DUI/DWI In Berkeley, CA

Berkeley DUI Attorney

The city of Berkeley, located in Alameda County, is one of the nation’s most progressive cities. Home to a University of California campus, Berkeley is 17.7 square miles with a population of approximately 112, 580. It is accessible by Interstate 80, Interstate 580, and Highway 13.

The area around the university is heavily-trafficked both by residents and visitors. It is accessible by foot, car, the BART train, and AC transit buses. There are numerous landmarks and cultural points of interest including the Berkeley Marina, the Berkeley Rose Garden, Tilden Park, Lawrence Hall of Science, Telegraph Avenue and People’s Park, Hearst Greek Theater, La Pena Cultural Center, The Freight and Salvage, the Berkeley Art Museum, and the Pacific Film Archive.

In addition to its liberal reputation and bustling college campus, Berkeley is known for its unusual and pioneering businesses, some of which no longer exist. Among these businesses are: Chez Panisse, Peet’s Coffee, 924 Gilman, Cody’s Bookstore, and The Nature Company.

DUI Laws in California

If you are stopped by police for suspected drunk driving in Berkeley, police officers will measure your “BAC” or blood alcohol content through breath, urine, or blood tests. If you refuse to submit to a test after you are arrested there are additional penalties. The legal limit for most drivers is .08% BAC. However, drivers under 21, such as most UC Berkeley college students, have a legal limit of 0.01% BAC.

In instances where you don’t meet the legal limit to be charged with a DUI, you may still be charged with reckless driving if you are at all under the influence. The District Attorney may charge a high blood alcohol allegation if a defendant’s blood alcohol level is .15 percent or greater. This type of charge can carry penalties such as a longer DUI program and a longer jail sentence.

Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol in Berkeley is a criminal act prosecuted through the criminal justice system. A DUI stays on your record for ten years. The penalties for those convicted of one or more DUIs in a ten year period are increasingly severe. Because the stakes are so high, it is imperative that you hire an experienced and accomplished Berkeley DUI defense attorney to mount the best possible defense.

Contact Berkeley DUI Attorney John T. Bell for Consultation

Have been arrested and charged with a DUI? Contact Bay Area DUI lawyer at The Law Offices of John T. Bell for free consultation. Protect your rights, call us today.