I know from personal experience. My name is Michael Richmond and before I became a lawyer I was arrested for a DUI in San Diego and, after going through the process, I kept my license and avoided any alcohol related conviction (DUI or wet reckless). Because of my personal DUI experience and my years of helping people like you (and me) I have the insight needed to help you keep your license and help you in court.
As you already know "DUI," or D.U.I., is acronym used to describe being arrested for "Driving Under the Influence," it can also be termed "DWI" (D.W.I.) or "Driving While Intoxicated," but regardless of how you describe it, a Drunk Driving arrest in San Diego starts two different processes - one with the Department of Motor Vehicles and the other with the San Diego Superior Court and each process has its own set of rules and procedures and unless you are well versed in DUI law or are in law school yourself I highly recommend hiring counsel because "DUI" is the most technical "crime" that you can be charged with. Here is a short list of things (not taught in law school) that your attorney needs to be aware of:
- Chemistry.
- Biology.
- Toxicology.
- DUI Law.
- DMV Law.
That list aside, the first thing you need to worry about about relates to your driver's license and the suspension already in place.
You only have TEN days.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has a "Ten Day Rule" which mandates requesting a hearing within ten (10) calendar days of your arrest - otherwise you will lose your privilege to drive in California (even with an out-of-state license). You can request this hearing or we can do it for you, but remember you only have ten calendar days. The hearing itself won't take place for about another 30 - 45 days and regardless of your Blood Alcohol level you can beat the DMV and the court with the right DUI defense and one of our San Diego drunk driving lawyers.
Please note, however, that the Public Defenders are restricted to the court side of your DUI case and can NOT help you with the DMV. Additionally, you need to know that DUI law and DUI defense is NOT taught in law school. This is important because every criminal defense attorney in San Diego becomes a drunk driving attorney as soon as they know you might hire them - even if they don't have any experience with DUI San Diego. Make sure that you hire a San Diego drunk driving lawyer with a ton of experience otherwise your arrest for drunk driving will result in a San Diego conviction. DUI defense is the most complex area of criminal law.
With counsel you can achieve positive results.
But which counsel? Some lawyers will give you a "dog and pony" show ("most aggressive," "best," "published," "appeared on FOX," "I taught this," "my office has a penthouse view," "breath machine in my office," "I play golf with the judge [wink, wink]," "the prosecutor was my girlfriend") You should find a lawyer that you can speak to directly and someone who isn't afraid to answer your questions OVER THE PHONE. In addition, you should find a lawyer who has a clearly stated goal or what ever you might want to call it. For example, it is our belief that the police should always be held accountable for thier actions - specifically with regard to your Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrest. Making sure that the government plays by the rules (e.g. rights violations etc.); keeping your record clean; preventing you from losing your license; preventing you from being jailed - these are the primary objectives. Not someone trying to impress you with a bunch of unsupported claims.
How do we accomplish our objectives? Each and every case has "issues." For example, the most common issue is initial contact. The police may not have had adequate "legal" justification for contacting you and in many cases they don't. Was the handheld device calibrated? Was there 15 minutes of observation? We have a proven track record of success with cases just like yours. You can get positive results.
Experience counts.
I have defended thousands of San Diego DUI cases and I know we can meet our goals. How do I know?
- Certified operator of the Intoxilyzer ("breath machine").
- CES Consulting certified Intoxilyzer maintenance tech.
- N.H.T.S.A. Standard Field Sobriety Testing Course.
- San Diego County Better Business Bureau membership.
- Thousands of San Diego DUI cases defended.
- Hundreds of DMV and Court victories.
- The California Attorneys for Criminal Justice.
- The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
- National College For DUI Defense.
- California DUI lawyers Association.
How we help you beat your DUI:
- San Diego DUI Lawyers representing only DUI clients.
- Court appearances can be made without you (most cases).
- DMV hearings can be completed without you (some cases).
- We will contact the San Diego DMV office for you.
- We will investigate the equipment used in your case.
- We will investigate the procedures used in your case.
- Independent analysis of blood samples - if applicable.
- Your case will be assigned a team of two San Diego DUI Attorneys.
- Your DMV hearing will be handled by fully licensed Lawyer.
- Results comparable with the "Premier" Drunk Driving firms.
- Save thousands as compared to those other DUI firms - save up to $6,000.00.
- No high pressure sales tactics or "sales" people to deal with.
- I won't make any unsupported claim.
Call now for your FREE, comprehensive, straight-forward, consultation.
1 877 6DUI INFO (1 877 638 4435).
San Diego DUI Attorney Michael Richmond is available to speak to you everyday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. I will not resort to sales tricks like the big "law center" that you see advertising on T.V.; or the firm that requires an "in-office" consultation; or one that forces you to meet with an "associate" or "case manager."