San Francisco DUI Lawyer

SAN FRANCISCO CA Law OFFICE

Summit Defense
580 California Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104

San Francisco DUI Lawyer

SAN FRANCISCO CA Law OFFICE

Summit Defense
580 California Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104
san-francisco-criminal-defense-attorney
Last Modified: July 22, 2024
san-francisco-criminal-defense-attorney

Being arrested for a DUI in San Francisco CA may be the most frightening thing that has ever happened to you. Most people with DUI arrests are having their first encounter with the criminal justice system and immediately feel as though they have no control over what’s happening. We understand that our clients are often bewildered and unsure about what will happen to them. Part of our role as criminal defense attorneys is to help you understand what is happening at every stage of the process so that you feel less stress about what you are going through.

San Francisco DUI Effects

A California DUI is usually charged differently based on whether it is your first offense. In California, you may suffer a driver’s license suspension even before you go to court. You only have 10 days to request an administrative hearing at that point if you want to keep your driving privileges so that you can continue to go to work and take care of your family while you are waiting for your case to get through the California criminal justice system. Keep the phone number of your DUI defense attorney on you at all times in case you have a question.

DUI License Suspension

If you are 21 years old and fail a chemical test by having your blood alcohol test .08 or above, California will impose an automatic suspension on your driver’s license. If you have been convicted before within the past 10 years, your minimum suspension will be 1 year. This counts DUI cases you may have gotten in other states, as they will be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles and will appear on your record. When you have a new suspension, the officer sends the information immediately to the Department of Motor Vehicles so that your suspension will go into effect. If you refuse to take the chemical test, your driving privileges will be suspended for one year for the first offense, two years for the second offense, and up to three years for the next offenses, provided the driving under the influence happened with the last 10 years.

You may be able to get a restricted license even if the original license suspension for driving under the influence is found to be valid. Speak to your DUI attorney so you can start the process of getting back your ability to drive to necessary places, such as work, daycare, and the grocery.

Other DUI Punishments

The potential penalties and punishments for a DUI depend on whether or not you have been convicted of drunk driving before. However, your criminal defense attorney may be able to help you mitigate the charges, if not get the case dismissed altogether. That is why you should only speak with attorneys who understand this area of criminal law and exactly what the State has to prove to convict you. DUI lawyers should not be afraid to litigate the case when necessary.

For first time DUI cases, defendants can expect that the punishment will be relatively mild. Even so, a California DUI can affect every area of your life. Besides driver’s license suspension, you may also be subject to fines, probation, community service, a class, and even jail time, depending on the circumstances of your case for driving under the influence. That is one of the reasons you should start working on your DUI defense as soon as possible.

A first offense DUI case where there is no bodily injury is punishable by up to a year of license suspension, $2,000 in fines, 48 hours in jail, and a 3-month class regarding alcohol education. By the time you have committed 3 DUI offenses within 10 years, that potential punishment is up to $18,000 in fines, 18 months in prison, and 30 months of treatment for alcoholism or substance abuse.

Evidence in a DUI Case

In order to prove a drunk driving case against you, the prosecutor will try to introduce evidence that you were operating a motor vehicle with certain substances in your system that caused you to be unsafe while driving. The evidence may include a combination of different kinds of factors, because the State will need to prove probable cause for the traffic stop and that you were intoxicated while driving. They are required to provide all of their evidence to you and your criminal defense attorney so that you have plenty of time to prepare your DUI defense before going to trial.

Evidence might include dangerous driving, such as speeding or crossing the middle yellow line, or being in an accident. The officer who investigates the scene will look at everything, such as whether you smelled of alcohol or had open alcoholic beverages in the vehicle. Even the way you present your driver’s license may provide clues that you are intoxicated. If there is probable cause, the officer may perform field sobriety tests on you.

Any officer who gives a chemical test or performs field sobriety tests must be trained and certified, because there are strict standards as to how those tests are performed. If your Bay Area lawyer can prove there is no probable cause for the stop, none of that evidence will be admitted into court. If the officer performed the tests incorrectly, the Court may deem them invalid. An experienced DUI attorney knows that sometimes even the most professional officers make mistakes.

Before you make any decisions after you get arrested for DUI, get legal advice from a San Francisco Bay Area attorney who has the kind of experience to make a difference in your case. A DUI arrest can have repercussion on your reputation and livelihood before you are even formally charged and follow you for years. Don’t let one mistake of driving under the influence affect the rest of your life.

If you or a loved one has been arrested for DUI, don’t wait to call a defense attorney who can immediately start working on your case. Our firm of attorneys has 20 years of experience evaluating and litigating these kinds of cases and is a Super Lawyers top rated law firm. We are ready to do what it takes to help you get the best possible result on your case. We vigorously present your DUI defense knowing how important it may be for you and your family. Call our law office at this phone number today for a free consultation!

COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT CRIMINAL DEFENSE

CAN I GET ARRESTED IF I’M INNOCENT?
DOES CALIFORNIA HAVE A 3 STRIKES LAW?
HOW CAN I HIRE A LAWYER WITH NO MONEY?
ARE PRIVATE ATTORNEYS BETTER THAN PUBLIC DEFENDERS?
DO CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS PREFER THEIR CLIENTS TO BE 100% HONEST WITH THEM?
I WASN’T READ MY MIRANDA RIGHTS. CAN MY CASE BE DISMISSED?
DO I NEED A LAWYER IF I’M INNOCENT?
WHAT’S A PLEA BARGAIN? SHOULD I ACCEPT A DEAL?
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MISDEMEANOR AND A FELONY?

