Dedicated DUI Defense Attorney Backed by Over Two Decades of Experience

DUI Defense in Contra Costa

Contra Costa County DUI Lawyer Robert Tayac is recognized as being one of the top driving under the influence (DUI) defense attorneys in California. DUI lawyers of his office represent clients accused of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) or driving with a blood alcohol level at or above the legal limit (DUI) in Contra Costa County. The Contra Costa Superior Courts are located in Walnut Creek, Martinez, Richmond, and Pittsburg. The most serious felony DUI cases and DUI cases involving juveniles are handled at the Contra Costa Superior Court in Martinez.

Misdemeanor DUI cases stemming from DUI arrests which occur in Clayton, Concord, Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek are handled by the Contra Costa Superior Court located in Walnut Creek. If a misdemeanor DUI arrest occurred in El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, Richmond, or San Pablo the case will be handled at the Contra Costa Superior Court located in Richmond. If the DUI arrest occurred in Martinez, the case will probably be handled at the Contra Costa Superior Court located in Martinez. Finally, if Misdemeanor DUI arrest occurred in Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Pittsburg the DUI case will be handled by the Contra Costa Superior Court located in Pittsburg.

Additionally, there are unincorporated communities in Contra Costa County which include Alamo, Bay Point, Blackhawk, Canyon, Crockett, Diablo, Discovery Bay, East Richmond Heights, El Sobrante, Kensington, North Richmond, Pacheco, and Rodeo. DUI arrests occurring in one of the unincorporated communities of Contra Costa County, will be handled by the Superior Court branch which handles DUI cases from the nearest incorporated community.

A California DUI lawyer representing a person arrested for driving under the influence or driving with a blood alcohol level at or above the legal limit in Contra Costa County must appear at one of the Contra Costa County Superior Courts located in Walnut Creek, Martinez, Richmond, or Pittsburg. In addition, a driver arrested for a DUI in Contra Costa County will have a separate California DMV license suspension action stemming from an arrest for driving with a blood alcohol level at or above the legal limit. The legal limit in California for a person 21 years of age or older is .08% blood or breath alcohol level. This second California DUI case will be before the Department of Motor Vehicles' Driver Safety Office located in Oakland or the Contra Costa County DMV office in El Cerrito. The Contra Costa County DUI criminal case is entirely separate and independent of the California Department of Motor Vehicles DUI case.

DUI lawyer Robert Tayac specializes in driving under the influence defense in Contra Costa County, California and is a present or former member of professional organizations whose focus is related to driving under the influence cases, including the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD), California DUI Lawyers Association (CDLA), National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ), and California Public Defenders Association (CPDA). Additionally, California DUI attorneys working with this law firm are familiar with the specific procedures and local rules of the Contra Costa County Superior Courts. Robert Tayac's law office only accepts California DUI or California DMV cases and does not represent clients in any court or tribunal outside the State of California.

DUI Criminal Cases

A Contra Costa County DUI arrest usually initiates two separate cases. The first case is the Contra Costa County DUI criminal case which will be prosecuted by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's office at the Superior Court located in Walnut Creek, Martinez, Richmond, or Pittsburg. The Contra Costa County District Attorney will almost always charge a person with at least two separate criminal violations following a DUI arrest made in Contra Costa County by a California Highway Patrol officer, Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriff, or local police officer of Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Danville, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Oakley, Pinole, Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, San Ramon, Richmond, San Pablo, or Walnut Creek.

The first Contra Costa County DUI charge is for driving under the influence of alcohol, medication or drugs in violation of California Vehicle Code section 23152, subdivision (a). The second Contra Costa County DUI charge is for driving with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of .08 percent or greater in violation of California Vehicle Code Section 23152, subdivision (b). If a Contra Costa DUI arrest involved an accident resulting in an injury to a person other than the individual arrested for driving under the influence, a more serious misdemeanor or felony DUI will usually be charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney alleging a violation of California Vehicle Code section 23153, subdivision (a) and California Vehicle Code section 23153, subdivision (b).

