FRESNO, CA

Fresno DUI Defense Attorney

The road to a DUI conviction in Fresno can begin simply enough - you're driving after a couple of drinks, and are pulled over by a police officer for running a red light. You are then subjected to a breath test, and before you know it do it, you’re arrested and charged with DWI. For most people in Fresno who visit a Fresno DUI lawyer, this is how the story begins.

Effects of a DUI Conviction

A DUI conviction in Fresno can result in any of, or a combination of, the following:

• Jail time
• Fines
• Penalties
• Community service
• License suspension
• Installation of an ignition interlock device in your vehicle

The good news is that the Department of Motor Vehicles places a heavy onus on the officers who arrested you and prosecutors to prove that your license should be suspended. For instance, it's important that the officers who arrested you show that they had reason to believe that you violated California DUI's laws, that your arrest was lawful, and that you had a blood alcohol concentration level at the time of arrest of .08% or higher. If prosecutors can't prove even one of these conditions, then you may be able to avoid a license suspension.

If not, however, your license will be suspended for a period of time depending on whether this is your first, second or third offense:

• For a first offense, you can expect license suspension of four months.
• For a second offense, you can expect a license suspension for two years.
• A third offense can result in license revocation for the years.

Fresno DWI Defense

A Fresno DWI defense attorney can defend your case, challenging the veracity of the breath tests or blood alcohol tests that may have been conducted on you. For instance, a check of the maintenance and calibration of the breathalyzer could be used to challenge the breathalyzer reading. Breathalyzer test results may be questioned if there are problems with the breath test room, or if you have recently been exposed to fumes which could result in a positive breathalyzer reading. Blood test results can be challenged if, among other thing, the test was been improperly administered, there has been a breach in the chain of custody, or if the blood test analyst was unqualified.