SAN FRANCISCO CRIMINAL COURT INFORMATION

HALL OF JUSTICE BUILDING

850 Bryant Street, San Francisco
Cases Handled: General: Most San Francisco criminal matters are heard in this court including traffic court.
Phone:
(415) 551-4000

CIVIC CENTER COURTHOUSE

400 McAllister St.
Cases Handled: Civil, family law, probate and some criminal cases.
Phone:
(415) 551-4000

COMMUNITY JUSTICE CENTER

575 Polk Street, San Francisco
Phone:
(415) 551-4000

To find out which court you are in, please see the Daily Calendar posted at Room 101 at the Hall of Justice Building, or you can contact the clerk’s office on (415) 551-0322. However, if you have retained an attorney, they will find out which court your case is in and let you know where you need to go – and if you need to attend court at all.

Directions to our San Francisco office

Summit Defense is located on 580 California St 12th floor, San Francisco. From San Francisco International Airport (SFO) head northwest and keep left at the fork to continue toward Airport Access Rd. Then keep left at the fork to continue toward Airport Access Rd and continue onto Airport Access Rd. Next, use the left lane to turn slightly left to stay on Airport Access Rd and continue straight to stay on Airport Access Rd. After that, make a U-turn and use the 2nd from the right lane to keep right at the fork, follow signs for US-101 N/San Francisco and merge onto US-101 N. At this point, use the right 2 lanes to take exit 430A to merge onto I-280 N and take exit 56 toward Mariposa Street. Use the right 2 lanes to turn slightly left onto Owens St and turn right onto 16th St. At 1.7 miles, turn left onto 3rd St. Finally, continue onto Kearny St and Summit Defense will be on your left.

We’re open 24 Hours.

For additional questions you can call us at (415) 666-2316 or you can find us on Yelp.

HIRE AN EXPERIENCED TEAM OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS TO FIGHT FOR YOU

CALL OUR SAN FRANCISCO CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

Choosing a San Francisco criminal defense attorney is a difficult process, which is why we try to make this process easier by providing a free consultation.

Contact us online or call us at 1-866-560-4276 to see how our criminal law specialists can support you or your loved one during this difficult time. We look forward to meeting you and discussing your defense needs as we formulate your best legal strategy.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO OUR SAN FRANCISCO CA OFFICE

From North (North Beach)
From East (Lower Pacific Heights)
From South (South of Market)
From West (Financial District)

JAILS IN SAN FRANCISCO

There are several county jails in San Francisco, as well as one located in San Bruno (although still within the jurisdiction of San Francisco county). They are run by the Sheriff’s Department.

County Jail #1 at 425 7th Street

All prisoners are initially booked in through this jail in San Francisco, but moved to on of the other facilities after booking is complete.

County Jail #2 on 7th Street

This facility houses both men and women inmates, but is the only jail in San Francisco that houses women.

County Jail #4 at Bryant Street

This jail is the maximum security facility for San Francisco County.

County Jail #5 on Moreland Drive, San Bruno

This large facility is actually located in San Mateo County, but falls under the jurisdiction of San Francisco County and City.

If a prisoner requires medical attention or mental health treatment, they are housed in a locked ward at San Francisco General Hospital on Potrero Avenue.

HOW DO I VISIT SOMEONE IN JAIL IN SAN FRANCISCO?

The Sheriff’s Department requires all visitors to schedule visits to inmate online, except for those who wish to visit people being held in San Francisco General Hospital.

Visits can be scheduled via the Sheriff’s Department website, here. Visits are available on weekends and holidays, and at the San Bruno jail on Thursday evenings, although attorneys can visit their clients outside of those times. There are strict rules that apply to jail visits, such as time limits and dress requirements. You should make sure that you review the rules carefully beforehand; otherwise you may not be allowed to visit.

Federal Court Locations

Phillip Burton Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse

450 Golden Gate Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA
Phone:
+1 415-522-2000

United States District Court

1301 Clay St #400S, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
Phone:
+1 510-637-3530

San Francisco Federal Building

The San Francisco Federal Building is an 18-story, 71.3 m …
Phone:
+1 800-333-4636

Superior Court of California

375 Woodside Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127, USA
Phone:
+1 415-682-5100
Meet The Team
With over 120 years of cumulative and exclusive Criminal Defense experience, our reputation for aggressive and results oriented performance, whether in State court or Federal Court, has been documented by several Bay Area news channels and vetted by hundreds of satisfied clients. Our success and industry recognition is the result of our EXCLUSIVE FOCUS on criminal defense; we don’t accept personal injury or family law cases. This single-minded focus allows us to keep pace with the ever-changing landscape of legal doctrine and provide you with the best results possible.
our attorneys
James Reilly
Attorney at Law
RABIN NABIZADEH
Attorney at Law
DEEPTI SETHI
Attorney at Law
MARIO ANDREWS
Attorney at Law
COLLIN MOORE
Attorney at Law
ALISON MINET ADAMS
Attorney at Law
SCOTT MOSSMAN
Attorney at Law
PATRICIA CAMPI
Attorney at Law
ROSS PYTLIK
Attorney at Law

TOUGHEST TEAM OF LOCAL LAWYERS FOR YOUR MONEY

Our firm focuses exclusively on criminal defense matters.

Client Testimonials

Real People. Real Stories.

Attorney Ross Pytlik’s legal knowledge, sensitivity, ethics, and courtroom skills are truly the “best-of-the-best”. Ross was prompt returning our calls, and thorough explaining the legal implications of a family situation. Ross developed, explained and implemented a very skillful legal strategy that was successful, and provided an opportunity for a second chance toward a productive life. Attorney Pytlik’s work literally changed our lives, and we are forever grateful to Mr. Pytlik.
Ed