본 안내문은 음주운전 적발후 어떻게 프로세스가 진행되는지에 대한 간략한 설명과 그 결과로 받게 될수 있는 처벌에 관해서 설명드리고 있습니다. 각각의 음주운전 적발 정황이 다르기때문에 본인의 상황에 관해서는 음주운전 전문 변호사와 상담을 하셔야 합니다.

캘리포니아 첫번째 음주운전 적발시 첫단계

첫번째로 기억하셔야 하실 점은 놀라지 마시고 상황에 대처하셔야 하는것 입니다. 종종 많은 분들이 음주운전 적발된 사실로 인해 과도한 스트레스를 받게되어 이로 인해  운전면허 정지가 되거나, 더 많은 벌금이 부과 되거나, 또는 다시 음주운전을 하게 되는 경우도 있습니다!

다음으로, 적발 되신지 10일 이내라면, 캘리포니아 DMV에 불복행정절차(Administrative Hearing)를 신청하셔야 합니다. 정해진 시간내에 신청을 하시면 행정 심리가 열리고 심리 결과가 나올 때까지 캘리포니아 운전면허의 정지를 유예시켜 줍니다. DUI 변호사를 고용하셨다면, 변호사가 이 과정을 알려주고 DMV에서 고객님을 대리해 줄 수 있습니다.

세번째로 기억하실점은 음주 운전에 적발 되었던 카운티에서 일하는 한명 이상의 음주운전 전문 변호사에게 문의해보셔야 하는 것입니다. 대부분의 음주운전 전문 변호사들과의 첫번째 상담은 무료이므로 계약없이 본인의 구체적인 상황을 상담 받으실 수 있습니다.

운전 면허 정지나 면허 취소가 됩니까?

이 질문에 대한 답변은 적발 당시 케미컬 테스트를 받았는지 안받았는지에 따라 달라집니다. 이번이 캘리포니아주 내에서의 첫번째 음주운전 적발이었고, 테스트 받는것에 동의 하셨었다면, 6개월 이하의 면허 정지를 받을 확률이 높습니다. 초기 케미컬 테스트를 거부할 경우 1년 이하의 면허 정지를 받을수 있습니다. 만일 혈중 알콜 농도가 법적 한계인 .08보다 현저히 높을 경우 더 오랜 기간동안 면허 정지를 받을 수 있습니다. 제한적 면허(Restricted License)를 받을수 있는지의 여부는 법령과 본인의 상황에 따라 다를수 있습니다.

만일 케미컬 테스트 측정 거부를 하셨다면, 이러한 상황은 일반적인 첫번째 음주운전 적발 상황보다 더 복잡해지게 됩니다. 이 경우 반드시 음주운전 전문 변호사와 상의 하셔야 합니다. 음주운전시의 거부(DUI Refusal)라는 기사를 참고 하실 수 있습니다.

벌금은 얼마나 내야 하나요?

캘리포니아에서 첫번째 음주운전 적발이실 경우 기본적으로 부과되는 벌금은 $390 에서 $1,000 이며 여기에 “ 벌금과 과세”(Penalties and Assessments)가 법정에서 전체 벌금에 추가 됩니다. 보통 벌금은 $1400 에서 $2500정도 하며, 이외 법정 소송 비용및 요금을 추가 하셔야 합니다. 모든것이 적용되었을때, AAA에 따르면 캘리포니아에서의 첫번째 음주운전 적발에 $10,000 이상은 지불하시게 된다고 예상하실 수 있습니다. 벌금의 부담을 덜기 위해서 법정에서 벌금 지불 방법을 조정 할 수 있습니다.

음주운전 전문 변호사를 고용해야하나요?

형사 문제가 있을 때에는 항상 변호사를 고용할 권리가 있습니다. 캘리포니아에서의 첫 음주운전 적발과 관련된 경험 있는 변호사를 고용하기 위해서는, 여러명에게 문의를 해보고 결정을 하셔야 합니다. 국내 거의 대부분의 법률 사무소에서는 무료 상담 서비스를 제공하고 있습니다.

실수하지 마십시요. 음주운전 전문 변호사를 고용하는 비용은 적지 않습니다. 적발된 관할 구역에 따라 또는 구체적인 적발 상황에 따라서, 음주운전 전문 변호사가 도움이 될 수도 있고 아닐 수도 있습니다. 따라서 한 명 이상의 음주운전 전문 변호사와 본인의 구체적인 상황을 상담 하신 후에 구별하셔야 합니다.

