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California DUI defense

DUI defense in Rohnert Park.

Rohnert Park DUI cases are handled at the Sonoma County Superior Court in Santa Rosa, with the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety covering the city and CHP patrolling U.S. 101.

The court process for Rohnert Park DUI cases

Rohnert Park DUI cases are filed with the Sonoma County Superior Court. Criminal cases are heard at the Hall of Justice at 600 Administration Drive in Santa Rosa, which serves the entire county. Rohnert Park is in Sonoma County, so cases are prosecuted by the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office under the same county-wide charging and offer policies that apply across the county.

For a full overview of how cases move through this court system, see the Sonoma County DUI defense guide.

The DMV 10-day hearing deadline

The DMV handles the suspension of your driving privilege through an Administrative Per Se action that runs entirely separate from the criminal case. Under California Vehicle Code Section 13558 you have ten calendar days from the arrest date to request the hearing, or the license is suspended automatically. Most hearings are now held by phone or video, and in most cases your attorney appears for you.

10-day DMV hearing deadline

You have 10 calendar days from your arrest date to request an APS hearing. Missing this deadline means automatic license suspension beginning 30 days after arrest. Request the hearing through the DMV Driver Safety unit, or have an attorney request it on your behalf, to preserve your driving privilege while the case is pending.

Rohnert Park Police and CHP DUI enforcement

The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety conducts DUI enforcement around the Sonoma State University area, the Rohnert Park Expressway corridor, and the dining and casino districts, with checkpoints and saturation patrols. The California Highway Patrol covers U.S. Route 101, the main freeway through the county, and the Graton Resort and Casino draws visitor traffic that contributes to area DUI cases.

How Sonoma County prosecutes DUI cases

The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office prosecutes Rohnert Park DUI cases. A typical first offense with no aggravating facts resolves with three years of summary (informal) probation, a first-offender DUI program, fines and assessments that commonly total $2,000 to $3,500, and a license suspension. Where the stop, the investigation, or the chemical test has a real weakness, a reduction to a wet reckless under Vehicle Code Section 23103.5, or in some cases a dismissal, becomes realistic. Aggravating facts such as a high BAC, a refusal, an accident, or a prior conviction raise the exposure and change the strategy.

What to do after a Rohnert Park DUI arrest

Request the DMV hearing within ten days. Find your arraignment date and courthouse on the citation, and retain DUI counsel before that date so the case is handled correctly from the start. Write down everything you remember about the stop, the field sobriety tests, and the breath or blood test while it is fresh, and preserve receipts, texts, and any video.

Common questions

Rohnert Park DUI defense questions

Which courthouse handles Rohnert Park DUI cases?

Rohnert Park DUI cases are filed with the Sonoma County Superior Court. Criminal cases are heard at the Hall of Justice at 600 Administration Drive in Santa Rosa, which serves the entire county. The arresting agency and the exact location of the stop can affect which courtroom and calendar a case is assigned to.

Who makes most DUI arrests in Rohnert Park?

The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety handles DUI enforcement within the city. The California Highway Patrol covers U.S. Route 101 and State Route 116, which run through or near Rohnert Park, and accounts for a large share of arrests during holiday Maximum Enforcement Periods. CHP arrests often involve more detailed reports and in-car video, which affects the defense analysis.

What is the DMV hearing deadline for a Rohnert Park DUI?

You have 10 calendar days from the date of arrest to request the DMV Administrative Per Se hearing, or your license is automatically suspended 30 days after arrest. The hearing is separate from the court case and is now conducted by phone or video, so you or your attorney can handle it without traveling. Requesting it should be your first step.

Where is the DMV hearing for a Rohnert Park DUI handled?

DMV Administrative Per Se hearings for Sonoma County arrests are handled through the DMV Driver Safety operation and are now conducted by phone or video. The deadline to request the hearing is 10 calendar days from arrest, separate from the court case in Santa Rosa.

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Tell me about your arrest

Step 1 of 10
When did your arrest occur?
What type of license do you hold?
What was the stated reason for the stop?
What chemical test did you take?
What was your blood alcohol concentration?
Prior California DUI convictions in the last 10 years?
Were any of these factors present? (check all that apply)
A couple more things

Do you have a pre-existing medical condition that could affect field sobriety performance? (diabetes, neurological, back injury, GERD or acid reflux, etc.)

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Where in California did the arrest occur?
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