Fighting a DUI charge in California requires a clear understanding of your rights, the evidence against you, and how law enforcement handled your arrest. Because DUI cases often rely on technical procedures and test results, a strong defense usually begins by identifying flaws in the evidence or violations of your constitutional rights.
Common DUI defense strategies include:
- Challenging the traffic stop: If police stopped you without reasonable suspicion or probable cause, any evidence gathered afterward can be suppressed.
- Questioning field sobriety tests: These tests are subjective and can be affected by nerves, fatigue, or medical conditions rather than intoxication.
- Disputing breathalyzer or blood test accuracy: Breathalyzers must be properly calibrated and administered by trained officers. Errors in testing, storage, or chain of custody can invalidate results.
- Examining police reports and body cam footage: Inconsistencies or procedural mistakes can weaken the prosecution’s case.
- Highlighting medical or environmental factors: Acid reflux, diet, or even certain medications can mimic the appearance of intoxication or skew breath test results.
Every DUI case is unique, and penalties can range from fines and license suspension to jail time. Working with a defense attorney experienced in California DUI laws can help uncover procedural errors, negotiate reduced penalties, or even achieve case dismissal.
If you’ve been arrested for a DUI, contact Simmons & Wagner, former prosecutors who know how law enforcement builds DUI cases—and how to dismantle them.