처벌을 감면 받을 수 있나요?

과속을 하였거나, 혈중 알콜 농도가 높은 경우, 케미컬 테스트를 거부하였거나, 아이가 탑승하였을 경우 등의 상황에 따라 처벌 수위가 높아지는 경우에 는가중처벌 (Enhancement) 이나 추가적인 처분을 받을수 있습니다. 어떤 상황에서는 음주운전 처벌을 음주관련 난폭운전(Wet Reckless)으로 경감시킬수 있는 경우도 있습니다. 이 경우에도 $600 에서 $1200 사이의 벌금이 부과되고 여전히 음주와 관련된 처벌로 기록에 남게 됩니다. 캘리포니아내에서의 첫 음주운전 적발 상황을 난폭운전으로 경감시키기는 방법은 해당 지역의 능력있는 변호사와 상담을 해보셔야 알수 있습니다.

다른 처벌은 없나요?

캘리포니아에서의 음주운전 초범의 경우 벌금과 운전면허 정지이외에 다른 처벌을 받을수 있습니다. 모든 음주운전 초범은 의무적으로 48시간 수감되어야 하지만, 이를 사회봉사 처벌로 전환 하는것이 가능할 수 있습니다. 음주 운전 교육을 12시간에서 45시간 수료해야 하고, 3년에서 5년간의 보호관찰(Probation)을 받아야 합니다. 보통 이때의 보호관찰에서는 보호관찰관이 포함되지 않지만 그렇지 않은 경우도 있습니다.

위에 언급된 일반적으로 해당하는 처벌 이외에도 어떤 사람은 추가적인 처벌을 받을 수도 있습니다. 시동 장금 장치(Ignition Interlock Systems)를 운전하는 차량의 대시보드에 설치 하게 될 수도 있습니다. 이 음주 측정 장치는 불었을때 알콜성분이 검출 되지 않아야 시동을 걸수 있습니다. 또한 캐나다를 방문하는것이 어려워 질수 있습니다. 특정한 직업에서는 음주운전 초범의 경우도 앞으로의 직장 경력에 큰 영향을 미칠수 있습니다.

추가적으로 2010년 7월1일부터 음주운전 초범으로 체포되고 판결이 난 경우 캘리포니아주의 앨러미다, 로스앤젤레스, 툴레어, 새크라멘토 카운티에서 운전자의 차량에 5개월간 음주 측정기 장착을 의무화 하였습니다. (부상자가 있는 경우 12개월) 이것은 위의 4개 카운티에서 시범적으로 시행됩니다.

Falsities About Beating DUI Charges

Before going into legitimate ways to beat DUI charges, we discuss a couple of DUI myths. First, some people (and even some lawyers) believe that if the police officer does not read someone their Miranda rights it is like a get out of jail free card. You can learn more about Miranda and DUI, but the long and short is that officers do most of their questioning prior to you actually being placed under arrest, so Miranda does not apply. Suffice it to say, every year more than 100,000 people who were not Mirandized are convicted of a California DUI.

Another myth about DUI arrests is that you have to be driving to get convicted of a DUI. While the “D” does stand for driving that does not mean you have to be currently driving. Many DUI arrests are made after an accident, and other DUI arrests are made of people sleeping in their vehicles or even next to them. You can also be arrested for boating under the influence or even riding a bicycle intoxicated.

Realities About Beating DUI Charges

• Not driving DUI defenses. As mentioned above, people are convicted all the time of California DUI even though the police office did not see them driving. In most cases, a winnable not driving defense requires someone else to testify that they were the driver and not the person the arrested.

• Drinking after driving DUI defenses. Some people like to have a drink as soon as they get home, and some of these people will be arrested for DUI in their home. While this legitimately happens, this type of drinking after driving defense can be difficult to win. A better drinking after driving DUI defense is when someone’s car breaks-down or they have had an accident and they then go into a bar or store to get alcohol. In these types of situations, there will often be a receipt to establish that the alcohol purchase occurred after driving. Even better is if a bartender or clerk will testify that the defendant did not appear intoxicated.

• Drinking right before driving DUI defenses. Since it takes awhile for alcohol to absorb into a person’s system, they might be perfectly sober while driving but under the influence by the time they get tested for DUI. The strongest “rising alcohol DUI defenses” have a few properties. First, it is important for the defendant to be close to their destination, so it can be argued they would arrived perfectly sober. It is also very helpful to have the field BAC test return a lower value than the official chemical one.

