San Mateo County DUI

San Mateo County DUI arrests and the criminal case and the DMV case which stems from all California DUI arrests are extremely serious. If you, a family member or someone you know has been arrested for driving under the influence in San Mateo County, read the information contained in this website and seriously consider hiring a qualified, locally based San Mateo County DUI lawyer to help.

Every California DUI arrest in San Mateo County initiates two separate cases. The first DUI case is the San Mateo County driving under the influence criminal case which will be prosecuted by the San Mateo County District Attorneys' office located in Redwood City or South San Francisco. The second DUI case is the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) license suspension action which will be prosecuted by the California DMV Driver Safety Office in San Francisco. Though related, these two driving under the influence cases are independent of each other.

The driving under the influence criminal case will be handled at one of two San Mateo County Superior Court locations in either Redwood City or South San Francisco. The District Attorney will most often charge the driver arrested for drunk driving with two separate misdemeanor violations. The first DUI criminal charge is for driving under the influence of alcohol, medication or drugs in violation of California Vehicle Code section 23152, subdivision (a). The second DUI criminal charge is for driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or greater as determined by a breath or blood alcohol test in violation of California Vehicle Code section 23152, subdivision (b).

California DMV license suspension action will be handled at the California Department of Motor Vehicles Driver Safety Office located in San Francisco at 1377 Fell Street on the second floor. The California DMV will try to prove the California driver accused of driving under the influence was driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or greater and attempt to suspend the driver's license for a minimum of four months.

Out of state drivers face special problems. The California DMV will attempt to suspend the privilege of an out of state driver arrested for drunk driving in San Mateo County driver to drive in the State of California indefinitely. Additionally, the California Department of Motor Vehicles may notify an out of state driver's home state of the California DUI arrest and California driving suspension.

Special rules apply to driver's under the age of 21 who are arrested for DUI in San Mateo County. In California, it is against the law for anyone under 21 to drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.01 percent or greater. The DMV will suspend the driver's license of a driver who drove with a 0.01 percent of alcohol while under the age of 21 as determined by a blood alcohol test or a breath alcohol test on an evidential breath alcohol tester or a Preliminary Alcohol Screening (PAS) device.

San Mateo Ten (10) Day Rule

A person arrested for driving under the influence in San Mateo County has ten (10) days from the date of their arrest to request a Hearing from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. This Hearing is called an Administrative Per Se (APS) license suspension hearing.

Scheduling a hearing with the DMV for people charged with DUI allows the driver to contest a driver's license suspension and manage the timing of any suspension which may be ultimately imposed. If a driver arrested for driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or greater fails to request a Hearing with the DMV within ten (10) calendar days of the DUI arrest, their driver's license will be automatically suspended thirty days from the date of the arrest for a minimum of four (4) months. Driver's who are under 21 years of age at the time of a California DUI arrest in San Mateo County face a one (1) year license suspension.

San Mateo DUI Defense Attorney

California DUI laws are complicated and San Mateo County DUI penalties are strict. The Law Office of Robert Tayac is a locally based, San Mateo driving under the influence (DUI) defense firm located near the San Mateo County Superior Court in Redwood City. For more than a decade, this office has provided the highest quality legal representation available anywhere to clients facing alcohol related DUI charges in San Mateo County. Mr. Tayac has received specialized training in evaluating field sobriety tests, blood alcohol testing, and investigating DUI accidents. He uses the knowledge he has gained to help his clients.

California has adopted strict DUI laws and legal penalties for those convicted of driving under the influence. Members of the San Mateo County District Attorney's office take their professional responsibilities seriously and vigorously prosecute people who have been arrested for driving under the influence. As well, Judges of the San Mateo County Superior Court impose strict penalties upon people convicted of drunk driving in San Mateo County. San Mateo DUI penalties include life-altering legal consequences which include jail time, probation, driver's license suspension, attendance at DUI schools, and fines.

Attorney Robert Tayac has helped people accused of drunk driving in San Mateo County successfully resolve or contest their criminal and California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) DUI charges. His professional reputation is backed by a winning track record. Clients who hire Robert Tayac to represent them in their San Mateo County DUI cases are given his personal attention and care to help them get past the stressful San Mateo County DUI experience.

If you are charged with DUI, you need an experienced San Mateo Attorney. Feel free to call or write with any questions you may have regarding a San Mateo County DUI arrest. You may find it helpful to review the What to Do First and DUI Overview sections of this website. We are here to help you.

Hiring a DUI Attorney

Good people make mistakes. Hiring a qualified San Mateo County DUI attorney is the most important decision a person will make after being arrested for driving under the influence. Following a DUI arrest, an experienced DUI lawyer can independently investigate the facts and circumstances of your case, question the arresting officer, and challenge blood alcohol and field sobriety test results. A San Mateo DUI Attorney will protect your rights and vigorously defend you during the Pretrial and Trial proceedings and at the DMV hearing. By retaining the services of an attorney who specializes in San Mateo DUI cases, you have a greater chance of winning or minimizing the impact of your criminal charges.

Cities within San Mateo that we Serve:

Atherton
Belmont
Brisbane
Burlingame
Colma
Daly City
East Palo Alto
El Granada
Foster City
Half Moon Bay
Hillsborough
La Honda
Loma Mar
Menlo Park
Millbrae

Montara
Moss Beach
Pacifica
Pescadero
Portola Valley
Princeton By The Sea
Redwood City
San Bruno
San Carlos
San Gregorio
San Mateo
South San Francisco
West Menlo Park
Woodside

San Mateo DUI Law Firm

The Law Office of Robert Tayac has helped many clients fight their San Mateo DUI charges. With years of trial and DUI litigation experience, Attorney Robert Tayac has the skill and legal expertise it takes to successfully contest his clients' DUI charges. Whether your have been arrested for a first offense DUI, second offense DUI or a multiple DUI case, you can be assured that Robert Tayac will put every effort into helping you avoid or minimize the impact of a DUI criminal conviction.

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Contact the Law Office of Robert Tayac for your free DUI case evaluation!