Don't Let a DUI Arrest Define Your Future

A DUI Arrest Is Serious. But an Arrest Is Not a Conviction.

Being arrested for DUI can be overwhelming. You may be worried about losing your driver's license, going to jail, missing work, increasing insurance costs, or what a conviction could mean for your future.

You don't have to navigate the process alone.

Benjamin Cates provides individualized DUI defense focused on understanding the facts, identifying weaknesses in the prosecution's case, protecting your driving privilege, and pursuing the best available outcome for your circumstances.

What Happens After a DUI Arrest?

The Arrest:

Law enforcement may issue an Order of Suspension/Revocation and take your driver's license.

The DMV Process:

The DMV's administrative process is separate from your criminal case. You have a limited time to request a hearing to challenge the suspension or revocation. It is imperative to request a DMV hearing within ten days of your arrest. Cates Law Office will make the request for you and schedule the hearing. We will also require the DMV to put a stay on your suspension so you are not punished prior to your administrative hearing and you can continue to drive as we fight for you.

The Criminal Case:

The DUI charge proceeds separately through the criminal court system. The evidence, traffic stop, field sobriety testing, chemical testing, and circumstances surrounding the arrest all matter.

Building Your Defense:

Your attorney should examine the case from the beginning—not simply accept the police report at face value. At Cates Law Office we gather all evidence and never simply trust a police report. Gathering body worn cameras, dash cam videos, breath machine calibration records, blood test records, dispatch logs, and 911 calls are all part of the preparation process for every case.

DUI Defense

Every DUI Case Deserves a Careful Review

DUI investigations can involve complicated questions about the traffic stop, probable cause, field sobriety testing, breath or blood testing, officer observations, and the accuracy and handling of chemical-test evidence.

A strong defense begins with understanding exactly what happened.

We may examine:

• The reason for the traffic stop

• Probable cause for the arrest

• Field sobriety testing

• Breath testing

• Blood testing

• Chemical-test procedures

• Officer observations

• Statements made during the investigation

• Body-worn camera and other video evidence

• DMV issues

• Prior DUI history

• Potential sentencing consequences

  Types of DUI Cases

DUI Cases We Handle

First-Offense DUI:

Defense for individuals facing their first DUI charge.

Repeat DUI:

Prior DUI convictions can significantly affect the potential consequences of a new charge.

Felony DUI:

Felony DUI cases can involve substantially more serious consequences and require careful defense from the outset. These can include DUI’s with injuries or 4th DUI or more.

DUI Causing Injury:

When an alleged DUI involves an injury, the case can become significantly more complicated.

Under-21 DUI:

California has specific laws and consequences that can apply to drivers under 21.

DMV License Suspension Hearings:

A DUI arrest can create a separate DMV matter involving your driving privilege. The DMV states that the hearing request deadline is generally 10 days after receipt of the suspension/revocation order.

The DMV Issue

Your DUI Case Needs to be Fought at the DMV and in the Courtroom

A DUI arrest can create two separate legal problems: the criminal case and the DMV's administrative action against your driving privilege.

These proceedings are independent of one another. A favorable result in one does not automatically resolve the other.

If you have received an Order of Suspension or Revocation, timing matters. California DMV generally requires a hearing request within 10 days of receiving the order.

Don't wait to find out what happens to your license.

Call Cates Law Office.

Why Cates Law Office?

Why Clients Choose Cates Law Office

Personal Attention:

Your case receives direct attention rather than being treated like a number. You will always have direct lines of communication with your attorney. There is no middle man or paralegal screening your calls or texts.

Local Court Knowledge:

Experience navigating the courts and procedures in the communities we serve.

Responsive Communication:

You deserve to understand what is happening with your case and what comes next.

Trial Experience:

Every case is prepared with the possibility of trial in mind.

Strategic Defense:

When a favorable resolution can be achieved without trial, negotiation may be appropriate—but preparation should never stop there.

Strategic Criminal Defense Begins With Careful Preparation.

Not every case needs to go to trial. But every case deserves to be prepared as though it could.

At Cates Law Office, we carefully evaluate the evidence, identify potential weaknesses in the prosecution's case, and develop a defense strategy based on the specific facts of your situation.

When negotiation can achieve a favorable result, we pursue it. When a case needs to be fought in court, we are prepared to do that as well.

Facing a DUI Charge?

Don't wait to understand your options.

The sooner your case is evaluated, the sooner you can understand what you're facing and what steps may be available to protect your rights