• Acid Reflux & GERD DUI Defenses. Most people have heard that eating certain foods or using mouth wash can result in artificially high BAC measurements on breath tests. It is true that “mouth alcohol” can inflate the readings, but most police officers enforce a 15 minute observation period to counteract this effect. Misreadings from Acid reflux or other GERD issues will not dissipate after 15 minutes since it is part of a person’s internal system. In practice, to have these cases be winnable it is not enough to claim heartburn, but someone should be under doctor’s care and taking medication.

• Failure to follow procedure for breath tests. Most police officers wait at least 15 minutes before issuing a breath test, but if they do not one might have a fairly strong DUI defense. Other procedural errors including failure to calibrate or maintain equipment in compliance with California regulations or accepted scientific practices can invalidate breath measurements.

• Failure to follow procedure for blood tests. Handling blood is an extremely complex task. Blood can spoil, it can ferment, it can be contaminated with other samples or substances. A California DUI lawyer can help you to understand if there might be grounds to get blood results excluded. For borderline BAC levels it might be recommended to get the blood tested by an independent lab.

• Improper Stop. Your constitutional rights require police officers to have reasonable suspicion to pull you over. Weaving and other poor driving do not necessarily indicate intoxication. A broken tail-light says nothing about the quality of person’s driving, but can provide the justification for a stop that leads to a DUI arrest. Rules for DUI roadblocks are especially complicated and often can be challenged. For a police officer to get from the reason for the stop to determination of impairment involves a lot of judgment and gray area. Determining the strength of fighting DUI charges based on an improper stop requires a lawyer with a lot of experience reading police reports and who knows what arguments the local courts will find reasonable. If there were issues with your stop, a DUI lawyer may recommend filing a motion to suppress it which if successful can result in a dismissal of charges.

• Esoteric DUI Defenses. There are a lot of DUI arrests which means every type of imaginable (and some fantastical) DUI defense has been tried at one time or another and proved successful in at least a case or two. In practice, though, the majority of winnable DUI defenses will fall into one of the seven broad strategies above. If a lawyer tells you have a good case because you recently had dental work, are on a low-carb diet, have one leg shorter than the other, or something else that sounds too good to be true, it might be time to get another consultation.

Miranda warnings are meant to protect an individual Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. In order to self-incriminate, two conditions need to apply – custody (i.e. being under arrest) and interrogation (the officer needs to being asking you questions she does not already know the answer to). With DUI arrests, typically all of the pertinent questioning occurs before the person is placed in custody.

While lack of being read Miranda rights typically does not violate someone’s Fifth Amendment rights, other aspects of the arrest might. Usually, though, stronger DUI defenses come from other directions such as noting lack of probable cause for the stop (a violation of Fourth Amendment).

If you have been arrested for DUI, you should consult with several attorneys experienced in your local jurisdiction and discuss the specifics of your case.

It is impossible to provide a very firm answer to the question of DUI lawyer costs. Some DUI attorneys act like little more than clerks – they file the appropriate papers and make one or two court appearances for you. Other DUI attorneys provide a more vigorous defense – they hardball negotiate with prosecutors, file extra motions, etc. If your case involves a commercial license, prior offenses, an accident or other enhancements, or other factors, you will likely be asked to pay significantly higher for a qualified DUI attorney. In the rare event your DUI case goes to trial, you can expect additional fees.

On top of the variations in your specific DUI case, there are other factors that influence the costs of a DUI attorney. Often but not always, DUI attorney fees are higher in Southern California cities than Northern ones. In more remote areas of the state, fees are typically lower for basic cases, but if you need to bring in a big city DUI attorney, costs can be much more.

The best way to determine California DUI lawyer costs is to meet with several of them. Most DUI attorneys offer a free initial consultation during which they will clearly outline their fee structure.

To satisfy the DMV, you will likely have to file a form 1650 Waiver for termination of suspension action. If you had a private DUI attorney handle your initial DUI defense, they might help you with this process. Otherwise, you need to contact directly the Mandatory Unit of the California DUI in Sacramento at (916) 657-6576. Expect long hold times and bureaucratic runarounds.

DUI is an acronym for Driving Under the Influence while DWI stands for Driving While Intoxicated. Different states use one or the other. In California, the official version is DUI whether it refers to alcohol or drugs. This website claims some states treat DUI as a lesser version of DWI, but it is unclear what states they are referring to.

