Fighting Criminal Drunk Driving Charges and License Suspension
If you have been arrested for drunk driving, you are facing legal challenges by two separate government agencies: the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the criminal court. There are different rules, procedures, timelines, and defenses for each of these agencies.
It is critical to contact an attorney as soon as possible after a DUI arrest. If you do not request a DMV hearing within 10 days, your license will be automatically suspended for anywhere from several months to four years. Waiting to contact a lawyer could also harm your criminal case.
At The Law Office of Charles B. Smith, we help clients fight criminal DUI charges and license suspension. Attorney Charles B. Smith — a San Mateo DUI defense lawyer with more than 30 years of California criminal law experience — personally handles every case our firm accepts.
Leaving No Stone Unturned in Your DUI Defense
In California, even a first-offense conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs carries a mandatory jail sentence ranging from two to 62 days. Driver's license suspension, fines, community service and mandatory alcohol education classes are also common.
The criminal penalties can be much harsher for people convicted of multiple and felony DUI offenses. If you have been charged with any California DUI offense, our firm will pursue every avenue for getting your charges dismissed or reduced, including the following:
- Examining any video evidence or other available documentation to evaluate whether the field sobriety tests were performed properly
- Investigating the maintenance and calibration records of any breath test machines used as grounds for your arrest and evidence against you
- Obtaining copies of the initial police dispatch tapes so that we can listen to what the officers were saying at the time you were detained
- Investigating the reasons behind the officers' initial stop of your vehicle to make sure they had a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity
- Following through with independent witnesses and reviewing any statements they gave to the officers who arrested you
- Hiring our own independent investigators to uncover facts not contained in the original police reports
As a former prosecutor and former police officer who understands how things are done on the other side, Mr. Smith will not simply take the prosecution's evidence at face value. Our hands-on persistence has helped us get positive results for hundreds of clients.
Call a San Francisco Drinking and Driving Defense Attorney at 650-425-7703
If you have been charged with DUI in California, it is important to get legal representation as soon as possible. To schedule a free consultation, call us at 650-425-7703 or e-mail us. We accept credit cards, are available outside of regular business hours, and regularly visit our clients who are in jail.
