First Time DUI Attorney in Santa
Barbara County, California

Santa Barbara DUI Lawyer for First Offenders

If you have been arrested for your first DUI in Santa Barbara, California or are facing any impaired driving charge, you may be feeling embarrassed and humiliated. At Andrade Law Offices, we understand what you are going through and how traumatic the experience can be. We offer skilled defense counsel and free DMV hearings for all DUI clients.

Keep in mind that driving under the influence does not discriminate. You can be arrested whether you are rich or poor, a Ph.D. graduate, or a high school dropout. A DUI arrest may happen to ordinary people who have a few drinks socially before driving or to people taking prescription medications on doctors' orders. Anyone who drives a vehicle while impaired by any substance can be arrested for and charged with a DUI in California.

After your DUI arrest, you need to focus on an effective defense to avoid conviction. A conviction can mean driver's license suspension and criminal penalties such as fines and possible jail time. An impaired driving conviction can also have long term negative effects on your family, your educational opportunities, and your career.

That's why you need a skilled Santa Barbara DUI lawyer to protect your rights and aggressively pursue a favorable resolution of your case. Call Andrade Law Offices today!

Substances that Can Cause Impairment and
Lead to DUI Charges

Under California law, it is unlawful for any person under the influence of alcohol or a drug, or any combination of alcohol and drugs, to operate a motor vehicle. The legal limit for blood alcohol content while operating a motor vehicle is .08% for adult drivers. However, many other substances, both legal and illegal, can cause impairment and lead to a DUI arrest.

Any psychoactive (mind-altering) drug can cause impairment, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, morphine, methadone, PCP, methamphetamine, and amphetamine are also known to impair one's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

Legal prescription and over the counter drugs may also cause sufficient impairment to justify a DUI arrest. These medications include:

• Antihistamines

• Decongestants

• Antidepressants

• Hydrocodone (Vicodin)

• Valium

• Sleeping pills

First DUI? Involve a Santa Barbara DUI Attorney Today!

Being charged with DUI is not the same as being convicted of DUI. Do not plead guilty, regardless of the circumstances, without first consulting with an experienced attorney who is knowledgeable in DUI defense. It is prudent to contact an experienced Santa Barbara DUI attorney as soon as possible after your arrest.

There are a number of possible defenses against DUI charges and your attorney should be well versed in all of them. When you hire Andrade Law Offices, we will thoroughly examine the facts and the evidence, searching for any weakness in the prosecution's case against you. We will aggressively challenge the prosecution's case.

Steven R. Andrade is a skilled DUI defense lawyer who fights hard for our clients. As former prosecutors, he is familiar with both sides of the criminal justice system. He uses that legal knowledge to your advantage. Steven has decades of experience and stellar track records representing thousands of clients charged with DUI. Your case is in good hands with Andrade Law Offices.

Contact our firm today to discuss a first DUI arrest and your options.