DUI charges
A DUI charge is a case, not a verdict
An arrest means an officer believes the facts add up. Whether they do is what I check: why you were stopped, how the tests were given, what the video shows, and whether the paperwork says what the officer remembers.
I take first and repeat DUI charges, drugged driving, refused tests and cases where someone was hurt. I'll tell you plainly which one is yours and what the range of outcomes looks like.
What I read first
The stop: was there a lawful reason?
The tests: breath, blood and roadside
The paperwork and the video
What the charge means for your license and record
After you call
What happens after you call
The first deadline
Before anything else I find out whether the DMV hearing has to be requested, and I request it.
The whole file
The police report, body-camera and dash video, and the records of the breath or blood test. I read all of it, not a summary.
A plan you can follow
I tell you the realistic range of outcomes, what each one costs, and what I would do. You decide.
Asked on the first call
Questions about a DUI charge
If I refused the test, is my case over?
No. A refusal changes what the DMV does with your license and can be raised in court, but it doesn't end the case. Tell me exactly what happened and I'll tell you where it leaves you.
Is a first DUI always jail?
Not always. It depends on the facts, the court and your record. After I read the file I'll give you the realistic range, not a promise.
Can I keep working while the case is open?
Often yes, but the license is the question. We ask about restricted driving where it is allowed, and plan court dates around your schedule.
Do I have to be in court every time?
Some hearings need you in the room and some do not. For every date, I tell you in advance which one it is.