Fresno Drunk Driving/DUI Law

No matter what your previous driving record is, being arrested and accused of violating drunk driving law in Fresno is a very serious matter. Fresno is very aggressive at prosecuting DUI cases, and prosecution often begins and ends with a stay in jail. Violating drunk driving laws in Fresno can result in costs of $10,000 and a lengthy license suspension, sending your life into a tail spin. So it is absolutely critical to mount a skillful drunk driving defense in Fresno by calling the Law Office of Rick Berman.

DUI law in Fresno generates two prosecutions

When you or a loved one has been arrested for violating DUI law in Fresno, two separate prosecutions are started. One is a California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) case, and one is a California criminal case. A legal DUI defense in Fresno involves contesting both.

The DMV case is about how long to suspend your license. In the criminal case, stiffer penalties may be imposed, including fines and jail time based on the seriousness of the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Accidents, a resulting death or serious injury, leaving the scene, and refusing to take a chemical test for blood alcohol concentration (BAC), can make the penalty much worse.

A Fresno DUI defense

In the two-track legal process required by DUI laws in Fresno, the DMV track deals with the results of the chemical BAC test and the consequences of refusing to take the test. The refusal is seen by Fresno DUI law as "consciousness of guilt" and can lead to a one-year license suspension without the ability to receive a restricted license to go to work.

A skilled Fresno drunk driving defense will:

• Challenge the result of the BAC test
• Question whether the police had reasonable cause to stop you under Fresno drunk driving laws
• Challenge whether you were adequately informed of the consequences of refusing the BAC test under Fresno DUI laws

To avoid conviction in the criminal court, a Fresno drunk driving defense requires a skilled lawyer to convince one juror in twelve that the charges cannot be proven.

For a skilled Fresno DUI defense in both the DMV and criminal proceedings, contact the Law Office of Rick Berman today.