DUI/DWI
San Mateo, California, DUI/DWI Defense Lawyers
Unfortunately, lesser-skilled criminal defense attorneys start and end their drunk driving defense with the accused's blood alcohol (BAC). At the Law Office of Charles B. Smith we understand the disservice that this approach can do to our clients – the consequences of a conviction are much too high, and there is so much more to consider than the accused’s blood alcohol level or Breathalyzer test results when fighting DUI/DWI charges.
In California, even a first offense DUI/DWI conviction carries a mandatory jail sentence of two to ten days, depending on the county and the level of the charges. Driver's license suspension, fines, community service and mandatory alcohol education classes are also common.
To prevent the leveling of such severe penalties against you, we pursue every avenue that could lead to the dismissal or reduction of your DUI/DWI charges, including:
- Obtaining the police report
- Obtaining copies of the initial dispatch
- Following through with alleged witnesses and reviewing any statements they gave to the arresting officer
- Investigating the maintenance and calibration records of any Intoxilyzer or Breathalyzer machines used in the arrest
- Investigating the reasons behind the officer’s initial stop of your vehicle to make sure he had a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, necessary to perform a traffic stop
- Hiring our own independent investigators
- Examining any video of field sobriety tests, such as that which might be available from the officer’s dashcam
Our hands-on persistence has resulted in hundreds of positive results following drunk driving charges. For example, in a recent case, a police officer and our client disagreed about our client's ability to complete a field sobriety test. We obtained other DUI/DWI reports completed by the officer in question, and discovered that all of his reports reported the same results – he obviously wasn’t performing objective evaluations of each individual defendant. Despite a high blood alcohol content, the case was ultimately dismissed.
Who Better to Question Police Procedures than a Former Police Officer?
Firm attorneys Laura Torres and Charles Smith are former prosecutors, skilled at countering prosecutors' tactics and at negotiating. In addition, Mr. Smith is a former police officer himself, having served for seven years, and conducted hundreds of DUI/DWI arrests similar to the one you likely just experienced. In addition to his in-the-field experience, he also currently police procedure classes to college students at The College of San Mateo and local law enforcement officials.
When police commit procedural errors, we can spot them immediately, frequently resulting in dismissal of charges. Mr. Smith is also fully familiar with Intoxilyzer/Breathalyzer technology, and has successfully questioned those and blood alcohol test results in numerous cases.
We can also handle your DMV administrative hearing to prevent the suspension of your driver's license. You have only ten days to contact the DMV following your arrest to prevent the mandatory suspension of your license.
Contact Us Today to Learn More About Our Legal Services
If you face DUI/DWI charges, contact our firm, the Law Office of Charles B. Smith. We have strong roots in the San Mateo community, and a small, caring staff that helps people facing serious legal consequences. We accept credit cards, remain accessible to clients at all hours, and offer free initial consultations on all criminal matters. We are also conveniently located near such San Mateo landmarks as Celia's Mexican restaurant. Send us an e-mail or call our office at 650-401-3661.
