California DUI Defense Attorney
Protecting your license. Protecting your freedom. Protecting your future.
Being charged with DUI in California can lead to jail time, license suspension, massive fines, and a permanent criminal record. The consequences extend far beyond the courtroom — affecting your job, your family, and your ability to move freely. But a DUI charge is not a conviction. Early legal action can change everything.
Do not speak to police.
Anything you say can be used against you. Call us first. We'll handle all communication with law enforcement.
What You're Facing Under California Law
| Offense | Potential Penalty |
|---|---|
| First DUI (Misdemeanor) | Up to 6 months jail, $390-$1,000 fines, 6-month license suspension |
| Second DUI (within 10 years) | 96 hours to 1 year jail, $390-$1,000 fines, 2-year license suspension |
| Third DUI (within 10 years) | 120 days to 1 year jail, $390-$1,000 fines, 3-year license revocation |
| DUI with Injury | 16 months to 16 years state prison, $1,015-$5,000 fines |
| Felony DUI (4th+ offense) | 16 months to 3 years state prison, habitual traffic offender status |
Penalties vary based on circumstances. Early legal intervention can significantly reduce or eliminate charges.
Long-Term Consequences
A conviction doesn't just mean jail time. It can affect every aspect of your life:
- Driver's license suspension or revocation
- Mandatory ignition interlock device installation
- Increased insurance rates (SR-22 requirement)
- Job loss, especially for professional drivers
- Immigration consequences for non-citizens
- Professional license impacts (doctors, nurses, lawyers)
- Difficulty renting apartments or getting loans
- Permanent criminal record visible to employers
How We Defend Your Case
We examine every detail to build the strongest possible defense:
- Challenge the legality of the traffic stop — was there reasonable suspicion?
- Question breathalyzer calibration and maintenance records
- Challenge field sobriety test administration and interpretation
- Examine blood test chain of custody and laboratory procedures
- Investigate rising blood alcohol defense (BAC was lower while driving)
- Review dash cam and body cam footage for procedural violations
- Challenge the officer's observations and testimony
- Negotiate for reduced charges or alternative sentencing
Why Choose Shrout Law for Your California DUI Defense
When your license, your job, and your freedom are at stake, you cannot afford a generalist. Randal Shrout, Esq. has spent 25+ years exclusively in California criminal courts — fighting DUI cases from first offense to felony DUI with injury. He knows how Sacramento County, Los Angeles County, and San Diego County prosecutors approach DUI cases differently, and he builds his defense accordingly.
Unlike large firms that assign your case to junior associates, Randal handles your case personally. He attends every DMV hearing, every court appearance, and is reachable directly — not through a call center. You get the lead attorney, not a paralegal.
California Vehicle Code § 23152 DUI cases hinge on technical details: the gap between your last drink and when you drove, breathalyzer margin of error (±0.02 BAC), blood sample degradation, and whether the officer had genuine probable cause for the stop. These are not arguments a generalist makes effectively. They require a DUI-specific defense attorney who has challenged hundreds of breathalyzer results, dozens of blood draws, and thousands of traffic stops.
The DMV and the criminal court are two separate battles. Most attorneys handle only the criminal case — and you lose your license by default. Shrout Law fights both simultaneously. We file your DMV APS hearing request within the critical 10-day window and represent you aggressively at that hearing while building your criminal defense in parallel.
How We Build Your Defense
DMV Hearing Request
You have 10 days from arrest to request a DMV APS hearing or your license is automatically suspended. We file this immediately on your behalf.
Evidence Preservation
We subpoena dashcam and bodycam footage, breathalyzer calibration logs, and blood draw chain of custody records before they are destroyed.
Pre-Trial Motions
We file motions to suppress illegally obtained evidence and to dismiss charges where constitutional violations occurred during the stop or arrest.
Negotiation or Trial
Armed with suppression victories and evidence challenges, we negotiate maximum reduction — or take the case to trial if that delivers the best outcome.
Serving All California Courts
Shrout Law defends DUI cases in Sacramento County (Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse), Los Angeles County (Airport, Inglewood, Downtown LA courts), San Diego County, Orange County, Fresno County, Riverside County, and all 58 California counties. We know the tendencies of local prosecutors and judges — knowledge that shapes our negotiation strategy and trial decisions in ways that matter to your outcome.
Time Matters. Every Hour Counts.
The sooner we start building your defense, the more options we have. Evidence can disappear. Witnesses forget. Act now.
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