The purpose of this guide is to provide a brief overview of how the process works, and the possible penalties you may be facing as a result of your DUI arrest. Each DUI case is different so contact a DUI attorney to learn where you stand.

Initial Steps for a California First DUI Arrest

The first thing to remember is to settle down and start dealing with the situation. Often people are too stressed to face the consequences of their DUI arrest which readily leads to suspended drivers license, larger fines, and sometimes another DUI!

Next, if it is still within 10 days of your arrest, you should submit a request of an administrative hearing with the California DMV. If you make the request in time, any potential suspension of your California drivers license will be delayed until a hearing is held and a decision is rendered. If you’ve engaged a DUI lawyer, they can guide you through this process and even represent you with the DMV.

Third, you should meet with one or more DUI attorneys who work in the county you were arrested for your first DUI. Most DUI attorneys offer a free initial consultation that allows you to discuss the specifics of your DUI arrest without obligation.

Will my driver’s license be suspended or revoked?

The answer to this question depends on whether or not you submitted to a chemical DUI test when originally pulled over. If this is your first dui charge in the state of California and you agreed to the test then you will likely be facing up to 6 months of license suspension. Those who refuse the initial chemical test may have their license suspended for up to 1 year. You may face a longer suspension if your blood alcohol concentration was significantly above the .08 legal limit. Whether or not you will be allowed a restricted license is statutory and will be based upon the specific facts of your case.

If you did not submit to a chemical DUI test to measure your blood alcohol content, your situation is more complicated than a “standard first DUI.” You should definitely consult a DUI attorney, and you can review this article on DUI refusal.

How much can I expect to pay in fines?

For those who are found guilty in their first California dui, the base fine ranges from $390 to $1,000 plus “penalties and assessments” which add to the total fines paid to the court. Typical fines can range anywhere from $1400 to $2500, include court costs and fees on top of that. When it is all said and done, the AAA estimates that you can expect to pay upwards of $10,000 for first offense conviction in California, though payment arrangements can be made with the court to make this burden a little bit easier.

Do I need to hire a DUI Lawyer?

You always have the right to hire a lawyer in order to represent you in a criminal matter. In order to make sure you hire a lawyer who is experienced with California first DUI cases, you should consult with several in the area and weigh your options; nearly all law firms in the state offer free consultation services.

Make no mistake, hiring as DUI lawyer is not inexpensive. Depending on the jurisdiction of your DUI arrest and the specifics of your case, a DUI lawyer may or may not be able to help. The only way to tell is to meet with one or more DUI lawyers to discuss the specifics of your case.

Can I get the charges reduced?

Depending on the facts of your case you may be facing “enhancements” (bad facts like speeding, high blood alcohol concentration, refusing to provide a chemical test, children in the car, etc. for which there are harsher penalties) or additional charges. In some cases you may be able to get your DUI charge reduced to Wet Reckless. You will still be facing $600 to $1200 in fines, and this charge is still treated as an alcohol-related charge on your record. In order to find out if your first DUI California can be reduced to Wet Reckless, you should consult with a qualified lawyer in your area.

Are there any other penalties?

Apart from fines and a suspension of your driver’s license, you may be facing other penalties for your first California DUI. There is a mandatory 48 hours of jail time for all first offense DUIs, though it may be possible to get this converted to a community service sentence. You will need to complete anywhere from 12 to 45 hours of DUI school, and anywhere from 3 to 5 years of probation that will most likely not involve a probation officer, but in some cases may.

In addition to the common penalties listed above, some individuals may even face further penalties. Ignition interlock systems may be installed on the dashboard of your vehicle which contain breathalyzers that require a clean (alcohol-free) breath to start your engine, and you may even have difficulty visiting Canada. For some professions, even a first DUI conviction will have serious repercussions on career advancement.

In addition, starting July 1, 2010, individuals arrested and then convicted of a first offense dui, in Alameda, Los Angeles, Tulare and Sacramento counties, will be required to install an Ignition Interlock Device on their vehicle for 5 months (12 months if an injury was involved). This is a pilot program which is why the penalty only applies to these four counties.

Terms: California First DUI. 1st DUI in California. 캘리포니아 음주운전

Navigating the field of DUI defense lawyers in California can be challenging. Lawyers are free to say almost anything in advertisements on the web, television, radio or in printⁱ. While various private and public organizations exist to supposedly help you, some are simply self serving promotional endeavors. Hopefully the information below will help you to understand and separate out the truth from the fiction.

