Lodi DUI Attorney
Free Consultations – Call (209) 490-5049
Lawyer Michael Rehm
Creedence Clearwater Revival made it seem tragic to be “stuck in Lodi again.” These days, Lodi is a vibrant travel destination that offers travelers a wide choice of opportunities for shopping, entertaining, dining, and drinking.
The Zinfandel grapes grown near Lodi are legendary. After daylong visits to tasting rooms and wine bars, visitors need to be wary about driving. An arrest for driving under the influence (DUI) will quickly spoil a vacation.
Drivers who are arrested in or near Lodi may be able to avoid a conviction. Retaining an experienced DUI lawyer provides the best opportunity for a favorable outcome.
Lodi DUI Arrests
The most recent year for which the DMV has released DUI arrest statistics was before the pandemic. In that year 140 drivers were arrested for DUI in Lodi. According to the Office of Traffic Safety, Lodi had the 70th highest arrest rate of 106 California cities of comparable size after adjusting for population and miles driven.
A driver arrested for DUI in Lodi will usually be taken to the San Joaquin County jail for booking. The jail is located in French Camp, about six miles south of Stockton.
Under most circumstances, drivers arrested for misdemeanor DUI in Lodi are released without being required to post bail after their arrest. However, drivers might not be released from the booking process until they test below the limit.
Lodi DUI Prosecutions
After a DUI arrest in Lodi, charges are filed by a prosecutor in the San Joaquin County District Attorney's office. Unless a felony is charged, the prosecutor will usually charge two misdemeanors: one count of DUI and one count of driving “over the limit.” Only about 4% of San Joaquin County DUI charges are felonies.
The case is heard in the San Joaquin County Superior Court. Unless the court branch in Lodi reopens, DUI cases will continue to be heard at the Stockton Courthouse. That courthouse is located at 222 E. Weber in Stockton.
Lodi DUI Convictions
A DUI lawyer's first goal is to avoid any conviction. If that goal is not realistic, the next goal is to seek a conviction of a reduced charge. Experienced lawyers understand how to bargain from a position of strength.
San Joaquin County prosecutors obtain a DUI conviction in 76.5% of their DUI cases. In 9.8% of their cases, San Joaquin County prosecutors enter into a plea bargain that reduces the charge to “wet reckless,” a reckless driving charge that is treated less harshly than a DUI. Another 1.3% of DUI charges are reduced to a less serious traffic offense.
The final 12.4% of cases are resolved without the entry of a conviction. Some charges are dismissed because a lawyer persuaded the court to suppress evidence that the police acquired improperly. Other cases result in a verdict of “not guilty.” A DUI lawyer who represents clients arrested in Lodi can determine the best strategy to achieve the most favorable result that the circumstances permit.