DUI Defense

Experienced DUI Lawyers in Sacramento County

DUI Defense Attorneys You Can Count On

If you are operating a vehicle and a police officer suspects you are under the influence, you could be facing criminal penalties. Whether or not you felt you were driving unsafely, the law has statutes in place to convict you of a crime and deliver penalties that could hurt your future. You need help from DUI attorneys in Sacramento who can stand strong in support of your interests. The DUI Lawyers at Donato Legal Group, are here to help you protect yourself and avoid the consequences of a conviction. Call today and schedule a free consultation to get help.

Have you been arrested for drunk driving? Call Donato Legal Group today at (916) 318-5997 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with our Sacramento DUI lawyer!

What are the Potential Penalties for a DUI in California?

While most DUIs don’t result in prison sentencing, California is tough on drunk and impaired drivers. Implied consent laws mean you must undergo a blood alcohol content (BAC) test or have your license automatically revoked. By having a Sacramento DUI lawyer on your side, you can increase your chances at a more favorable outcome by avoiding some of the consequences that come with a conviction of DUI.

If you are convicted of DUI, you could face:

  • Suspension of your driver’s license
  • Vehicle confiscation
  • Having an interlock installed on your car
  • Fines
  • Jail time

While these consequences are temporary, they can cause serious disruptions to your life. You need help from a Sacramento DUI attorney like Alan Donato who can do whatever is needed to protect your future.

What Happens When You Get a DUI for the First Time in California?

For a first-offense DUI in California, consequences for conviction generally include three years of informal probation, fines of $390 plus “penalty assessments” (In total, costing approximately $2000, and completing a first offender alcohol program that consists of a 30-hour class, at a cost of about $500.) There is no minimum jail time for a first time DUI in Sacramento, California. You could still be sent to jail for a first time DUI if there were certain factors present such as a minor present in the vehicle, someone injured, someone died.

A first-time DUI sentence may also include required participation in a victim impact panel, community labor or community service work. In Sacramento, you are also required to have an ignition interlock device to be placed on your car upon a first-time conviction for four months.

How We Help Our Clients

While DUIs are dangerous offenses that put other people’s lives at risk, it may be possible to find better ways than fines or jail time to avoid major disruptions to your life. The top criminal defense attorneys in Sacramento at Donato Legal Group have experience helping clients like you get through these challenges.

We may be able to help a judge decide to sentence you with:

  • Probation: For first-time offenders, you may be able to avoid a DUI conviction by pleading guilty to what is called a “wet reckless.” Rather than having your license revoked, you will simply pay a fine and obtain a special license to drive to necessary places such as work or school.
  • DUI school: While this is often in tandem with other sentences, it may be possible to limit the sentence of your crime by attending classes geared toward helping you see the dangers of impaired driving.
  • Installing an interlock: You may be able to have your car modified to prevent you from being able to start it while drunk.
  • Community service: By giving your time back to the people you endangered, you may be able to have your sentence reduced.

Contact a Sacramento DUI Defense Lawyer Today

Call one of the Sacramento Defense Attorneys at our firm today to get started on your case. During your initial case review, we can go over the details of what happened to help you improve your situation. There may have been more to your arrest than what police initially noted.

By getting to know you and your situation, we can help you tell your side of the story in a compelling way. Our goal is to help you increase your chances at a favorable outcome. Call today to get started on planning your case.

Contact Donato Legal Group by calling (916) 318-5997 today to schedule a FREE consultation!

Recent Case Results

We Prepare Every Case as if it's Going to Trial

Our top priority is to devise customized legal strategies that are tailored to the unique legal needs of our clients, no matter how simple or complicated their situations, might be.

  • Case Dismissed Possession of Methamphetamine for Sale

    Our client was one of several defendants charged with possession of methamphetamine for sale. The defendants were found at an alleged "crack-house" surrounded by various illegal narcotics, and even firearms. After threatening to go to trial, Mr. Donato had the entire case against our client dismissed by day two in court.

  • Not Guilty Possession of a Concealed Firearm

    Charged with possession of a concealed firearm inside of a car, our client was facing special criminal enhancements. Not only did the gun have an illegal high-capacity magazine, our client allegedly possessed the gun in association with a gang.  Mr. Donato fought this case at trial and hung the jury 9-3 for not guilty. But the District Attorney elected to re-try the case. Mr. Donato responded by taking the case to trial again, this time returning with a full not guilty verdict.

  • Not Guilty Attempted Murder

    Client was charged with several felonies including attempted murder and was acquitted of this charge by means of self-defense.