The most obvious place to start is with the California State Bar. There you can search for attorneys by name and see if discipline has been imposed for malpractice or the like. This is the ONLY completely publicly maintained source. Even though it is privately run, Martindale-Hubbell, is considered the best neutral source for attorney evaluation. There system ranks attorneys based on knowledge and ethics. A full explanation can be found on their web site but the highest level is an AV rating.

Perhaps the most confusing term or terms is specialist, and its related derivatives. While California law limits the use of the phrase Criminal Law Specialistⁱⁱ, enforcement is lax and certain qualifiers remove the term from State regulations. One noteworthy example is the term California DUI Lawyers SPECIALIST. The California DUI Lawyers Association, is a voluntary, self-administered group, and most if not all serious DUI defense attorneys belong to this organization. The CDLA grants its “SPECIALIST” status to attorneys based on the attorneys historical and current record, knowledge etc. Seeing this level of knowledge is a good place to start.

Nationally, the American Bar Association, recognizes a select few fields of law as being so complicated and important to the public, that regulation is necessary. Defense of DUI cases has been recognized as one such field. The ABA distinguishes attorneys with the highest level of skill in these fields as “BOARD CERTIFIED”. In order to obtain this distinction, and to be allowed to use the phrase, an attorney must first QUALIFY for the exam through demonstration of experience, knowledge and skill that generally takes years to obtain. Then a multifaceted, multi day exam is given. Passage of this exam is rumored to be less than 20%. Currently California has 6 Board Certified DUI defense attorneys. Because this exam is an objective evaluation, it is considered to be a good benchmark to find the highest level of attorney in the field.

In the truly private field there are several sources, both www.AVVO.com and www.yelp.com are very popular. The problem is that AVVO allows for lawyers to boost their ratings with certain manipulations and YELP has no screening process at all. In fact, YELP will keep negative reviews up longer than positive reviews and allows for anonymous postings which could be from competing attorneys. The testimonials on AVVO are checked for fraud and a formal process exists.

Perhaps the best way to see if a DUI Defense attorney knows their stuff is the lecture circuit. Neither State Bar organizations nor private seminars would use an attorney who is not both knowledgeable and respected. The same can be said for publications in the field. If an attorney writes the book or regular articles in DUI defense which other practioners use as a resource, then that attorney must know their stuff.

On the other hand, self promotional literature, like glossy mailers to potential clients, has little or no value. While it might be informational, look at it for what it is, advertising.

In the end, the best way to judge an attorney is through personal contact. Many first appointments are by phone, which can be fine, but to be sure you are getting what you are being told you will get, take the hour or two to go to the attorney’s office. Find out if they have a full staff, look at the folders of current clients to see if the work is being done, ask to see the certificates, diplomas and other marks of distinction the attorney claims. In other words, shop around or you may learn “If you think hiring a professional is expensive, wait until you hire an amateur.” Red Adair

FOOTNOTES

• i Rules of Professional Responsibility 1-400
• ii Specialist Regulations

In 2005, there were a total of 7,241 DUI arrests in Alameda County, including both misdeameanor and felony DUI. Males accounted for about 81% of the Alameda Country DUI arrests.

Alameda County DMV Hearings
DMV Adminsitrative Hearings for Oakland, Berkeley, Pleasanton and DUI arrests in other Alameda County cities are handled out of the Oakland DMV Driver Safety Office located at 303 Hegenberger Rd., 4th Floor, Suite 400, 94621-1452. Further directions to the Oakland DMV DSO.

Alameda County Courts
DUI Arrests in Alameda County might be handled by one of these courts:
René C. Davidson – Oakland
U.S. Post Office Building – Oakland
Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse – Oakland
Allen E. Broussard Justice Center – Oakland
George E. McDonald Hall of Justice – Alameda
Hayward Hall of Justice – Hayward
Winton Avenue Building – Hayward
Fremont Hall of Justice – Fremont
Gale/Schenone Hall of Justice – Pleasanton

Alameda County Law Enforcement
Alameda County District Attorney
California Highway Patrol
Alameda County Sheriff
Oakland Police Department
Berkeley Police Department
Pleasanton Police Department

Alameda County DUI News
Oakland Tribune DUI News
Google News

Alameda County DUI Resources
DUI.com Alameda County

Alameda County DUI Notice
Remember if you have been arrested for Driving Under the Influence in Oakland, Berkeley, Pleasanton, or any other Alameda city, you only have 10 days to contact the DMV or you will automatically have your California Driver’s License suspended. You should also contact a DUI attorney right away. Many of them will offer a free initial consultation.

