DUI Defense
When you are arrested for DUI, you are faced with fighting battles on two fronts.
- In court where you can be punished with probation, fines, and jail time, and
- At the DMV where your license can be suspended for months
I can fight both of those battles for you and have done so on behalf of many clients with great success.
- You only have 10 days from when you were cited or arrested to contact the DMV to schedule your hearing. If you wait too long, you lose the right to a hearing and there is nothing you can do about your license suspension.
- If your license is suspended, I can help you obtain a restricted license so that you may continue to drive.
I spent 25 years as a prosecutor handling DUI cases. Working on the “other side” gives me the type of insight about what the DA, the judge, and the DMV hearing officer are up to that you won’t find with any other lawyer available to hire.
I can go to court and the DMV for you so that you don’t have to experience the embarrassment and nervousness of trying to take care of these stressful matters yourself, and so that you don’t have to miss important commitments like work and school.
Give me a call at (805) 723-0711. There is no charge for our first conversation, which will be kept strictly confidential.
DUI CASE RESULTS
People v. EB: Motion to suppress evidence granted, March 2021
Client found not guilty after trial
No license suspension
People v. MS: Case reduced to wet reckless, no jail, March 2021
People v. ST: Appeal of DMV license suspension granted/suspension vacated, March 2021
People v. KP: Case reduced to wet reckless, no jail, March 2021
People v. JG: Dismissal of high blood alcohol allegation, May 2021
Level dismissed. Jail time reduced
People v. JS: DUI – DMV License Suspension overturned, March 2020
Another victory against the DMV resulting in the return of my client’s license. No suspension for DUI arrest!
People v. BZR: Case reduced to wet reckless, no jail, September 2020
People v. AE: Case reduced from felony DUI with Injury to misdemeanor DUI, October 2020
People v. KM: DUI — charges reduced, December 2019
Another case in which I persuaded the DA to dismiss a special allegation, which saved my client several hundred dollars in fines.
People v. SR: DUI case & DMV license suspension dismissed, May 2019
A DUI case in which I argued that the police acted illegally for pulling my client over for no good reason. I argued this to a judge after cross examining the arresting officer, and persuaded him to dismiss the case.
I also persuaded the DMV to dismiss the license suspension case against my client because of the officer’s illegal behavior.
People v. JS: DUI — case dismissed, May 2019
Another DUI case in which I argued that the police acted illegally in pulling my client over and persuaded the judge to dismiss the case.
People v. LT: DUI and Child Endangerment — charges reduced & DMV suspension dismissed, March 2019
My client was returning to her local hotel after a day on the beach with her four kids, when another driver side-swiped her. When the police showed up, they arrested her for DUI and Child Endangerment. I was able to get the Child Endangerment charges dismissed and the DUI charge reduced, which meant a much lower fine and no jail time.
I also persuaded the DMV to dismiss the suspension of my client’s license based on the arresting officer’s failure to follow the rules about giving my client a breath test.
People v. AM: DUI — charges reduced, May 2019
I was able to get a special allegation dismissed through a plea bargain, which saved my client several hundred dollars in fines.
People v. JP: DUI — charges reduced, March of 2019
I got the DUI charge in this case reduced to a “wet reckless” which meant that my client did not have to do any jail time, and saved him almost $2,000 in fines and fees.
People v. SU: DUI — not guilty verdict after jury trial, September 2018
A felony DUI case involving an allegation that SU was under the influence of drugs while driving. I demonstrated to the jury that although SU had prescription drugs in his/her system, she was not DUI. The jury agreed!
You might have a really good legal basis to fight the DMV about suspending your license. In the past year, I have gotten court cases dismissed and DMV license suspensions lifted based on illegal police traffic stops and failure by the police to follow the rules about giving people DUI breath tests. For more specific information, contact me at 805-723-0711.
“He was not my original attorney. I had a DUI case that was a little complicated and my attorney wanted to bring Matthew on to help .He took over my entire case witch was good as he was able to have case thrown out !! very rare for DUI most DUI attorney just go through the motion they are usually cut and dry .But Matthew did not do that he dug into case and found they did a lot wrong thing and was able to get case dismissed.”
“Mr. Matthew Kraut is an excellent defense attorney. As soon as I spoke to him about my case, he was on it, assuming control of the entire situation. What could have been an extremely stressful period in my life was greatly alleviated by Matt’s dedication and hard work. Needless to say, I was completely absolved from the accusations made against me. If you are looking for an attorney who will take your case seriously and dedicate themselves to your cause, Mr. Matthew Kraut is your man. Thanks, Matt!”