Call for a Free Case Evaluation!
Available 24/7 714.907.4029
Orange County DUI Defense

Representing Clients in
All Orange County Courts

Our Proven Methods Will Be Your Peace of Mind

Free DUI Case Evaluation

Proven DUI Defense in Orange County, CA

If you are facing any type of DUI charge, consult a defense lawyer at Gold & Witham. We can use our 40+ years of combined experience in criminal law to fully investigate your case and work to build an effective defense in your favor. Our practice is limited to DUI defense—and only DUI defense. Our commitment to this area of law has enabled us to be at the cutting edge.

Types of DUI-Related Charges

The common charge is covered in California Vehicle Code § 23152. When charged, a driver is likely to face two separate charges: driving with a BAC of 0.08% or higher and driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In the first, guilt is usually proven with breathalyzer test results, or blood test results. In the second, guilt is typically proven by field sobriety test results.

An individual under 21 years of age will face charges under California's Zero Tolerance law, which is covered in California Vehicle Code § 23140. Under this law, any underage driver cannot operate a vehicle with a BAC of 0.01% or higher. A conviction for this offense will result in a license suspension of 1 year. Additionally, an underage DUI charge may include standard DUI charges.

Additional DUI charges include, but are not limited to, the following:

The specific circumstances of an arrest will determine the penalties he or she may receive. With any type of DUI conviction, a driver will lose his or her driving privileges. Additional criminal penalties may include fines, court fees, community service, installation of an ignition interlock device, alcohol rehabilitation, and time in county jail or state prison. A civil lawsuit may also be brought against a defendant, where the victim(s) seeks monetary compensation.

Potential Drunk Driving Defense Strategies

There are many ways in which a defense lawyer can attack the prosecution's case and evidence in a driving under the influence case. Breathalyzer tests, field sobriety tests, and other means that law enforcement use to make an arrest are all subject to discrimination. These tests are not entirely accurate, and an officer's personal observation can easily be entirely incorrect.

Some possible arguments a DUI lawyer may use to combat criminal charges:

  • The officer did not have probable cause to pull the driver over in the first place
  • The field sobriety tests were administered improperly
  • The officer was not trained on how to deliver DUI tests properly
  • The conditions for field sobriety tests were poor (ex: uneven road)
  • The driver has acid reflux disease or heartburn which led to a high BAC reading
  • The alleged signs of intoxication the officer observed were actually signs of fatigue
  • The officer did not properly observe the driver for 15 minutes before the breath test

Defending Charges of Intoxicated Driving

When the DUI defense lawyers at Gold & Witham take on a case, we do everything we can to familiarize ourselves with every aspect of the arrest, of the client's physical condition at the time of the arrest, the officer's behavior, police reports, witness testimony, BAC evidence, and much more. By gathering all the information and reviewing it with a microscope, so to speak, our experienced defense attorneys can find that factor(s) that we can use in defending the case.

You can be confident knowing that our firm will be by your side every step of the way to help defend your rights. We know how daunting it can be to deal with these types of cases, and we will stop at nothing in our efforts to provide comprehensive legal aid. We understand the need to always provide our best assistance and even if we find that getting charges dismissed is impossible, we will simply dig in to help our clients in the fight to get charges lowered and the penalties reduced. For this reason, do not hesitate to contact our firm!