Alameda County History
From the Wikipedia entry on Alameda County
The county was formed on March 25, 1853 from a large portion of Contra Costa County and a smaller portion of Santa Clara County.

The word ‘alameda’ means ‘a place where poplar trees grow’, a name which originally was given to the Arroyo de la Alameda (Poplar Grove Creek). The willow and sycamore trees along the banks of the river reminded the early explorers of a road lined with trees, also known as an ‘alameda’.

The county seat at the time it was formed was located at Alvarado; it was moved to San Leandro in 1856 where the county courthouse was destroyed by the devastating 1868 quake on the Hayward Fault. The county seat was then re-established in the town of Brooklyn from 1872-1875. Brooklyn is now part of Oakland, which has been the county seat since 1873.

Much of what is now considered an intensively urban region, with major cities, was developed as a trolley car suburb of San Francisco in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The historical progression from native American tribal lands to Spanish, then Mexican ranches, thence to farms, ranches, and orchards, suburbs and eventually cities, is shared with the adjacent Contra Costa County (see that article for an extensive history applicable to this county).

If a person is convicted of DUI, DWI, OWI, OMVI, DWAI in the United States regardless of whether it is a misdemeanor DUI conviction or a felony DUI conviction, that person will likely be excluded from admission to Canada. It also seems to be irrelevant whether the conviction was for a “lesser included” charges like “Wet reckless” in California, or driving while ability impaired in many States.

It is possible that immigration officials may not catch the conviction, however, if they do, the person will not be admitted to Canada.

There are three ways for a person convicted of DUI to enter Canada:

1) Deemed Rehabilitated
A person convicted of a single DUI, DWI, OWI, OMVI, DWAI (or lesser included) who has gone 10 years past the end of their sentence (meaning, 10 years following the termination/completion of probation), may seek admission to Canada either as a visitor or Permanent Resident.

2) Apply for Rehabilitation
A person may apply for “finding of criminal rehabilitation” five years and one day following the successful completion of the terms of their sentence (meaning probation has either been terminated or completed).

3) Temporary Residence Permit
A person otherwise inadmissible may be admitted upon application and granting of a temporary residence permit. This permit may cover more than one visit and may be granted for one or more years. Application is usually made through the Canadian Embassy or Consulate, but may be made at the port of entry.

For additional information on admission to Canada please review:

• http://www.visaplace.com/canada-immigration/denied-entry-to-canada.php
• http://www.americanlaw.com/cdninadmissible.html

Marin County includes the incorporated cities of

National College for DUI Defense (NCDD)

The NCDD is the nation’s premier organization dedicated to improving DUI Defense through creating standards and providing education and training. The NCDD website currently lists 112 affiliated California DUI Lawyers who are committed to improving their capabilities in DUI Defense.

While membership within NCDD might be considered to be the bare minimum to call oneself a DUI lawyer, there are finer points to consider. Even among NCDD member attorneys, very few are Board Certified in DUI Defense Law. Board certification is an approved specialty by the American Bar Association, and it provides the strongest assurance that a lawyer has the legal and technical knowledge particular to DUI cases.

California DUI Lawyers Association

The California DUI Lawyers Association provides it members with the opportunity for regular training sessions, updates on changes in California DUI law, and other items relevant to California DUI defense.

By selecting a lawyer who is a member of the California DUI Lawyers association, you can have some assurance that he or she is up-to-date on the issues affecting your case.

Internet Review Sites

Internet websites like Yelp, Yahoo Local, and MerchantCircle allow anybody to leave anonymous business reviews. While these sites seem to work fairly well for restaurants, we do not feel they are quite ready for professional reviews.

While hundreds of people might eat at a restaurant in a single day, only the largest DUI law firms handle that many cases in an entire year. As a result, there are almost always too few reviews to help you make an informed decision. When there are reviews, they have to be taken with quite a large grain of salt. Most people only are familiar with a single DUI lawyer, so they have no comparison. It is not exactly the same thing as telling you a particular pizzeria is the best out of the twenty or so they’ve eaten at over the past year.

By all means good reviews are better than bad ones on these sites; however, you should probably not take any of them too seriously.

Terms: California DUI Lawyer; DUI Attorney in California; National College for DUI Defense; NCDD;
California DUI Lawyers Association

Napa County includes the incorporated cities of