Please Note: The Law Offices of Johnson & Johnson ONLY take cases in California.
DUI Defense 100% Focused on Defending Your Case

Walnut Creek DUI Attorney

Helping Clients Build a Strong Defense

If this is your first DUI or you have previously been convicted of a DUI, (even if you currently have a suspended license from a DUI or other charge) you should request a DMV hearing.

If you plan to hire a Walnut Creek DUI Lawyer to represent you related to your DUI arrest and are not able to get in to see one within the 10-day waiting period, you can call the DMV to request the “Admin Per Se Hearing and Stay” and to notify them that you intend to hire a DUI lawyer. This will preserve your rights.

At The Law Office of Johnson & Johnson, our Walnut Creek DUI attorneys will not guarantee you success; however, we will guarantee that we will take all steps to insure that your legal interests are advocated to an extent that exceeds what would be expected of a professional, experienced advocate. In doing this we can accomplish success.

Call our Walnut Creek DUI lawyers today for a consultation at (925) 900-5330.

California DUI Penalties

The penalties for a DUI offense in California are getting tougher every day. Jail time is becoming a real prospect for more and more offenders. At the Law Offices of Johnson and Johnson, our Walnut Creek DUI lawyers have a great track record of keeping our clients out of jail. But you need to call us early so we can start building a defense and start taking the steps that are necessary to keep you out of jail.

The following are more in depth explanations of the penalties for a second, third & fourth offense:

DUI Basics

Being stopped for a DUI can be a confusing and frightening time. You need to take the right steps immediately to ensure you have the defense you need to protect yourself and your family from DUI charges. These first steps can be vital to the outcome of your trial. Learn more about the DUI Basics!

California has an implied consent law. Because you have been given a license to drive in California you may be construed to have given your consent to a chemical test for alcohol, if you are arrested for a DUI. The question of whether you have consented to a chemical test or are required to consent to a chemical test can be the difference of winning and losing a DUI case.

If you are accused of refusing a chemical test when lawfully arrested you could be subject to greater penalties both administratively regarding your license and in court.

Note: Refusing to take a breath test is a criminal violation subject to stiff penalties.

Refusing a breath test may result in automatic driver’s license suspension or revocation. If ultimately found guilty of a DUI, refusing this test could lead to additional penalties, over and above the DUI charges.

Act Now! 

Your Future Can't Wait

After a DUI Arrest, you only have 10 days to call the DMV to request an Administrative Hearing regarding your driver's license. 

How A DUI Attorney Can Help You

If You Are Arrested for a DUI in California

If you are arrested for a DUI, it may be necessary to post bail. Although most individuals are released without bail (knowns as “OR” or own recognizance), some cases do require the aid of a bail bondsman. Bail bondmen require an upfront fee, and once that fee is paid, they will post bail for you. This can be expensive, but it is less expensive than paying the entire bail amount to the court. Bail bondsmen guarantee that you will be at your hearings. If you do not appear, the bondsman will most likely come looking for you.

Types of DUI Matters We Handle

What Do the Terms Mean?

If you don't understand the terms being used for your DUI case, look at our Glossary of DUI Terms.

Stages of a DUI Case in California

Learn more about the stages of a DUI case in California and how your case may be handled:

Requesting a DMV Hearing in California

After the time of your arrest, you have only ten days, including weekends and holidays), to make a formal request for a DMV hearing. Your DMV hearing will determine whether you can keep your license. If you or your attorney fails to request a DMV hearing, your license WILL be suspended automatically. In the event you are arrested for a DUI, you need immediate representation from a Walnut Creek DUI lawyer who has expertise in this complicated area of criminal law.

Common tests law enforcement could perform are:

  • Field Sobriety: When a law enforcement officer stops a driver and decides to conduct a DUI investigation the officer will generally conduct a battery of “field sobriety tests”. Field sobriety tests usually involve an officer administering tests which he or she believes will assist in determining whether there is probable cause to arrest the driver. Theoretically the test are supposed to aid the officer in gaining clues regarding cognitive and physical abilities. Common test include Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, Walk and Turn and One Leg Stand. This battery if properly administered are considered standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs).
  • Chemical Test: A chemical test is required by most states and may be punishable under the law if refused. Common chemical test used for estimating a person’s blood alcohol content are breath tests and blood tests. Although the tests may be taken some time after driving the prosecution will generally be permitted to introduce testimony from a state expert extrapolating back to the time of driving in order to estimate a persons blood alcohol at the time of driving.
  • Blood Alcohol Concentration: The term “Blood-alcohol concentration (BAC)” refers to the level of alcohol in the bloodstream from drinking alcoholic beverages. BAC readings are routinely used in court as evidence in DUI cases. A Breath test is the most common method of measure; however blood testing is also used. A BAC reading of .08 or higher may establish a presumption of intoxication.

Award Winning DUI Defense Attorney

Attorney Peter Johnson is in charge of the firm’s DUI defense. Mr. Johnson is the lead author of California Driving Under the Influence Defense, a step-by-step guide for attorneys defending DUI cases in California. It outlines hot to prepare for a DUI/DWI pretrial and trial proceedings.

Mr. Johnson is a member of the National College of DUI Defense (NCDD); the Board of Directors for the California DUI Lawyers Association (CDLA); the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys (NACDL); the California State Bar, and former President of the Criminal Section of the Contra Costa County Bar. Mr. Johnson has attended hundreds of hours of DUI specific training provided by renowned experts in the field throughout the country. Mr. Johnson has met with the top scientists in the field and the top representatives from manufacturers of Breath Testing Equipment to discuss issues related to DUI defense. He has completed the NHTSA/IACP DWI Detection/Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Course and Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) training related to driving under the influence of drugs (the same two trainings taken by law enforcement), as well as the advanced scientific training in Forensic Chromatography and forensic drug analysis at Axion Labs in Chicago. He has presented at seminars throughout the country teaching attorneys how to defend DUI cases and how to challenge analytical procedures used for testing blood alcohol.

Mr. Johnson has an excellent trial record and has established a solid reputation for aggressive and winning DUI defense.

Committed to Excellence

Awards & Affiliations
  • Super Lawyers
  • Contra Costa County Bar
  • National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center
  • Avvo 10.0 Peter
  • NACDL
  • California Appellate Defense Counsel
  • State Bar of CA
  • California DUI Lawyers Association
  • NCDD

Get Started on Your Case

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The Law Offices of Johnson & Johnson handles cases throughout California including Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Santa Clara, San Joaquin, and San Francisco Counties.

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