Do I Need to go to Court if I Have a Lawyer?

If you’ve been charged with an infraction or misdemeanor, for most types of cases your private attorney can appear without you.  Notice I said “private.”  If you have a public defender you must check with your public defender to see if s/he will appear without you. ...

First Offense DUI Punishment

If you are facing criminal charges for a first offense DUI (driving under the influence) of alcohol or drugs, your first question might be “what is the possible punishment for this crime?”  The days getting a slap on the wrist and a stern warning for receiving a DUI...

Is It Illegal to be Drunk in Public?

CSU Chico students are at the highest risk of being arrested for the crime of public intoxication in Chico, CA.  Chico State students are mostly concentrated in a geographic area that spans only a few miles from campus.  The downtown area becomes an orchard filled...

DMV Hearings and Due Process

A DUI arrest involving alcohol will trigger both a criminal case and a civil action to determine whether you may keep your driving privilege by the Department of Motor Vehicles.  These are separate actions but the criminal (court) action can impact the DMV action. As...