WATSONVILLE DUI LAWYER - CRIMINAL ATTORNEY
MICHAEL REHM - (831) 431-0986
FREE CONSULTATIONS
Returning to normal after the pandemic means that Watsonville residents and visitors can again enjoy the Strawberry Festival, the Farmer's Market, cultural dance workshops, and outdoor concerts on the Plaza. They can visit restaurants featuring delicious meals prepared from locally sourced ingredients. Those meals are often paired with local wines.
Mountain bike tours to wineries near Watsonville are a good way to avoid a driving under the influence (DUI) charge. Drivers who take the risk of driving after drinking often fail to appreciate how quickly they can reach the “legal limit” while still feeling perfectly sober. Those drivers soon learn that feeling unimpaired by alcohol will not protect them from a Watsonville DUI arrest.
Watsonville DUI Arrests
California's Office of Traffic Safety analyzes the DUI arrests made each year in California municipalities. It conducted the most recent analysis before the pandemic. In that year, 118 DUI arrests were made in Watsonville. The OTS determined that Watsonville had the 67th highest arrest rate of 106 comparable California cities after adjusting for population and miles driven.
Drivers who are arrested for DUI in Watsonville are usually taken to the Santa Cruz Main Jail for booking. The jail is located at 259 Water Street in Santa Cruz. When the booking process is finished, most arrested drivers are released, although they may be required to post bail. Drivers are allowed to call an attorney, a family member, and (if necessary) a bail bondsman from the jail.
Calling a DUI lawyer who represents drivers arrested in Watsonville should be a priority. Calling a lawyer promptly maximizes the opportunity to avoid an automatic license suspension. In addition, an early investigation of the facts can improve the likelihood of a favorable outcome. Attorney Michael Rehm is available to represent drivers who are arrested for DUI in Watsonville.
Watsonville DUI Charges
Decisions about charging a driver who was arrested for DUI in Watsonville are made by the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's office. Prosecutors charge misdemeanors in routine cases, although drivers with multiple DUI convictions and those who cause serious accidents can face felony charges. Prosecutors in Santa Cruz County charge about 4.7% of drivers arrested for DUI with felonies.
Drivers who are arrested for DUI in Watsonville will need to make one or more court appearances in the Santa Cruz County Superior Court. Although there is a courthouse in Watsonville, a DUI charge will probably be heard by a judge at the Santa Cruz Courthouse, located at 701 Ocean Street in Santa Cruz.
Watsonville DUI Outcomes
About 65% of drivers who are charged with a DUI in Santa Cruz County are convicted of the charged offense. More than a third avoid a DUI conviction.
Lawyers negotiate reduced charges for more than 12% of drivers. The most common reduced charge is “wet reckless.” A smaller percentage are convicted of a lesser offense. A wet reckless conviction is better for drivers than a DUI conviction.
To find out how the law applies to the facts of your case, and whether your matter can be reduced or dismissed, contact Attorney Michael Rehm at (831) 431-0986.