Sacramento Driving Under The Influence Attorney
Sacramento DUI Lawyer, Sacramento DUI Attorney

Available for free, confidential consultations 24/7 at (916) 233-7346

 

In California, a first offense driving under the influence conviction (commonly referred to as a DUI), can come with a penalty of up to six months in jail and/or a $1000.00 fine.  Subsequent convictions come with increased penalties, reaching potential prison time. If the prosecution can show that the individual accused was driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, stiff penalties and consequences will result.

Over the last twenty years the laws related to DUI's have been drastically changed to make the charge more difficult to defend and a conviction easier to obtain. Sacramento DUI Lawyer Michael Rehm is the attorney to hire when up against this wall.  

 

There are many potential defenses when confronting a DUI charge.  The first issue every DUI Lawyer should look at when analyzing a DUI charge is why was the vehicle pulled over?  If there is a suspect reason associated with the stop, then it should always be challenged.  If it can be shown that the vehicle was stopped without the requisite legal justification, the case can be dismissed in its entirety.  The 4th Amendment protects against unreasonable search and seizure, and if the officer stopped your vehicle for no reason or for a reason that is false, then that fact needs to be brought to the court’s attention.
Even if there is a valid reason for stopping your vehicle, the matter is far from done. 

 

Did the officer read you your Miranda rights? 
Did the officer explain the field sobriety tests correctly? 
Did the officer properly administer any breathalyzer given on the side of the road? 
Is the officer trained to administer the breathalyzer? 
Was your blood alcohol level rising—had the alcohol actually absorbed into your bloodstream when you were driving, or had it absorbed into your bloodstream only after taken to the police station (which generally takes 45 minutes to an hour) to be given the breath, blood or urine test? 
Did the officer’s inform you that you had the right to take either the blood or the breath? 

 

This represents only a fraction of the issues associated with any DUI case.  The prosecution has the burden of proof, and when facing a competent attorney, it is still a great burden to overcome. 

 

DMV -- ADMINISTRATIVE PER SE HEARINGS

One common misconception associated with the consequence of a DUI is that what happens in court will affect your driver’s license.  What happens in court MIGHT affect the status of your driver license, but it is not a certainty.  The DMV and the court are separate agencies.  One can lose their driver’s license and not be convicted of a DUI. 

 

They are separate agencies, and the DMV holds their own hearing to determine whether or not an individual is guilty of driving under the influence.  If you do not set this hearing, you will automatically lose your driver’s license, whether you are convicted or not.  You must set the hearing with the DMV within 10 DAYS OF YOUR ARREST.  The number to contact the DMV is (916) 657-0214.  Call this number within 10 days of your arrest and set a hearing date, or contact an attorney that will set it for you. Understanding the DMV consequences that flow from the court proceedings is an essential factor any attorney must possess to practice DUI defense in California.   Michael Rehm possesses this knowledge and includes representation at the DMV hearing in his flat fee.

 

Sacramento Drunk Driving Attorney Michael Rehm provides representation for all DUI related matters in Sacramento County, Yolo County(Davis & Woodland), Placer County (Auburn & Roseville), Solano County (Fairfield & Vallejo), EL Dorado County (Placerville & South Lake Tahoe), Colusa County, Yuba County, Sutter County, San Joaquin County (Stockton), and Stanislaus County (Modesto).