1st Time Offense

You have been charged with a serious crime in California. The Law Office of Joshua R. Bourne knows that you are not a criminal. You are not a menace to society. You have a job and a family and pay your taxes on time. You are little league coaches and soccer Moms. You may work in the military or as a civilian with a security clearance or as a professional. Mr. Bourne has heard your story before, and worked with many first time DUI offenders to clear their name, their reputation, and keep them driving. You have never had a DUI, and we know that you did not go out intending to drink and drive. However, the prosecutor and judge may look at you as a criminal because you are facing criminal DUI charges and the punishment can be up to six months of jail. The prosecutor and judge may look at you as a threat to the community because of your blood alcohol content or because of how the police viewed your driving or attitude. The prosecutor and judge may want to sentence you to five years of probation including lengthy DUI classes, installing an ignition interlock device in your car, days of picking up trash by the side of the road in an orange vest, or even jail time.

Our firm has vast experience in drunk driving cases and we are prepared to use our experience to aide you in your situation. Fighting a charge like this is not easy. It’s important to have a qualified lawyer on your side fighting for you.

We have an intimate knowledge of:

• The San Diego Superior Court whether in the San Diego Downtown, Vista, El Cajon, or Chula Vista Courthouse
• California DUI Laws and Penalties
• DMV License Suspension Issues

Rehabilitation and Recovery

Whether you or a family member believe that you may have a problem with alcohol or drugs, or if you are a first time DUI offender who simply made a one-time mistake, finding a recovery program may help in your criminal matter. Often in driving under the influence cases, the Court orders a defendant to meet with a substance abuse assessment counselor. The Court may even require you to attend a recovery program.

If you have already demonstrated that you are in an alcohol or drug recovery program, and that you are being proactive in rehabilitation, the Court may be more lenient in imposing a sentence or bail. A Court approved recovery program may increase the odds of a more favorable outcome in your case. In my DUI practice, I often see people that face criminal charges that suffer from addiction to alcohol or drugs. We care and we can help. The Law Office of Joshua R. Bourne will work with you to determine if you are a candidate for court and probation approved programs that may be an alternative to incarceration. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Joshua R. Bourne for a free initial consultation.