California DUI Defense Guides
Straight answers to the California DUI questions we hear most — your rights, the deadlines, the costs, and your record. Every guide is written and reviewed by attorney Ron Chini.
Arrested for DUI? Start here
The DUI questions we hear most, answered in plain English by a real DUI defense attorney.
DUI / DWI Defense in California
Two cases at once, the 10-day DMV deadline, the penalties you face, and how a DUI is actually defended — the best place to start.
Read the overview First-Time DUIWhat Happens After a First-Time DUI Arrest in California
Booking, the two-track court/DMV system, the 10-day deadline, arraignment, penalties, and how first-time cases typically resolve.
Read the guide Chemical Test RefusalWhat Happens If You Refuse a Breath or Blood Test in California?
Implied consent, the PAS test vs. the post-arrest chemical test, and what refusing the post-arrest test actually costs you.
Read the guide ExpungementGetting a DUI Expunged in California (Penal Code 1203.4)
Who qualifies, what expungement does for employment, and what it does not erase from your record.
Read the guide DUI CostsHow Much Does a DUI Lawyer Cost in California?
Flat-fee vs hourly, what drives the price up or down, the separate court fines and program costs, and your options if you can't afford one.
Read the guide DUI DefenseDUI vs. Wet Reckless: What's the Difference?
What a "wet reckless" plea is, when it's offered, its lighter penalties — and why it still counts as a prior DUI for 10 years.
Read the guide DUI & Your RecordHow Long Does a DUI Stay on Your Record in California?
The 10-year priorable window, your DMV record, your permanent criminal record, and what a PC 1203.4 expungement does and doesn't erase.
Read the guide DUI & Your JobWill a DUI Affect My Job in California?
Background checks, the Fair Chance Act, professional licenses, commercial (CDL) drivers, and how an expungement can help.
Read the guide DUI & Your RightsAre DUI Checkpoints Legal in California?
Why sobriety checkpoints are legal, the strict rules police must follow, and your rights if you're stopped at one.
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Reviewed by a real attorney
These guides aren't anonymous content. Every page is written and reviewed by Ron Chini, who has defended DUI, criminal, and bankruptcy clients from his Irvine office since 2009.
Meet Ron Chini