San Diego DUI Lawyer

If you've been arrested for DUI, contacting an attorney is one of the first and most important steps to take. At Superior Law Center, we assist clients throughout San Diego County, California who are facing DUI-related charges. We welcome you to contact us to learn more about your rights and your options.

What is DUI?

DUI stands for "driving under the influence" and is the term used to describe the criminal offense of operating a motor vehicle (car, truck, motorcycle, bus, etc.) while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, such as an illegal narcotic or prescription drug. A person may face DUI charges in California for either driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or greater, or for driving "under the influence" meaning that his or her physical and/or mental abilities were impaired due to alcohol or drug use.

At Superior Law Center, a team works tirelessly to provide an aggressive defense against your criminal charges of driving under the influence. If you are facing any of the following charges, contact a San Diego DUI defense attorney from our firm immediately. Click a link below to learn more about our areas of practice:

Arrests for Drunk Driving

Before a drunk driving arrest takes place, a field sobriety test is usually administered by the arresting officer. This test can include any form of a physical test or a breath test at the scene. Once arrested, you may be taken back to the station for a breathalyzer test or chemical test. Click here to learn more about arrests for drunk driving.

DUI Defense

The defense of a drunk driving charge is an important aspect of the DUI case than can make or break the outcome of the case. Having an aggressive and competent defense strategy for your DUI case will prove to be very beneficial to the outcome and can possibly result in the charges being dropped. Click here to read more about DUI defense.

Challenging DUI Evidence

In order to challenge the evidence against you, you must be able to prove that you were not under the influence of alcohol and your abilities were not impaired, or you will need to prove that an error on the police officer's behalf or blood lab's behalf caused the evidence to become inadmissible. Click here to read more about challenging DUI evidence.

DUI Penalties

The penalties of drunk driving charges range from imprisonment to fines to probation to license suspension, and sometimes a combination of all four. In some situations, a judge will allow for an alternative sentencing option, such as an alcohol awareness class or drug rehabilitation. Click here to read more about DUI penalties.

DMV Hearings

After an arrest for DUI takes place, you will have ten days to contact the DMV to schedule a hearing to dispute the suspension of your driver's license. Many first time offenders do not realize that there are two parts to a DUI cases, and that scheduling a DMV hearing is absolutely essential. Click here to read more about DMV hearings.

The 10-Day Rule

What is the ten day rule? According to California law, you have ten days to contact the DMV to schedule an administrative hearing regarding your driver's license. If you fail to make this meeting within ten days, you will face an automatic license suspension, despite the outcome of your criminal case. Click here to read more about the 10-day rule.

Field Sobriety Tests

There are three main types of field sobriety tests used by police officers during a police stop. These include the one leg stand test, walk and turn test and the horizontal gaze nystagmus test. While these tests are not proven to be entirely accurate, they are still used very frequently. Click here to read more about field sobriety tests.

Blood & Breath Tests

What is the difference between breath tests and blood tests? A breath test is administered as a preliminary alcohol screening test at the scene of the arrest while the blood test is taken by a person certified to give the test back at a lab. Click here to read more about blood & breath tests.

Refusal of Breathalyzer

The breathalyzer test is a test taken back at the police station and will be penalized if refused. Refusal of the breathalyzer test will result in driver's license suspension among other consequences as set by the law. You will need to schedule a DMV hearing within ten days to refute the suspension. Click here to learn more about refusal of breathalyzer.

Refusal of Chemical Tests

When a person signs to get their California driver's license, they imply consent to a chemical test if arrested for drunk driving. The chemical test is taken back at the station, and if refused, will result in the immediate suspension of driving privileges. To challenge the suspension, a person will have ten days to contact the DMV and schedule a hearing. Click here to read more about refusal of chemical tests.

Underage DUI

Unlawfully possessing and consuming alcohol while under the age of 21 can hold grave consequences for a person in San Diego. Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle with any amount of alcohol in your blood, even .001% will result in a DUI arrest and the suspension of your driver's license. Click here to read more about underage DUI.

Out of State DUI

If you possess a driver's license in a state other than California and have recently been arrested for DUI in San Diego, immediately talk to a drunk driving defense law firm. You will need an attorney who is aware of the local laws and familiar with the courts around San Diego. Click here to read more about out of state DUI.

Aggravated DUI

Aggravated DUI, or felony DUI, simply means that the DUI charges that a person is facing will be enhanced due to certain circumstances in the case. If you were drinking and driving and caused injury or death to another, you will likely be facing aggravated DUI charges. Click here to read more about aggravated DUI.

Multiple DUI

If you have recently been arrested for DUI and already have multiple DUI convictions on your record, it is immediately important to speak to the drunk driving defense lawyers from Superior Law Center. We understand how an effective defense for multiple DUI charges works, and we can help you to try and find a positive outcome. Click here to read more about multiple DUI.

Blood Alcohol Science

What's the science behind a DUI arrest? By using results from blood (chemical) tests and breathalyzer tests, laboratories and police officers are able to determine the approximate amount of alcohol in a defendant's blood. Call an attorney at our office today to learn more about the science. Click here to read more about blood alcohol science.

Boating Under the Influence

Driving a boat while under the influence of alcohol is strongly prohibited in the state of California due to the extreme dangers of bodily injury, drowning and death this type of offense can hold on other boaters and the drunk driver themselves. Click here if you would like to learn more about boating under the influence.

DUI Penalties in San Diego, CA

The most common penalties associated with a DUI conviction in San Diego will be imprisonment, fines and driver's license suspension. However, a defendant may be granted probation in lieu of part or all of his or her jail sentence or may be able to perform community service to avoid harsher penalties. Additionally, enhanced penalties may be enforced if the driver has a previous DUI conviction, has a minor in the vehicle at the time of the offense, has a blood alcohol concentration of .16% or greater, or is involved in an auto accident. Fortunately, a lawyer can review your particular case to determine what penalties you may face and what actions can be taken to minimize these.

At Superior Law Center, we believe that knowing more about a subject can allow you to make better decisions and therefore have the opportunity of reaching a better case outcome when all is said and done.

Contact a San Diego DUI attorney today to get started in fighting your charges.