DUI OR BUI IN NEWPORT BEACH? PUT MY EXPERIENCE ON YOUR SIDE

DUI LAWYER IN NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA

The Newport Beach Police Department makes many DUI arrests, especially on weekend nights near the Balboa Peninsula, Fashion Island, Corona del Mar, and along Pacific Coast Highway. On the water, the Orange County Sheriff's Harbor Patrol enforces boating under the influence laws in Newport Harbor.

Whether you were stopped in a car or on a boat, I can help you understand the charges and fight for the best possible result.

Driving Under the Influence

In California, you can be charged with DUI if you are impaired by alcohol or drugs, or if your blood alcohol concentration is 0.08% or higher. Lower limits apply to commercial drivers (0.04%), rideshare drivers carrying passengers (0.04%), and drivers under 21. Penalties increase with a high BAC, prior DUI convictions, a refusal, or an accident causing injury.

Boating Under the Influence

Operating a vessel with a BAC of 0.08% or more, or while impaired, is a crime under Harbors and Navigation Code 655. A BUI conviction carries fines, possible jail time, and a mandatory education program. It can also count as a prior offense if you are later charged with a DUI on the road. BUI cases raise their own defense issues. Boat motion, sun, wind, and dehydration can all affect field sobriety tests and an officer's observations.

Where Newport Beach DUI Cases Are Heard

Misdemeanor DUI and BUI cases from Newport Beach are usually heard at the Harbor Justice Center, 4601 Jamboree Road. Felony cases may be heard at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.

Protecting Your Reputation

For many Newport Beach clients, the biggest worry is how a DUI will affect their career and reputation. I work to resolve cases discreetly and to limit long-term consequences. Depending on the evidence, that may mean a dismissal, a reduction to a lesser offense, or a negotiated sentence that avoids jail. If you already have a DUI conviction, you may be able to have it expunged after completing probation.

Talk to a Newport Beach DUI Lawyer

If you have been arrested for DUI in Newport Beach, do not wait to get help. The sooner I am involved, the more I can do to protect your rights and build your defense. Call McCready Law Group at (714) 785-9978 or send me a message to schedule a consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is boating under the influence a DUI?

It is a separate charge under Harbors and Navigation Code 655, but it uses the same 0.08% BAC limit. A BUI conviction can count as a prior if you are later charged with DUI.

What is the legal limit for Uber and Lyft drivers?

Rideshare drivers with a passenger in the vehicle are subject to a 0.04% BAC limit, the same as commercial drivers.

Can a DUI conviction be expunged in California?

In many cases, yes. After you complete probation, you may petition to have the conviction dismissed under Penal Code 1203.4. The DUI can still count as a prior for 10 years, however.

Other Areas I Serve

I also represent clients arrested for DUI in these nearby cities:

Also Serving Newport Beach

See all service areas or learn more about my DUI defense practice.

DUI LAWYER SERVING NEWPORT BEACH

At McCready Law Group, I fight for people arrested for DUI in Newport Beach and throughout Orange County. I bring eight years of experience as a Los Angeles Police Department officer to every case, and I give each client honest advice and personal attention. Call (714) 785-9978 to discuss your case.