DUI Lawyer for Temecula, Murrieta and Southwest Riverside County

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Southwest Riverside County is a driving region. People commute on I-15 and I-215, spend weekends in Temecula Valley wine country and Old Town, and need a license to get to work. A DUI arrest there puts that license at risk within days, and it starts a criminal case in Riverside County Superior Court at the same time. The United Firm | La Liga Defensora, A.P.C. defends first-offense DUI cases from Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake, and you can hire us without coming into an office.

Two cases, two deadlines

The first case is with the DMV. If your breath or blood test was 0.08% or higher, or you refused testing, the officer will usually have taken your license and issued a pink 30-day temporary license. You have 10 days from the arrest to request an Administrative Per Se hearing (Vehicle Code 13558). Without that request, a first-offense suspension (generally four months for a test result, one year for a refusal) begins automatically when the temporary license expires.

The second case is the criminal charge, usually Vehicle Code 23152(a) (driving under the influence) and 23152(b) (driving with 0.08% or more). The two cases are separate. Winning one does not automatically decide the other, which is why we handle both from the start.

The Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta

Misdemeanor DUI cases from this part of the county are filed by the Riverside County District Attorney and heard at the Southwest Justice Center, 30755-D Auld Road, Murrieta. Arrests here come from several agencies: the Murrieta and Menifee police departments, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department (which polices Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar and Canyon Lake by contract), and the California Highway Patrol on the freeways. Each agency has its own reports, video systems and testing practices, and we request the records from the one that arrested you.

Your release paperwork lists the arraignment date. In many misdemeanor DUI cases an attorney can appear in your place under Penal Code 977, although a judge can order you to attend in a DUI case. We let you know early which dates need you in person.

Checkpoints and wine-country stops

The Sheriff’s Department and the CHP run DUI checkpoints in Temecula during the year, including on Rancho California Road toward wine country. A checkpoint has to follow guidelines set by the California Supreme Court in Ingersoll v. Palmer, such as neutral selection of cars, safety measures and advance publicity. A regular traffic stop needs reasonable suspicion. When the stop itself was not lawful, evidence gathered after it may be challenged.

What we look at in a first DUI

Whether the stop, detention or checkpoint followed the law.
How field sobriety tests were given, including the ground, lighting, weather and any medical issues.
Breath-test records: the 15-minute observation period, device calibration and maintenance under Title 17.
Blood-sample collection, storage and lab analysis, and whether a split-sample retest makes sense.
The timeline of drinking, driving and testing, which matters when a result is near 0.08%.
Body-camera, dash-camera and booking video.

Possible penalties for a first offense

A first DUI without injury is normally a misdemeanor. The penalties allowed by law include informal probation, fines and penalty assessments, a licensed DUI program (usually three months for a first offense, longer at 0.20% or above), and a court-ordered license suspension. Many first offenders can drive on a restricted license, often with an ignition interlock device. Depending on the evidence, outcomes can range from a dismissal or reduced charge to a conviction, and we do not predict results. We explain each option and its tradeoffs so you decide with full information.

Handled by phone

You can call, explain what happened, and sign your fee agreement from your phone. We request the DMV hearing, collect the reports and video, and keep you updated through each court date. If more than 10 days have passed, call anyway. The court case still needs a defense.

Frequently asked questions

Which court handles a DUI from Temecula?

Most misdemeanor DUI cases from Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee and Lake Elsinore are heard at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

Is the DMV hearing the same as my court date?

No. The DMV hearing is about your driving privilege, and the court case is about the criminal charge. You must request the DMV hearing within 10 days of the arrest; the court date is on your release paperwork.

Can a DUI checkpoint stop be challenged?

Sometimes. Checkpoints must follow specific legal guidelines. If a checkpoint or traffic stop was not done lawfully, a judge can be asked to suppress the evidence that followed.

Do I need to miss work for court?

Not always. In many misdemeanor DUI cases a lawyer can appear for you, but the judge can require you at certain hearings. We tell you in advance.

What if I refused the breath or blood test?

A refusal carries a longer DMV suspension (generally one year for a first refusal) and can be used against you in court. It is still worth requesting the DMV hearing within 10 days.

DUI arrest in Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee or Lake Elsinore? Call (855) 636-0550 for a free phone consultation. We can request your DMV hearing and you can hire us by phone.

Call (855) 636-0550

Attorney Advertising. NotGuilty.com is a website of The United Firm | La Liga Defensora, A.P.C., 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1000, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Attorney responsible for this page: Shawn F. Matian (Cal. Bar No. 244148). The domain name is not a promise or prediction of any result. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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