San Diego DUI Lawyer

Defending Your Southern California DUI

DUI defense is something that criminal defense lawyer James N. Dicks takes seriously. At our law offices, we understand that although many DUIs are charged as misdemeanors and may not seem to have extreme penalties, they can potentially land you in jail and without a driver’s license for an extended period of time. In addition, some driving under the influence charges are actually felonies and could mean imprisonment in a California state prison for at least one year; most likely more.

There are a few different approaches we can take in defending your DUI, depending upon the specific circumstances of your arrest, the evidence against you and the exact charges you are facing. Any defense that we choose will need to be backed by proof in order to find success in and out of the courtroom. Once we prove your side of the story, it is left to the prosecution to attempt to prove your guilt – something that will not be easy after we have blown holes in their case and evidence.

There are several questions you can ask yourself about your DUI, all of which may prove vital in building your effective defense.

• Did the officer have probable cause in pulling you over? Did the officer actually have reason to suspect that you were driving under the influence? Were you actually driving erratically or displaying other signs of intoxication?

• Were you read your Miranda rights? Did the officer tell you that you had the right to remain silent?

• Did the officer inform you of “implied consent”? When you were asked to take a blood, breath or urine test to determine your blood alcohol concentration, were you told that your refusal would result in the immediate suspension of your license?

• Did the officer who administered your breathalyzer ask you to “keep blowing”? A standard breath testing machine only requires a certain amount of breath to be blown in order to test the level of alcohol. Too much air may affect the results.

There are many more defenses, such as a malfunctioning or improperly calibrated breath or blood testing machine that determined your blood alcohol level. San Diego DUI attorney James Dicks offers a free consultation to discuss your specific case and determine which defense is best for you.

Have you been arrested for DUI in San Diego? Contact us today!