Yes. We have an extensive track record of fighting and winning DUI cases. It is not only possible to get DUI charges reduced, but in some cases we are able to get them dismissed entirely. A number of DUI defenses have proven successful in prior cases including arguing constitutional violations and challenging blood alcohol concentration measurements. We systematically review police reports for inconsistencies and lapses in procedure. We also request complete disclosure regarding the device used to test your blood alcohol level, the personnel involved in the maintenance and operation of the device, and the lab certification.

A: Various types of lawyers work on DUI cases including public defenders, general practitioners, criminal defense lawyers, and specialist DUI attorneys. A public defender is an attorney provided at little or no cost to provide defense services to people who financially are unable to hire a private attorney. Most counties do not offer public defenders services unless you are unemployed or significantly under-employed. Good questions to ask when searching for a DUI attorney include: What are the attorneys qualifications? Did he or she attend a reputable school? Is he or she a member of the National College for DUI Defense? How is the attorney rated for competence and ethics in the Martindale-Hubbell directory? Does the attorney have experience with using expert witnesses in police procedures and blood alcohol content testing? Whether or not you ultimately end up hiring a DUI attorney, it is probably a good idea to speak to a specialist in this highly complex field. Contact us for a Free DUI Defense Consultation.

A: Unless you are willing to accept the maximum DUI penalties, you should ask the judge for time to find an attorney. Qualified legal representation can assist you in exploring various DUI defense options including pursuit of case dismissal, plea bargain negotiation, and trying the case in court.