Locating an individual after a California DUI / DWI arrest can be challenging. The driver often spends hours at a police station before being transferred to a county jail, and finding the motorist can be a frustrating experience. However, a knowledgeable drunk-driving lawyer can help. An experienced criminal defense attorney from The Kavinoky Law Firm can locate the driver quickly and secure his or her release.
The task of searching for a motorist accused of driving under the influence will be much easier if the attorney has the driver’s full legal name and date of birth at hand. If the accused motorist has been in touch with family or friends since the arrest, obtaining the booking number will also help.
The ease in getting the accused driver released from jail depends on the jurisdiction in which the offense occurred and the facts of the case. Drivers arrested for DUI / DWI are sometimes released on their own recognizance, also known as OR. Being released on OR means that the driver doesn’t have to post bail if he or she makes a written promise to appear in court on the drunk-driving charge. If the driver fails to appear, an arrest warrant will be issued, and the driver will face a separate Failure to Appear charge (FTA). The FTA charge will be a misdemeanor if the underlying DUI was a misdemeanor, or a felony Failure to Appear charge if the underlying DUI was a felony.
In some jurisdictions, there is an OR Officer who evaluates accused DUI / DWI drivers to determine whether they’re suitable to be released on their own recognizance. Some jurisdictions automatically release drunk-driving arrestees if they have identification, are local residents, and are in custody long enough to protect the arresting agency from liability if the driver causes a DUI injury accident. If the driver isn’t released on his or her own recognizance, the driver may need the services of a bail bondsman.
A drunk-driving arrest carries potentially life-changing consequences, and requires fast legal action to protect the driver’s license, rights, and freedom. The skilled drunk driving criminal defense attorneys of The Kavinoky Law Firm are ready to help any motorist accused of driving under the influence secure immediate release, whether the charge is misdemeanor or felony DUI / DWI, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUID) or any other drinking and driving offense.
