San Francisco DUI Attorney

2. What are the DUI penalties in San Francisco?

San Francisco DUI arrests typically result in two charges being brought against defendants: 1) DUI under Vehicle Code 23152(a), and 2) Driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher under Vehicle Code 23152(b).

The standard penalties and sentencing for a first-offense misdemeanor DUI are:

• fines of $390 to over $1,000, but community service may cover some of it
• at least three years of probation
• a six-month driver’s license suspension, but defendants may be able to keep driving with an ignition interlock device (IID)
• California DUI School
• two days to six months in jail (which can usually get suspended)

Penalties for successive SF DUIs are much harsher, including longer jail sentences and alcohol education programs, high fines, and required ignition interlock devices. And a fourth DUI in ten years is always a felony.

SF driving under the influence cases tend to span many months and several court appearances, but our criminal defense lawyers can usually appear on your behalf for most (if not all) of them.

3. What is San Francisco DUI School?

SF judges always order that defendants complete a drug and alcohol education program as part of a DUI plea or conviction. First-time offenders are usually sentenced to a three-to-nine month program while second– and third-time offenders may be ordered to do eighteen- or thirty-month programs. The judge may also consider the defendant’s blood alcohol content (BAC) when determining the length of the California DUI School program.

Two San Francisco DUI Schools are:

Driver Performance Institutes, Inc.
Programs: First Offender DUI School
350 Townsend Street, Ste. 205
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 905-5555

The Mission Council on Alcohol Abuse for the Spanish Speaking
Dry Zone M.O. DUI Program
Programs: Eighteen-month DUI School
820 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 826-6767

4. What is the arresting agency?

SF DUI arrests are typically done by the San Francisco Police Department. Headquarters are located at 1245 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94158. The phone number is (415) 837-7000.

For alleged drunk driving incidents on highways, arrests are often made by law enforcement officers with the California Highway Patrol.

5. Where is the jail?

The Bay Area has several jail facilities, but most people arrested for DUI in the city will get booked at the San Francisco County Jail located at 425 7th Street. The phone number is (415) 575-4410.

Also see our article about California bail.

6. Where is the San Francisco courthouse?

The SF District Attorney’s Office prosecutes DUI cases at the San Francisco Superior Courthouse. Cases are usually handled in the Hall of Justice Building at 850 Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. The phone number is (415) 551-0651.

Initial arraignments are heard in one of four courtrooms, at which point the case may be transferred to other judges. Room 101 of the courthouse provides information about court programs, including DUI School. It can be reached at (415) 551-0651.

If you or a loved one has been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, our San Francisco DUI lawyers will do everything to achieve the best possible results in your case. Do not rely on public defenders. Our legal team includes former prosecutors, and we have years of experience in avoiding DUI convictions while fighting to keep your driving privileges. Our experienced DUI attorneys are also prepared to take your case all the way to a jury trial.

Phone our San Francisco Attorneys DUI Defense Office at (415) 333-0300 to schedule a free consultation. Our criminal defense firm is located at:

1390 Market Street
Suite 200
San Francisco, CA 94102

Our criminal defense attorneys also serve DUI / DWI clients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding areas, including Daly City, Sonoma, Berkeley, Oakland, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Rafael, and Napa. We also create attorney-client relationships in Los Angeles County, Riverside, San Bernardino County, West Covina, Rancho Cucamonga, Orange County, Riverside County, Long Beach, San Jose, Barstow, Bellflower, Torrance, Inland Empire, Redwood City, Morgan Hill, Alameda, Fremont, Newport Beach, Ontario, Campbell, and elsewhere in northern California, central California, and southern California state.

The law offices of Shouse Law Group defend against all types of charges, from traffic tickets, hit and run, violent crimes, and drug crimes to sex crimes, domestic violence criminal offenses, probation violations, and white collar crimes. Our legal team’s practice areas include personal injury and family law as well as criminal law.