# DUI Defense Attorney in Chula Vista > Chula Vista DUI defense since 1983. Bilingual. Free consultation. Call or text 24/7. *Practice area · Criminal Defense · Chula Vista & South Bay, CA* One traffic stop shouldn't decide the rest of your life. Get a DUI defense that questions everything from the stop to the breath test. Call or text 24/7. ## We've walked people through this since 1983. A DUI arrest is scary and it moves fast. There's the license hold, the court date, and the worry about what your employer will think. You're not the first good person to end up here, and you don't have to sort it out alone. ## The next moves matter. A DUI conviction can cost you your license, your job, and thousands in fines and premiums. A second or a felony DUI raises the stakes fast. The choices you make in the first few days matter. ## The defense we build for you. - We check the traffic stop for real probable cause. - We challenge how the field sobriety tests were given. - We question the breath and blood testing, from calibration to chain of custody. - We use our California DUI Lawyers Association membership to apply current defenses. - We push for reduced charges, diversion, or dismissal where the evidence is weak. ## What a DUI can cost you in California California charges most first-time DUIs as a misdemeanor under Vehicle Code 23152. The legal limit is a 0.08% blood alcohol level for most drivers, 0.04% for commercial drivers, and effectively zero for anyone under 21 under the state's zero-tolerance rule. A conviction can bring fines and fees, a license suspension, DUI education classes, and a period of probation. Jail is possible even on a first offense, and the penalties climb with each prior. A DUI becomes a felony in specific situations, including a fourth DUI within ten years, a DUI that causes injury, or a prior felony DUI on your record. Those cases carry far heavier exposure, and they need a serious defense from day one. - **First DUI:** usually a misdemeanor. Fines, license action, DUI school, probation, possible jail. - **Second and third:** longer suspensions, mandatory jail exposure, longer DUI programs. - **Felony DUI:** injury, a fourth within ten years, or a prior felony. State prison exposure. - **Under 21:** zero tolerance. Even a small amount can trigger a license suspension. ## The first 48 hours matter more than most people realize There's a clock on your license that has nothing to do with your court date. After a DUI arrest, you generally have only 10 days to request a hearing with the DMV to fight the automatic suspension. Miss that window and the suspension can take effect no matter what happens in court. This is the single most common way people lose their license without a fight. - Write down everything you remember about the stop while it's fresh. - Don't post about it or discuss it with anyone but your attorney. - Call us fast so we can request the DMV hearing inside the 10-day window. - Keep every document they gave you, including the pink temporary license. ## DUI defense built for Chula Vista courts We defend DUI cases in the South Bay Division of San Diego County Superior Court in Chula Vista, and we know how these cases move here. That local footing matters. We've handled DUI stops along the 5, the 805, and the surface streets across Chula Vista, National City, Bonita, and Imperial Beach since 1983. If you were arrested anywhere in the South Bay, you get an attorney who knows the courthouse, the process, and the reasonable-fee defense that fits real life. ## Frequently asked questions ### How long do I have to save my license after a DUI? Generally 10 days from the arrest to request a DMV hearing. Call right away so we don't miss it. ### Can a first DUI be reduced to a lesser charge? Sometimes. Depending on the facts, a first offense can be reduced to a "wet reckless" or resolved through a program. We'll tell you what's realistic. ### What are California's underage DUI laws? Drivers under 21 face a zero-tolerance rule. Even a very low blood alcohol level can lead to a license suspension. We defend these cases carefully because the stakes for a young person are high. ### Will I go to jail for a first DUI? Jail is possible but often avoidable on a first offense, depending on the facts. Many first cases resolve with probation, fines, and classes. ### Can the breath or blood test be challenged? Yes. We look at how the device was calibrated, how the test was given, and the chain of custody. Testing errors happen more than people think. ### What if the traffic stop wasn't valid? If police stopped you without a real reason, we can move to suppress the evidence, and cases often weaken or fall apart without it. ### Do I need a lawyer if I plan to plead guilty? Talk to us first. A free consultation costs nothing and can change what you're facing. Pleading without advice can cost you far more. ### How much does a DUI defense cost? We're known for reasonable fees and we'll talk cost openly in your consultation. No surprises. ## Related charges - [Drug Charges](/drug-charges/) - [Violent Crime](/violent-crimes/) - [Misdemeanor Defense](/misdemeanor-defense/) --- Free consultation — call or text (619) 370-9074 24/7. 251 E St Ste 100, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Reasonable fees. El Abogado Habla Español.