The penalties involving drunk driving charges are more serious than ever which means that if you or a family member have been charged with a DUI you need an knowledgeable DUI lawyer or DWI lawyer on your side.
The Law Office of Alex Bernstein can help you if you have been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in the San Francisco Bay Area. With years of experience in all types of criminal defense matters, we understand importance of providing a strong and effective defense in every criminal matter, including DUI.
A Serious Crime with Serious Consequences
Druken driven cases are no longer handles with a slap on the wrist and a suspended license. If you or someone you know is facing charges for a first DUI, second DUI or a third DUI, or a DUI felony, you need an experienced attorney handling your case.
If you are convicted of DUI, you face fines up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail for a first offense. These penalties can be higher depending upon other factors, such as your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level, whether you were driving a commercial vehicle or transporting a minor, or if a death or injury occurred while driving. For a second offense, the penalties increase considerably, including up to one year in jail. You can also be required to complete an alcohol education program, have an ignition interlock device placed on your vehicle, and face an ever-increasing array of assessments and surcharges that make any DUI conviction quite expensive.
The DMV Hearing – A Critical Part of Your DUI Case
When you are arrested for DUI, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will act immediately to suspend or revoke your driver�s license. This administrative action takes place wholly apart from any criminal proceedings. In most cases, as a DUI offender your license will be suspended for four months if this is your first offense, or one year for a second offense. If you refused to take a test, your license will be suspended for one year for a first offense or two years for a second offense.
The DMV will automatically suspend or revoke your license unless you request a hearing within ten days of receiving the Notice of Suspension. This notice may be given to you at the time of your arrest for DUI, at the same time you may be taken into custody. By the time you are released, the deadline for requesting a hearing may be almost gone.
Drunk Driving Charges & DWI Lawyer
Help is Available
There may be many defenses available to the DUI arrest, including whether the officer had sufficient legal cause to stop you in the first place, and whether proper procedures were followed after that. The police may get you to perform field sobriety tests instead of or in addition to a chemical test. The way these field tests are administered and interpreted are fraught with potential errors. Even a preliminary alcohol screen or chemical test such as a breathalyzer may not be accurate if the machine has not been properly cleared and calibrated before use.
At the Law Office of Alex Bernstein, we prepare a strong DUI defense to achieve the best possible result in your case in an effort to stop DUI charges, whether it is an acquittal, a dismissal or reduction of charges, or alternative sentencing through a diversion program. We are also there for you at the DMV hearing, fighting to help you keep your license so you can keep your job and continue to perform essential daily functions. If you have been arrested for DUI in the Bay Area, contact the Law Office of Alex Bernstein for a free consultation on how to beat DUI charges and even overturn or beat a DWI conviction.
The important thing to remember is that all charges involving drunk driving charges are serious and, in your defense and to protect your future you need the experience and knowledge of a qualified DUI lawyer or DWI lawyer who can represent you and attempt to mitigate prison time and loss of your license.