DUI Informational Guide For Marin County Marin DUI Lawyer Drunk Driving Attorney

An Informational Guide to the Prosecution, Defense and Sentencing Practices in the Superior Court of Marin County, California

Belvedere – Bolinas – Corte Madera – Dillon Beach – Fairfax – Forest Knolls – Greenbrae – Ignacio – Inverness – Kentfield – Lagunitas – Larkspur – Marshall – Mill Valley – Muir Beach – Novato – Nicasio Vallery – Olema – Point Reyes Station – Ross – San Anselmo – San Geronimo – San Rafael – Sausalito – Stinson Beach – Tiburon – Tomales – Woodacre

The Marin County District Attorney's Office has historically taken a "we don't plea bargain drunk driving cases" policy. The irony behind this political posturing, however, is that they prefer to dismiss a DUI case outright (or not file it at all) rather than reduce it to a less serious offense like reckless driving. This policy enables the Marin District Attorney's Office to keep a statistically high conviction rate on DUI cases, even though they dismiss more of them than virtually any other prosecutor's office in the State of California. Many DUI defense attorneys are unfamiliar with this policy in Marin, mistakenly informing potential clients that they can get the charge reduced to a "wet reckless" (short for alcohol-related reckless driving) charge. When you hear that chant, you know the lawyer is out of the loop. If you are facing a potential DUI ("driving under the influence") in Marin County Superior Court, the best thing you can do is find and retain a local criminal defense lawyer who knows the ins and outs of DUI prosecution and sentencing practices in Marin. Get a lawyer who specializes in drunk driving defense because he or she will know the ramifications of a DUI conviction and how the California DMV will treat a drunk driving conviction. If you have one or more prior convictions for DUI or DWI (some states refer to it as "driving while impaired"), you want an attorney who is knowledgable about the ways to attack prior convictions and the adequacy of out-of-state convictions. The area of DUI defense has become increasingly technical over the years, and you want a lawyer who is up on the most recent developments in this field. Feel free to review the contents of this entire website for further information about DUI prosecution and defense in the County of Marin.

You might even wish to order a copy of California Drunk Driving Law, a two-volume treatise co-authored by two of California's most preeminent DUI defense lawyers---Paul Burglin, who has offices in Marin County and San Francisco (www.burglin.com) and Barry Simons who practices out of Laguna Beach (www.simonslaw.com). The book is written for criminal defense attorneys in California but may be purchased by non-attorneys as well by going to: www.jamespublishing.com/books/cddl.htm

County of Marin
Marin County Superior Court
Marin County District Attorney
Marin County Sheriff
City of San Rafael
San Rafael Police Department
Corte Madera DMV Office
Novato DMV Office
DMV License Suspension Info

Court fines, fees, and assessments that may arise from a drunk driving conviction include vehicle towing and storage; booking, fingerprinting and photo; driver’s license reinstatement; car insurance increase; community service fee; DUI victims’ fund; alcohol abuse education fund; DUI classes; DUI victim’s impact sessions; and time payment charges.