The second case is a Department of Motor Vehicles administrative per se (APS) case, in which the arrested person's privilege to drive in California is at risk of being suspended. Drivers arrested for DUI driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher in California have only 10 days from the date of arrest to request a DMV administrative per se (APS) hearing. If a DMV hearing is not requested within ten (10) days of the arrest, any California driver's license issued to the person arrested will automatically be suspended thirty (30) days from the date of the arrest for a minimum of four (4) months. If the person arrested in Contra Costa County for driving under the influence (DUI) has an out of state driver license, the privilege of that person to drive within the State of California will be suspended indefinitely thirty (30) days from the date of the arrest and may not be restored until a California DUI school is completed. Additionally, a driving suspension imposed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles for a DUI will usually have an effect on the out of state driver's license.

California DMV hearings are technically complex, and should be handled by lawyers having extensive experience handling California DUI and California DMV cases. In order for the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to suspend a driver's license, the Hearing Officer must only prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the California Highway Patrol officer, local police officer, or Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriff had reasonable cause to believe that a violation of California Vehicle Code Section 23152, Section 23153 or Section 23154 (relating to motorists on probation for DUI and driving with a blood alcohol level of .01 percent or greater) was committed, that the California DUI arrest was lawful, and that the driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent or greater. California DMV administrative hearings can be won, but usually only by an attorney with specialized knowledge of the hearing process, the type of evidence presented and familiarity with the possible defenses.

The stakes are high in a Contra Costa County drunk driving case. A person accused of driving under the influence faces the possibility of jail, large fines, driver's license suspensions, mandatory alcohol education classes, ignition interlock devices, and other punishment. For that reason, it is critical that anyone who has been arrested for driving under the influence or is being investigated for DUI in Contra Costa County have a qualified California DUI lawyer handling the case.

If you or someone you know has been or may be accused of driving under the influence (DUI), or driving with a blood alcohol level at or above the legal limit (DUI) in Contra Costa County, I invite you to read the information contained in this website and welcome you to call me to discuss the case. After speaking with me you may wish to schedule an appointment for a personal consultation to discuss the case further. If you prefer, you may submit a confidential case questionnaire which will be reviewed by me and receive a prompt response.

The office is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, close to Contra Costa County. We are ready to help you. Please take the time to call for a confidential consultation.

Consultation available at 925-288-9800 or fill in our consultation form and I will contact you shortly.

Contra Costa County General Information

Contra Costa County (Spanish for: Against the Coast) is a suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the state of California. Contra Costa County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood. The county was originally to be called Mt. Diablo County, but the name was changed prior to incorporation as a county. The county's Spanish language name means opposite coast, because of its location opposite San Francisco, in an easterly direction, on San Francisco Bay. Southern portions of the county's territory, including the all of the bayside portions opposite San Francisco, and Northern portions of Santa Clara County were given up to form Alameda County in 1853.

Adjacent counties:

  • Alameda County, California - South
  • San Francisco County, California - Southwest
  • Marin County, California - West (via the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and San Pablo and San Francisco Bays)
  • Solano County, California - North (via the Carquinez Bridges and Benicia-Martinez Bridge)
  • Sacramento County, California - Northeast (via the Antioch Bridge)
  • San Joaquin County, California - East
  • DUI Resources for Contra Costa County:
  • Contra Costa County's Official Website
  • Superior Court Of California, Contra Costa County
  • Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
  • Contra Costa County Alcohol and Drug Programs
  • California DMV
  • California DMV Driver Safety Office Locations
  • California DMV License Suspension Hearings FAQ's
  • California DMV Hearing Consequences related to Drunk Driving Offense

Why Choose Our Firm?

Attorney Robert Tayac Puts a Long, Decorated Career to Work for You
  • Puts Over 20 Years of Experience Toward Your Case

  • Specialized Education in DUI Defense

  • Has Trained Other Attorneys in San Francisco

  • Former San Francisco Police Officer & Police Inspector

  • Certified by the SFPD on the Intoxilyzer 5000 Testing Device

  • Co-Authored the 4th Edition of California Drunk Driving Defense

  • Boasts a Successful Record Achieving the Best Result for His Clients

  • Takes the Time to Understand You & Your Case

Client Testimonials

  • “These clients have called me to thank me for referring them to the Law offices of Robert Tayac.”

    R.R., Attorney at Law

  • “Without Mr Tayac's knowledge and drive to succeed, I most likely would not be able to write this review today.”

    Dave

  • “His in depth knowledge and expertise within his field, along with deep and lasting relationships with the District Attorneys office and everyone involved are without a doubt unmatched.”

    S.M.

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