Oakland DUI Lawyer

Defending Clients Who Are Facing DUI Charges in the Bay Area

DUI (driving under the influence) charges can have a dramatic impact on your driving privileges, finances, and even your freedom. Due to the serious consequences of these charges, it's vital to contact the experienced Oakland DUI attorneys at The Castillo Law Office. Our team possesses over 15 years of legal experience and has even been selected for such honors as inclusion on the Super Lawyers list and the Top Trial Lawyers. We understand how DUI cases are prosecuted, and more importantly, we understand how to beat these charges. Whether you are facing charges for an out-of-state DUI, underage DUI, or multiple DUI, our legal team can provide the resilient legal defense you need during this difficult time.

Have you been arrested for a DUI in California? Call The Castillo Law Office today at (510) 894-6626 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our Oakland DUI attorney.

How Likely Is Jail Time For First DUI?

Jail time is still mandatory for a DUI in California, even if it is your first DUI. You could still face prison sentences for up to six months even if no one was injured. Jail time is mandatory for even first-time offenders because of Section 23536 of the Vehicle Code, which states that an individual must spend 96 hours in county jail, while 48 of those hours must be continuous. Under section 23536, a judge can still modify jail times for those that are granted probation. Even though jail time is mandatory, a judge can waive your jail time in lieu of successfully completing three to five years of probation, including DUI classes.

Sentences Enhancements For a DUI

Your sentence could be enhanced if any of the following occurred in your DUI:

Drunk driving with a passenger under the age of 15
DUI leading to injury of another and or death
Refusing chemical or breathalyzer tests
Blood Alcohol Concentration greater than 0.14%

What are the Penalties For a First-Time DUI?

Understanding what to expect in the event of being pulled over can help you ensure that your rights are protected. It is important to remember to remain polite with police but avoid admitting guilt and do not agree to a search. Police officers have been known to say things to force people into searches, but the truth is that the officer only asks to conduct a search if they are not within their legal rights to search your vehicle or person.

If you have been arrested for a first-time DUI, your conviction could include the following:

$1,800 to $2,600 in fines
48 hours to six months in jail
30-day to six-month driver’s license suspension
Vehicle impoundment
Mandatory alcohol treatment program
Mandatory interlock breath device for your car

These punishments can vary depending on the age, Blood Alcohol Content (BAC), and previous convictions of the driver.

Defense Strategies Against DUI Charges

Our Oakland DUI lawyer has successfully defended numerous DUI cases. By applying defense strategies, such as

Questioning the breath and blood tests
Proving that there was no probable cause for the officer to pull over the defendant

Our law firm can punch holes in the prosecution's attack against you. For reliable and strong defense you can count on, turn to The Castillo Law Office.

Contact Our DUI Attorney in Oakland Today

If you have been charged with driving under the influence, you deserve nothing but the best—do not settle for lesser representation! At The Castillo Law Office, we put more than 15 years of criminal defense experience to work for each of our clients facing serious DUI charges. There are ways to beat a DUI charge, and our personalized defense strategies may bring you the right solution!

Contact The Castillo Law Office today to get started on your defense with our Oakland DUI Lawyer.

Hear it From A Few
Of Our Clients

I can't thank Ernie enough for investing his time and sincere efforts to helping my family out. He truly is a master of his craft.
“A few years back, Ernie Castillo represented a family member of mine who was charged with a vehicular offense. Although minor compared to the high profile cases Ernie is accustomed to, Ernie took the case with the utmost professionalism and was able to reduce the charge so that my family member's record was not affected. I can't thank Ernie enough for investing his time and sincere efforts to helping my family out. He truly is a master of his craft.”

MS
I would recommend Mr. Castillo without any reservation.
“Ernie Castillo was highly recommended to us. I researched and interviewed a few attorneys before making a decision of who we were going to select. It's so tough selecting when you're skeptical with the horror stories of attorney's not feeling the passion for their work but the money. After long conversations my husband and I decided to go with Ernie to represent our son in a serious case with multiple charges. We were not disappointed at all. Mr. Castillo expertise exceeded our expectations. His was thorough, he kept us up to date on the case, answered all our questions, returned our calls in a timely manner, he's truly a genuine and sincere person. Most of all his knowledge in handling the case was remarkable. I can't express thanks enough to Ernie for the spectacular job he did defending my son who was facing years in jail. He took a stressful situation and relieved it with a positive outcome. I would recommend Mr. Castillo without any reservation.”

RE
I would highly recommend Mr Castillo to anyone.
“Mr Castillo represented me on a criminal case in which I was falsely accused in 2012. He took over the case from a previous lawyer who was less aggressive and not actively pursing my defense. Mr Castillo is a confident, aggressive and very persistent lawyer. He kept my family and I up to date on the case and also returned our calls on time. Mr Castillo persuaded me not to take any deal and wanted take the case to trial because he was confident that he would win. With the Lord's guidance and Ernie's aggressiveness my case was dismissed. I would highly recommend Mr Castillo to anyone.”

DC