Felony DUI Attorney in San Bernardino

Facing a Felony DUI? Get Insight From Two Former Prosecutors

A felony DUI allegation can threaten your freedom, driving privileges, employment, family responsibilities, and future record. An arrest may also trigger a California DMV action that proceeds separately from the criminal case and follows different deadlines.

If you need a felony drunk driving attorney in San Bernardino, early review can help clarify what requires immediate attention. We examine the stop, arrest, chemical testing, alleged injuries, prior record, and police documentation rather than treating the official report as the complete account. Keep copies of citations, release papers, DMV notices, testing documents, and court information so we can identify relevant dates and issues.

How California DUI Allegations Become Felonies

California may prosecute a DUI as a felony based on an alleged injury, qualifying prior convictions, a previous felony DUI conviction, or a death. The charge and potential consequences depend on the evidence, prior record, extent of any injuries, alleged conduct, and applicable sentencing law.

Common felony DUI categories include:

• Felony DUI with injury: California Vehicle Code section 23153 addresses driving under the influence, or with the applicable alcohol concentration, while committing an unlawful act or neglecting a duty that proximately causes bodily injury to another person. Proximate cause requires a sufficiently direct legal connection between the alleged conduct and the injury.
• Qualifying repeat offenses: California Vehicle Code sections 23550 and 23550.5 address circumstances in which prior DUI-related convictions may affect how a new offense is charged. The dates, type, and legal validity of those convictions require careful review.
• Prior felony DUI conviction: A prior felony DUI conviction may affect the classification of a later allegation, even if the new incident didn’t involve an injury.
• DUI-related death: Depending on the alleged conduct and evidence, prosecutors may consider vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated under California Penal Code section 191.5 or another death-related charge.

No single sentencing range applies to every felony DUI case. Possible custody, license, employment, and record consequences must be assessed against the specific charge, evidence, prior convictions, and current law.

Evidence That May Shape a Felony DUI Defense

As felony DUI defense attorneys serving San Bernardino, we evaluate the scientific evidence and the events leading to the arrest. Our review may include the basis for the traffic stop, officer observations, field sobriety testing, chemical testing, injury evidence, prior-conviction information, and how officers documented the incident.

Important areas of review may include:

• Stop and arrest: Whether officers had reasonable suspicion for the stop and probable cause for the arrest.
• Field sobriety testing: How the exercises were explained, administered, observed, and described in the report.
• Breath or blood testing: The procedures used to collect, handle, test, and document the sample, including its chain of custody.
• Injury causation: Whether medical records and other evidence support the alleged nature and cause of an injury.
• Prior convictions: Whether the prosecution’s prior-record information is accurate and legally applicable to the current charge.

Our preparation reflects the facts of the individual case. Proceedings may include an arraignment, pretrial conferences, evidence review, motions, negotiations, and trial, although the sequence and timing depend on the charge and procedural posture.

Founded in 1996 With Two Former Prosecutors on Our Team

Newman & Allen has more than 40 years of combined legal experience. Two of our attorneys previously served as prosecutors, giving us practical insight into how the government may assess evidence, prior convictions, witness accounts, and charging decisions.

We don’t use a one-size-fits-all strategy. If you need a felony drunk driving lawyer in San Bernardino, we take the time to examine the available evidence and present your full story to judges and prosecutors. An injury allegation may call for a substantially different approach than a repeat-offense or death-related charge.

Criminal Court & California DMV Proceedings

A DUI arrest can create two separate proceedings. The criminal case addresses the filed charge, while the California DMV Administrative Per Se process concerns driving privileges after certain DUI arrests. A result in one proceeding doesn’t automatically resolve the other.

The California DMV generally allows 10 days from receipt of a suspension or revocation order to request an administrative hearing. That period may begin before the first court appearance, so waiting for an arraignment could leave a driving-privilege deadline unaddressed.

Felony matters may proceed through the San Bernardino County Superior Court, including proceedings associated with the San Bernardino Justice Center. Defendants may have to manage court dates, release conditions, evidence requests, and DMV notices at the same time. We identify which documents and deadlines belong to each track.

Discuss Your Felony DUI Allegation Confidentially

Speak with our felony DUI lawyers serving San Bernardino about the arrest or investigation, testing, alleged injuries, prior DUI history, court paperwork, and DMV notices. During a free, confidential evaluation, we can review the available information and explain which proceedings and deadlines may apply. We serve San Bernardino County clients from our Rancho Cucamonga practice, and any legal options will depend on the allegations, evidence, record, and current stage of the case.