DUI Information Center – Sonoma County, CA

Santa Rosa Drunk Driving Defense Lawyer Paul Burglin

Skilled Guidance for Drunk Driving Offenders in Sonoma County

Sonoma County has numerous restaurants, bars, wineries and wine-tasting events, as well as casinos. Local police patrol the roads around these establishments, while the California Highway Patrol is ever present on the highways. Late at night, they are looking to pull drivers over for the most minor of infractions (e.g., no front license plate, using a cell phone, touching a fog line, etc.). Tourists are often stopped in rental cars because their headlights didn't activate or because they slowed down looking for a B&B or hotel.

A DUI arrest can be traumatic, especially for a law-abiding citizen. You may have already spent some time in the county jail drunk tank, had your car towed, and perhaps missed a flight home.

The consequences for a drunk driving conviction in Sonoma County are significant. You are facing a suspension of your California driving privileges, as well as a criminal prosecution in the Sonoma County Superior Court in Santa Rosa. How this quagmire will turn out for you depends on the totality of circumstances (e.g., reason for the enforcement stop or police contact, conditions and performance on the field sobriety tests, accuracy and test results on breath or blood samples, etc.) and whether or not you have a competent attorney properly trained in DUI defense work. In some cases, your charges can be dismissed or reduced to a less serious offense, and a license suspension or revocation may be avoided.

To minimize the negative consequences, it is best to retain a DUI attorney who is Board-Certified by the National College of DUI Defense as approved by the American Bar Association. Only five attorneys in California have this certification, and it indicates a high level of skill, knowledge, and experience in this area of the law.

Driving Under the Influence

	Sonoma County DUI Process ► Motorists arrested for DUI in Sonoma County are usually booked into county jail for at least four hours and then given a future court date for their arraignment. Sometimes, they are cited and released without being booked. It is best to get an attorney involved before the arraignment so your case has the most effective legal defense and you can avoid having to personally appear yourself. However, if there are felony charges (by reason of injury or death, child endangerment, or prior DUI convictions), bail will most likely have to be posted, and your personal appearance will be required in Court along with counsel.
	Sonoma County DUI Charges & Penalties ► When you are charged with DUI in Sonoma, you are facing various penalties even on a first offense. Your driver's license is subject to an administrative suspension by the DMV for four months or a year if you refuse the chemical test. You may also incur fines and penalty assessments of up to $2,300 and potentially up to six months in county jail. You may be ordered to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) in any car you own or operate.
	California DUI Laws ► The drunk driving laws in California are strict. A motorist arrested for DUI usually faces two criminal charges: driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or above. Sentencing enhancements for high alcohol test results or chemical test refusals may be imposed. There is also a separate administrative proceeding initiated by the California DMV to suspend your driver's license or privilege to drive here.