DUI
The criminal defense law practice at the Law Offices of Donald A. Nobles helps people in the East Bay who have been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). We fight hard to obtain the best result on your behalf and minimize the negative consequences a DUI arrest can have on your life.
California DUI Law
Under California law, driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or more is considered DUI. However, it is important to know that you can be arrested for DUI with a BAC less than .08% as well. If you test positive with any alcohol in your blood, and the officer observes signs that your driving is impaired, such as if you are weaving in and out of your lane or floating through stops signs, then you may be arrested for DUI. The level of .08% is what is known as DUI per se, meaning that you are considered too intoxicated to drive whether or not your driving was observed as being impaired.
A DUI charge is a serious matter. For just a first offense, you can face fines up to $1,000 and even up to six months in jail. The penalties can be greater if your BAC was particularly high, or if you were driving a commercial vehicle, transporting a minor, or caused an injury or death while driving under the influence. Also, the penalties increase with each subsequent DUI conviction. In fact, if you three prior DUI convictions within the last ten years, your fourth arrest can be charged as a felony, and you could be sentenced to up to three years in prison upon conviction.
Beyond these immediate consequences for DUI conviction, you will be saddled with a criminal record, which can hamper your ability to obtain employment or access various government services. Also, your insurance rates will skyrocket, and you will be required to obtain an SR22 certificate to obtain car insurance at these higher rates. If you are in the country on a visa, a DUI can hurt your immigration status and even lead to deportation. You can also lose your driver’s license if you don’t take steps to protect it.
East Bay DUI Lawyer Can Help
As bleak as a conviction may sound, there are many defenses available to a DUI charge. As your attorney, we look closely at the following types of questions:
- Was the initial stop valid?
- Was the arrest lawful?
- Where the testing procedures and equipment accurate?
We may also move to reduce the charges, move to strike prior convictions, or take other procedural steps to put you in the best possible position with regards to your DUI. If you have been arrested for DUI in San Francisco East Bay area, contact the Law Offices of Donald A. Nobles right away to protect your rights.
