Rohnert Park DUI Lawyer

Trusted Attorney Representing Clients Charged With DUI in Rohnert Park, CA

A DUI conviction in California comes with dire legal consequences. The courts can be unforgiving even to first offenders, and without representation from a qualified attorney, you could be at risk of a jail sentence, punitive fines, and the suspension or revocation of your license.

If you have been arrested for DUI in Rohnert Park, you might be aggressively solicited by bail bondsmen and supposed "top 1%" attorneys promising big results. Attorney Paul Burglin of Burglin Law Offices, P.C. does not operate this way. His reputation has been built up by glowing referrals across the state. Prosecutors, judges, and DMV officers have pointed their friends and family to him for representation against charges of driving under the influence. His decades of experience in the courtroom grant him a perspective few others can claim to have, and he will fight to have your penalties and consequences minimized as much as possible.

First Time DUI

A first arrest for driving under the influence can come with incredible stress, especially if you do not know how to react in the moment. The severity of the penalties for a first-time DUI will depend on whether there were aggravating circumstances, which refer to the factors behind your charge that may exacerbate the punishment. If there were no aggravating circumstances, you might only be charged with a misdemeanor offense, which will appear on your criminal record, but is treated less seriously than a felony.

That being said, the charges for misdemeanor DUI in California are still quite severe. The standard sentence is a fine no greater than $2,300 (penalty assessments not included), the possibility of six months in county jail, and a six-month suspension of your license. Your sentence may also include other punishments, including mandatory attendance at AA meetings and DUI school, community service, probation, or the installation of a breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID).

Underage DUI

Motorists under 21 in California are bound to different laws than those that apply to people who are above the legal drinking age of 21. An important detail to note here is California's adherence to "zero tolerance" laws, which punish underage drivers for having any alcohol in their systems. At a traffic stop, police officers will measure your blood alcohol content, or BAC, to determine whether to perform an arrest.

Most drivers are held to the standard of .08% BAC to be considered impaired, but if you are under 21, law enforcement can charge you with DUI at just .01% BAC. If you are convicted of underage DUI, your driver's license will be suspended for no longer than a year, and you will have to pay any fines ordered by the court. Furthermore, drivers under 21 can be charged with DUI when they are tested at or above .08% BAC.

Field Sobriety Tests

If a law enforcement officer pulls you over for a traffic stop, you may be asked to carry out certain field sobriety tests (FSTs), including:

• Tracking an object with your eyes.
• Walking heel-to-toe for nine steps, then turn and repeat.
• Standing on one leg for thirty seconds.
• Reciting the alphabet backward.
• Asking you to count inside your head and call out when a certain number of seconds have passed.

What you may not know already is that you are not required by law to consent to any field sobriety test. FSTs are highly subjective evaluations that only serve to build up the prosecution's case, and as such, you should politely decline any tests, even if doing so would result in your arrest. If you are arrested, you should get in contact with a DUI attorney at the earliest opportunity to start discussing your case.

Meet With a Rohnert Park, California DUI Defense Attorney

If not contested, a criminal charge of driving under the influence can set back your plans for the future and leave you with a criminal record. Attorney Paul Burglin of Burglin Law Offices, P.C. proudly serves residents of Rohnert Park who have been accused of misdemeanor and felony DUI charges. To schedule a free, personalized consultation, contact our office at 415-729-7300 today.