Redwood City DUI Attorney

Redwood City DUI Attorney

Were you arrested for a DUI in Redwood City, CA? A criminal conviction has serious consequences and can affect every aspect of your life. Don’t risk choosing the wrong attorney to represent you when your freedom is at stake. A skilled Redwood City DUI lattorney who gets involved early at Ahmed & Sukaram, DUI and Criminal Defense Attorneys may help you avoid severe penalties, call us at (650) 299-0500

You can trust our award-winning attorneys to do the work needed to build a strong defense. Contact us, we’ll give your case immediate attention and keep you informed throughout the legal process. 

Our attorneys have three decades of combined experience and have helped countless clients avoid jail time and hefty fines. We’ve won more than 3,000 cases. Whether it’s your first offense or your fourth, we’ll make sure you have a fighting chance against a conviction.

How Can Redwood City DUI Attorneys at Ahmed & Sukaram, DUI and Criminal Defense Attorneys Help With a DUI Charge?

How Can Ahmed & Sukaram, DUI and Criminal Defense Attorneys Help With a DUI Charge in Redwood City, California?

When you’re facing any kind of criminal charges, especially ones that can affect your driving rights, you want to know that you have an attorney who will take your case seriously. You need a lawyer you can reach on the phone who keeps you updated and knows the justice system inside and out. With our Redwood City criminal defense attorneys, you’ll get all that and more.

From the moment you hire us, we’ll begin strategizing the best way to beat the charges against you. That involves things like:

  • Examining the circumstances of your arrest, including all police procedures
  • Determining whether blood or breath tests are accurate and were properly administered
  • Interviewing witnesses
  • Hiring experts to analyze chemical test results
  • Looking for weaknesses in the prosecution’s case or other evidence to support your defense
  • Negotiating with the district attorney to reduce or drop charges against you
  • Providing a zealous defense in all court proceedings 

We’re deeply committed to the rights of those accused of crimes of any kind. We’ve handled more than 50 trials (and counting), and we are always prepared to take a case to court. 

That means you’ll never get pressured by us to take a plea deal that’s not in your best interest. If your case needs to be fought at trial, we’ll be ready—with the resources, staff, and time to handle your case properly.

Our team includes a Certified Specialist in Criminal Law and attorneys selected for the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and the Top 40 Under 40. You deserve our experience and dedication, so call now for a free case evaluation. 

Overview of California DUI Laws

It’s against the law in California to drive:

  • Under the influence of an alcoholic beverage
  • With a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of .08 or higher

These are two separate charges, and you’re likely to be charged with both if you’re arrested for DUI. The BAC limit is .04 if you’re driving a commercial vehicle.

If you’re under age 21 or already on probation for DUI, you’re above the legal limit with .01 BAC. 

It’s also illegal to drive under the influence of any drug or any combination of alcohol and drugs, including prescription or over-the-counter medications.

Most DUIs are charged as misdemeanors, but they can be charged as felonies. 

You risk being charged with felony DUI if you:

  • Injured someone while driving under the influence
  • Have prior felony DUI convictions
  • Have three or more DUI or “wet reckless” convictions within the past ten years

While a breathalyzer test establishing a BAC over the legal limit is evidence of DUI, you can be convicted without it. If the district attorney proves that you were not in control of your vehicle or were driving dangerously because of your consumption of alcohol, you can be convicted of DUI even if there is no positive BAC test.

What Are the Penalties for DUI in California?

If you’re arrested for a DUI in Redwood City, you’ll face a battle with the DMV in addition to fighting your criminal charge in court. That’s because your driver’s license will be suspended immediately for 30 days once you’re arrested.

Administrative Penalties – Driver’s License Suspension

You must request a DMV hearing in California within ten days of receiving your suspension notice. You’re allowed to drive while waiting for your hearing. But if you fail to request a hearing before the deadline, your license will automatically be suspended for 30 days from your arrest date. 

Don’t take a DMV hearing lightly. It can have dire consequences. It is highly recommended to have an attorney represent you.

If you’re convicted of a first-offense DUI, your license will be suspended for four months. For a conviction of subsequent offenses within ten years, you’ll lose your license for one year. A commercial driver with a second or higher offense within ten years could lose their CDL license for life.

Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to obtain a restricted license that allows you to drive to school, work, or drug or alcohol treatment.

Criminal Penalties

Like many drug crimes or weapons charges, a conviction for DUI in Redwood City, California can come with a wide range of penalties, depending on the circumstances. 

The sentence you could receive can depend on whether you:

  • Have a prior DUI conviction
  • Were on probation for DUI at the time of your arrest
  • Were involved in an accident that caused injury or death
  • Had a level of alcohol above .15 in your system
  • Were speeding
  • Were driving a commercial vehicle
  • Were driving passengers for hire
  • Had a passenger under age 14 in the vehicle at the time of your arrest
  • Were under age 21 at the time of your arrest
  • Were involved in a hit-and-run 

These factors may determine whether you’re charged with a misdemeanor or a felony. Even within those categories, there is a range of possible penalties.

Misdemeanor DUI in California

If you’re convicted of misdemeanor DUI, you could face:

  • Probation for up to five years
  • Fines and penalty assessments
  • Participation in a victim impact panel
  • Court-ordered alcohol or drug treatment
  • Community service
  • License suspension ordered by the court (separate from your DMV suspension)
  • An Interlock Ignition Device installed in your vehicle 

A first-offense DUI generally doesn’t land you in jail, but it could if there are aggravating circumstances.

Felony DUI in California

If you’re convicted of a felony DUI charge in California, you could face:

  • Up to three years in state prison
  • Up to 16 years in state prison (DUI with injury)
  • Up to $1,000 in fines (up to $5,000 with injury)
  • Restitution 
  • An Interlock Ignition Device installed in your vehicle

If you cause a fatal accident while drunk driving, you could also face charges of vehicular manslaughter or even murder, depending on the circumstances. That significantly increases your potential penalties.

Penalties vary widely depending on individual circumstances. Call our Redwood City, CA law office for a case evaluation, and we’ll be able to give you an idea of the penalties you could face based on your specific situation.

How Can I Defend Myself Against a DUI Charge in Redwood City, CA?

Like other criminal charges, there are many possible defenses to a DUI charge. 

Some possible defenses to a DUI charge include:

  • The police lacked probable cause
  • Errors in the blood or breath testing procedure
  • Unreliable BAC results due to chain of custody errors
  • Inaccurate field sobriety tests
  • You had a medical emergency
  • You’re diabetic
  • You were arrested during a DUI checkpoint that did not comply with the law
  • You didn’t exhibit signs of impairment
  • You weren’t driving the vehicle at the time of your arrest
How Can I Defend Myself Against a DUI Charge in Redwood City, CA?

Some defenses are based on physical evidence (or lack of evidence), and some are procedural. 

If you’re arrested, don’t panic. Call an experienced Redwood City DUI defense lawyer right away. Attorneys who work with DUIs day in and day out, like Ahmed & Sukaram, DUI and Criminal Defense Attorneys, know all of the possible defenses and alternative sentences available.

What Should I Do if I’m Charged with a DUI in California?

You should call an attorney right away if you’re arrested for a DUI. 

As with any arrest:

  • Don’t speak to the police or answer any questions before your attorney gets there.
  • Don’t talk to anyone except your attorney about your case.
  • Follow all of your lawyer’s advice about what actions or people to avoid while waiting for your case to be resolved.

If you need to deal with bail issues, your lawyer will help you understand what to do. 

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Redwood City DUI Lawyer

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Redwood City DUI Lawyer

Are you charged with a DUI in Redwood City? Don’t wait. Contact Ahmed & Sukaram, DUI and Criminal Defense Attorneys today to get a Certified Criminal Law Specialist on your side. We are fierce advocates for the rights of the accused. We never let the prosecutor’s office get a conviction without a fight backed by our more than 30 years of combined experience.

Call our Redwood City DUI lawyers today to schedule your free consultation. 

You can also contact a San Jose DUI attorney.

Nearby Courts

  • Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo
    400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063
  • Hall of Justice
    400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063
  • San Mateo Superior Court – Family Law
    400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063

Local Sheriff

  • San Mateo County Sheriff
    400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063

Redwood City Criminal Lawyer Review

Redwood City Criminal Lawyer Review

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