4. Should I get a lawyer?
Yes, a Sonoma County DUI is serious and complicated. Don't act on casual advice to fight this by yourself, or worse yet, simply walk in to court alone to "accept responsibility" and ask for leniency. It just doesn't work that way; not only can there be a variety of technical and substantive legal defenses in a DUI case which only lawyers are trained to identify for you, but there are also a pile of bureaucratic tasks, issues and inconveniences which a local Sonoma County DUI lawyer can help you navigate, or completely avoid.
If you don't see how involved and complex even a first DUI can be in Sonoma County without a lawyer, then click on ANATOMY OF A DUI on this site and see the many different directions a Santa Rosa DUI case can go, as well as the burdensome collection of obligations, timetables and tasks to perform. And don't drive to court with a suspended license. Click here to see the SANTA ROSA COURT STING. Have a good local DUI lawyer go for you instead.
Will your absence be noticed by the court or required by your attorney? No, in most cases court appearances are strictly procedural. Unless special circumstances are present, judges do not wish to speak to a defendant at such proceedings and your absence or presence will go unnoticed. Clients who live in Santa Rosa, or Sonoma County, rarely, if ever, come to court in typical DUI cases. This doesn't mean you'll be left in the dark about your case. A good Sonoma County DUI attorney will explain the entire process. To start, click here to see Jake's comprehensive ANATOMY OF A SONOMA COUNTY DUI flowchart. In addition, Jake's tech know-how can be very helpful to avoid the need for client travel, meetings or appearances, especially at the procedural beginning of a case. If requested, we .pdf police reports and other DUI case documents to you within 24 hours after court appearances.
You can (and should) closely follow the progress of your Sonoma County case by regularly communicating with your lawyer before and after Santa Rosa court appearances, and follow your case separately online by clicking on RESOURCES on this site and then find your local court under "Courts" by clicking on the county where you were arrested (for example, Sonoma, Marin, Mendocino or Napa), and search your name. SONOMA COURTS have an online calendar for Santa Rosa appearances the next morning which lists your name, case number, one charge, and the Santa Rosa courtroom (also called the "department") for your case. NAPA COURTS and MENDOCINO COURTS have similar online calendars. MARIN COURTS have San Rafael appearances online weeks in advance.
A good local DUI lawyer will get you the best resolution, properly handled with the least stress and confusion, which is well worth a reasonable fee. If you already know you cannot afford to hire a private lawyer, then consider requesting a public defender. Click on TEN TIPS FOR THE FIRST 48 HOURS AFTER ARREST on this site for a more detailed discussion about getting a DUI lawyer. Consult with a Santa Rosa DUI lawyer about your specific case.