Santa Clara County DUI/DWI Lawyers

Regardless of whether it’s a first-time or repeat offense, if you’re charged with DUI/DWI in California, there may be a number of stressful and charged questions to consider:

  • How will this affect my driving and/or criminal record?
  • What effect will this have on my ability to drive?
  • Will I get to keep my license?
  • How will this affect my job, family and other aspects of life?
  • Will this have an impact on my immigration status?

San Jose Drunk Driving Defense Attorneys

It’s important to keep in mind that depending on circumstance, these questions can have radically different answers. When dealing with a charge that can have serious consequences and impact, it’s important to look to the expertise of a skilled and knowledgeable lawyer to work toward the optimal outcome.

For nearly 26 years, the law firm of Jaime Leaños has been helping clients charged with DUI/DWIs achieve the best possible outcomes in their cases. In our free initial consultation and going forward, we’ll work with you to undertake comprehensive discovery and research in your case. If there are flaws or weaknesses in the prosecution’s argument or your rights have been violated at any point, we’ll do everything possible to get your case dismissed.

Santa Clara County DUI/DWI Attorneys

If dismissal is not a viable option, we have an amicable relationship with Santa Clara’s district attorney and have worked with him on countless cases. We’re prepared to open up the channels to negotiation and do what we can to avoid license suspension. We’ve been in numerous situations where we’ve been able to negotiate charges down to levels that only minimally impact our clients’ lives.

When you’ve been charged with DWI/DUI in California, it’s important to know the ins and outs of the process so that you can optimally work toward the best possible outcome. All too often those charged don’t fully their obligations and responsibilities. In their ignorance, those charged take actions that substantially impair their driving privileges moving forward.

DUI Procedure

When you receive a DWI/DUI ticket, you are forced to schedule an arraignment where your attorney will make an appearance followed by an actual court hearing to resolve the offense or take it to trial.

Between your arraignment and next court date, your attorney will talk with the district attorney about negotiating less severe penalties if the case isn’t going to trial. Ultimately, there will be an attempt at finding common ground. Depending on logistics, a team of skilled Santa Clara County DMV hearing attorneys can negotiate a dismissal or lesser charge.

When you receive a DUI ticket, you have very limited time to schedule a hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Once the hearing is scheduled, you receive a provisional license. At the hearing, the DMV officer hears your story, reads your report and may question witnesses. The DMV officer is not a lawyer, judge or police officer, but the hearing functions similar to a mini trial.

Unfortunately, the DMV proceedings don’t function with the same standards as criminal court, where the prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime. That’s not the case at the DMV hearing. Sometimes, in fact, it’s arbitrary.

There’s a common thread running through both of these tracks: the importance of knowing the individuals who preside over the process.

We’re ready to take our experience to work for you.

To discuss any aspect of your DWI/DUI case in an initial consultation, call 408-294-6800 or e-mail us.