Northern California Counties DUI Lawyer & Attorneys

DUI in Northern California

To some, Northern California is a world unto itself - close enough to the metropolitan centers such as San Francisco and Sacramento, but far enough away from the sprawl that is Los Angeles.  However, DUIs continue to be a growing issue for the citizens of the rural communities in this region, and the personal and economic costs of such arrests can be enormous, as the DUI laws in California are among the strictest in the entire country.

Northern California is home to Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, and Yuba Counties. 

In 2001 there were 20,277 DUI arrests made in this part of the state, and this number is likely to rise in the future.

A DUI is a serious charge that occurs when a person is stopped by a police officer for being “under the influence” of drugs or alcohol. If the charges are true, this is a dangerous act that can result in the death and serious injury of innocent people and of the driver. Anyone can be charged with a DUI in California if they have a blood alcohol reading starting at 0.01%, which is the “zero tolerance” level for people under the legal drinking age. The “Per Se” blood alcohol level for a DUI in California is 0.08% in which a driver is intoxicated in the eyes of the law and need no additional proof of driving impairment to be charged with a DUI. The DUI laws in California also state that there is an “enhanced penalty” blood alcohol concentration level in which the accused person can be faced with additional jail time, harsh fines, and much more severe driver's license sanctions.

If you are charged with a DUI in Northern California, there are several penalties that can be filed against you. With a first offense of a DUI in California, a person can face 4 months of license suspension or revocation. With a second offense people can face 2 years of license suspension or revocation; and with a third offense, people can face over 3 years of license suspension. If someone is charged with a DUI in California, they will be forced to complete alcohol rehabilitation, and alcohol education if the accused is under 21 of age. In the third offense of receiving a DUI in California, many of the accused will have their vehicle confiscated and possibly have an ignition interlock device placed on their car. Being accused of a DUI in California is extremely serious; legal aid is crucial in order to receive far treatment over the trial and ruling.

An experienced Northern California DUI lawyer can help you by calling into question the validity of tests applied during the arrest, and is experience with other strategies as well.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) laws are laws that are designed to prevent potential drivers from driving while they are in such a dangerous state of mind. The legal repercussions for under the influence in the state of California are calculated by two primary concerns: exactly how much alcohol was found in the body, and whether or not you are a repeat offender. If you have been detained for a DUI incident in Northern California or know of a loved one who has, it's absolutely vital to get an experienced DUI attorney as soon as possible.

Important issues like toxicology reports and forensics are difficult to comprehend and must be fully understood by highly experienced and knowledgeable attorneys. California DUI cases can be especially complex since they necessitate proficiency in a range of legal areas. Don't let a DUI arrest ruin your future - call a DUI specialist lawyer in Northern California today who has years of successful experience and established results.  Don’t take a chance with your freedom.

Page Updated on 3/13/2008