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San Diego-Based DUI Lawyer Assisting Southern California Clients

DUI, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is a serious offense with steep financial consequences and the possibility of jail time.  DUI laws vary from state to state and are quite complex, fraught with mediating factors and variables. Due to these complexities, it is imperative that a licensed lawyer be contacted immediately after a DUI arrest to advise a person of their individual rights, as well as preparing a defense in an attempt to lessen any penalties or get charges dismissed.  Read on to learn about DUI laws specific to California and the role that a San Diego-based DUI lawyer from Kerry Steigerwalt's Pacific Law Center can play in facilitating the resulting legal process, read on.

California DUI Law and Sobriety Testing

California law does not allow for an attorney to be contacted until after an arrest is made. This means that after being pulled over for suspected DUI, a series of field and chemical tests may be administered to determine if a driver is intoxicated and to what degree. This testing is done to determine whether an arrest will be made, and is therefore done without a lawyer present. 

Field Sobriety Testing

The first battery of tests, referred to a field sobriety tests, checks the driver’s coordination, motor skills, balance and overall level of awareness. These may include:

  • Heel to toe
  • Finger to nose
  • One leg stand
  • Alphabet recitation
  • Hand pat
  • And others

California law allows a driver to refuse field sobriety tests, which may prevent incriminating evidence from being collected and later used in court. However, if a driver willingly consents to field sobriety tests, close attention should be paid to which tests are administered as some are more easily challenged than others.

Remember Every Detail of Your Experience

During your entire experience it is important to pay close attention so that your DUI lawyer can later be informed about the procedures followed, any incriminating evidence collected by the police, and the overall conduct of the officers. Having these details will allow your lawyer to prepare the best possible defense to challenge the steps taken to determine intoxication.

Call a DUI Lawyer as Soon as Possible

Once an arrest is made and a motorist is advised of their rights, the right to a phone call should be used to immediately contact a San Diego-based DUI lawyer from Kerry Steigerwalt's Pacific Law Center. Your DUI attorney will meet with you and provide you with information about everything from bail, to the next immediate steps and begin taking down the necessary details to prepare a defense. It is at this point in time that you should relay the information about your arrest.

Know your DUI Rights – Let a San Diego DUI Lawyer Help

It is important that drivers arrested for DUI in Southern California know their rights so they may prevent incriminating themselves, as well as being able to facilitate the best possible defense. Whether you were arrested in San Bernardino or San Diego County, a DUI lawyer at Kerry Steigerwalt's Pacific Law Center will provide you with expert defense. Contact Pacific Law center today for a free initial consultation.

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Types of DUI / DWI Cases
California DUI Laws
DUI Testing
DUI Consequences in California
DUI Defenses
Frequently Asked DUI Questions
Choosing a DUI Lawyer

Areas We Serve Frequently

california

  • Bakersfield
  • Chula Vista
  • Escondido
  • Inland Empire
  • Los Angeles
  • Orange County
  • Palm Springs
  • Riverside
  • San Bernardino
  • San Diego
  • San Luis Obispo
  • Santa Barbara
  • Santa Maria
  • All Southern CA

 

 

Contact Us Today

San Diego County
619.258.8888

Los Angeles
1.800.508.0000

Riverside, Orange & Imperial County
1.800.508.0000