  • Dismissed Felony child abuse

    Private Retained Counsel in Sacramento County; client was charged with felony child abuse and the DA offered prison time for plea bargan, Mr. Donato obtained the opinion of a child abuse expert and was able to get the DA to dismiss the case in the interest of justice.

  • Penalty Reduced Felony DUI

    Client had previously been to prison for multiple DUI’s and was arrested again for DUI. We got client into treatment and persuaded the court (over the prosecutor’s objection) to sentence him to rehab instead of prison. Mr. Gerber is now a successful (and sober) project manager in the Bay Area.

  • Case Dismissed DUI

    Our cient's DUI was dismissed after we obtained the officer's in car camera video which revealed the officer had fabricated major portions of the report.  Thanks in part to Mr. Donato's discoveries, the officer in this case was arrested and eventually plead guilty to numerous counts of perjury and obstruction of justice.  The officer was ultimately sentenced to prison.

  • Case Dismissed Vehicle Theft and Evading Law Enforcement

    With our client charged with felony vehicle theft and evading law enforcement, Mr. Donato sought out the necessary investigation to show that his client was actually not the driver of the vehicle. The DA dismissed all charges.

  • Case Dismissed Assault with a Deadly Weapon

    After an intense road rage incident, our client was charged with assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly ramming another car with her own. After diligent investigation and negotiations with the Prosecutors in this case, Mr. Donato persuaded the government to dismiss the case in its entirety.

  • Reduced to a misdemeanor Charged with felony sexual battery

    Appointed Indigent Defense Counsel in San Joaquin County; the client was charged with felony sexual battery and looking at his third strike and 25 years to Life in prison; upon body worn camera review, Mr. Donato was able to present evidence to the DA and had the case reduced to a misdemeanor and the client was released from jail custody that day.

  • Dismissed Embezzlement

    Client was a military veteran that was accused of embezzlement from his employer. Mr. Donato was able to get the employer and DA to drop all charges and dismissed the case.

  • Not Guilty Robbery & Felony Assault

    Charged with robbery and felony assault resulting in great bodily injury, our client was facing multiple strikes and significant time in prison. Mr. Donato took this case to trial, earning not guilty jury verdicts on both charges. Mr. Escobar walked out of court a free man, holding his young daughter in his arms.

  • Not Guilty Possession of Methamphetamine for Sale

    With a client facing charges for possession of methamphetamine for sale in addition to firearm enhancements, even the judge questioned Mr. Donato as to why he was taking the case to trial. In the end, however, the jury had very few questions to ask, as it took them less than an hour to return their not guilty verdicts for Mr. Donato's client.

  • Not Guilty Felony Domestic Violence

    Our client faced charges for felony domestic violence and misdemeanor child abuse.  Mr. Donato showed the jury at trial that Mr. Hillman's spiteful ex-girlfriend had lied about the facts.  Mr. Hillman walked into trial facing 10 years in prison, but he walked out a free man.

  • Case Dismissed Drug Charge

    Our client's drug case was dismissed after Mr. Donato proved to a judge that the officer's only basis for conducting a probation search in this case was for harassment purposes in violation of his client's 4th Amendment Rights.

  • Case Dismissed Robbery

    Client was facing robbery charges and our investigation showed the witness was not likely to show up for trial. We pushed to get this case before a jury, and when the prosecution was unable to produce evidence against our client the case was dismissed.

  • Full Acquittal DUI

    Mr. Donato won a full acquittal at trial by showing that the DA could not prove Mr. Brown was under the influence of alcohol at the time he was driving.  The jury concluded the case was too speculative, and Mr. Brown walked on all DUI charges against him.

  • Dismissed 1st Degree Murder

    Appointed Indigent Defense Counsel in San Joaquin County; Client was charged with 1st Degree Murder looking at 75 years to Life in prison: upon case discovery review, Mr. Donato was able to present evidence to the DA and get the entire case dismissed in the interest of justice.

  • Acquitted of ALL charges (Trial) Felony Sexual Assault of a Minor

    Client was a group home employee and was accused by one of the (minor) group home residents of sexual misconduct. Our office successfully showed the complaining witness was lying about the allegations, and the jury unanimously acquitted Ms. Roberts of all charges after deliberating for only a few hours.

  • Case Dismissed Possession of Marijuana for Sale

    Our client was facing felony charges of cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale.  After successfully having the case dismissed, Mr. Donato also negotiated with the District Attorney to return the $20,000 in cash that was seized from our client.

  • Not Guilty Sexual Assault

    With a client facing life in prison on sexual assault charges, our office decided to take this case to trial. After fighting to expose the holes in the Prosecution's case, the jury returned not guilty verdicts on all counts.  Our client was released from custody the same day.