Based in San Jose · Serving Santa Clara & Alameda Counties
Protecting your rights from the first call to trial. We challenge stops, chemical tests, field sobriety evidence, and DMV suspensions to give you the strongest defense possible.
A DUI in California is two cases at once: a criminal case in court and an administrative case at the DMV. Each runs on its own track with separate deadlines and procedures.
The 10-day window after arrest to request a DMV hearing is the most time-sensitive item in any DUI case. Vijay Law defends both tracks with attention to license preservation, dismissal opportunities, and charge reduction options that protect employment and immigration status.
DMV And Court Suspensions Run On Separate Tracks
Disclosure Requirements For Regulated Professions
First-Offense Penalties Vary By Circumstances
Background Checks And Commercial Driving Restrictions
SR-22 Requirements And Rate Increases For Years
DUI Convictions Are Priorable For 10 Years
Multiple DUIs Or DUI With Injury Affect Visa Renewals
Yes. DUI cases have real defenses: challenges to the stop and detention, the field sobriety tests, the chemical test administration, Title 17 compliance, no-drive defense, and rising-BAC defense among them. Even when a conviction appears likely, the disposition can often be negotiated significantly to a wet reckless, dry reckless, or other reduced charge. Not fighting the case and simply pleading at arraignment forecloses these options.
There are two separate license tracks. The DMV imposes an administrative suspension automatically unless a hearing is requested within 10 days of arrest. The court can also order a suspension on conviction. The 10-day DMV deadline is the most time-sensitive item after a DUI arrest. If you win your DMV hearing and you are not convicted of a DUI, your license will not be suspended.
Every case is different. The attorney fee will depend on whether the case is a misdemeanor or felony, prior offenses, refusal allegations, immigration considerations, and whether the case goes to trial. Call Vijay Law for a consultation about your specific DUI case.
California’s implied consent law triggers an automatic one-year license suspension for a first-offense refusal, longer for priors. The refusal is also admissible at trial as consciousness of guilt. The pre-arrest preliminary alcohol screening (PAS) test and field sobriety tests are different from the post-arrest evidentiary chemical test in that only refusal of the post-arrest evidentiary test triggers the implied consent penalty.
A single misdemeanor DUI generally does not trigger automatic deportability or inadmissibility, but multiple DUIs, DUI with injury under VC 23153, or DUI combined with other factors can. Naturalization can be delayed by recent DUI under the good moral character analysis and non-citizens can expect to minimally face delays, RFE requests, and secondary screenings when attempting to re-enter the country. Non-citizens facing DUI charges should ensure immigration consequences are considered at the earliest possible time to preserve their immigration status.
Client Testimonials
Vijay is a thorough gentleman. He listened to me like a counselor would, then shared his acumen in the best possible language. I felt safe and much better by merely knowing my legal options and rights.
Hand down the best lawyer with a wide range of experience from immigration to litigation.
Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. The way Mr.Vijay handled the case from explaining the details to me, filing motions with all the details included, and email communication between you and DA was outstanding.
We were very much worried about my life the way the case was leading too. But, everything was handled by you smoothly and professionally. My family and I are so grateful to you. It exceeded beyond our expectations. Thank you so much sir again for everything you did in this case.
Vijay is a knowledgeable and helpful attorney. He was there for me and helped me through a difficult incident. He was able to work with the prosecutor and I received a favorable outcome. Mr. Dinakar communicates with his clients, tells them the possible outcomes, and delivers results. Do your research, he is reputable around town and is a straight shooter. 5 stars for Vijay and his firm. He’s one of the better CD lawyers in SJ and I value his help and support. Don’t look for anyone else, hire Vijay for your legal needs.
I had 2 felonies charges regarding insurance fraud claim. My Naturalization(citizenship) petition was on hold due to felonies. I met Vijay regarding my case. His first free initial consultant is very transparent. So I hired him. He understands the important of immigration consequence with criminal charges & impact on professional career.
Vijay was so patient enough; he took multiple court dates to resolve case in my favor. He communicates very clearly. He also wrote multiple letters to submit my status to keep alive my naturalization petition in USCIS.
Finally, my 2 felonies charges dismissed & converted into Infraction charge. My naturalization petition approved & got citizenship certificate.
He is very responsive & also available to discuss during late evening & weekend. He is very friendly, professional & detail orientated. I would highly recommend him for criminal case.
I don’t know how to say thanks to Vijay.
Before I came to him I had hired two other attorneys, and trust me those behaved like the gang mans. Nice at the beginning to get the money and stated playing with the matter to see it gets worse so that they can milk you more (just like the drug dealers does).
I strongly suggest you should try Vijay if you have already troubled by other attorneys like my case or in fact he better be your first attorney in any case. You can only compare him with others only if you had hired others before.
First of all we are very happy to have identified Vijay for our case. He is such a brilliant and skilled attorney and particularly man of actions. His sincerity in following up case to completion was speedy and commendable. Would definitely recommend him as he is very approachable and friendly.
Vijay Dinakar is BY FAR THE BEST LAWYER I’ve ever seen. I need more than 5 stars to express my gratitude to Vijay. He is the ideal lawyer you expect from watching movies. He is very knowledgeable and more important than that, he is a hard worker. I value more his work attitude because independently of the outcome, I believe he is working very hard in my case, and as a result he will win my case. He is a winner!
I have worked with many lawyers but he is by far the best in the business. He got my case completely dismissed !! I am glad to have consulted him..
I am glad that I approached Vijay to help me with my DV case. He is a good person, very knowledgeable, logical and has a calm but a rational approach. He was very strategic and focused on the relevant points. He was sharp, impactful and picked up important cues during the trial and strongly advocated for me in the court. Although the prep for my case was very last minute, he was great. Me and my family are very grateful to him, for helping me out in a very stressful time. I would certainly recommend him to friends and family.
Excellent hardworking lawyer.
I am grateful for the outcome produced by Mr. Vijay after hearing in my domestic violence restraining order trial. Vijay is a very knowledgeable attorney who provides so thorough answers to questions. He talked nonstop for over one hour explaining all possibilities that I would face. I felt hopeless at the time that I will have immigration problems but I am surprised when I am told by Vijay the case would not be filed in criminal court. Then Vijay helped with the family restraining court. This case went on for too long because but finally we did trial and I had many texts that proved the lies and plan. Vijay is confident in court and we had planned and won. Hopefully, nobody gets into these terrible cases but a good attorney can help you out of it.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND for an extremely satisfying representation
Providing 5-star and saying Mr.Vijay Dinakar is a good attorney would still be an understatement considering many 10/10 positive reviews and his excellent representation in my case. I write this review hoping it would help someone like me who has spent hours checking reviews online, consulting many attorneys while trying to hire a good one and finally found the best. I have known attorney Vijay Dinakar for over one and a half years now. He did what he promised me in my complicated case involving several other cases. In fact, Vijay Dinakar’s aggressive representation in the court room ensured more than a favorable result. I couldn’t be any happier about going with this law firm. He is non-judging, very patient and composed which helped in dealing with the emotionally draining legal case. While I cannot divulge the details of my case, I can say that Vijay Dinakar got me an excellent victory giving me an edge over the opponent in my other cases. Thanks to his outstanding representation. He is one of those rare attorneys who does not file anything we ask for by taking Fee. He is very ethical and always did what was right and favorable to the client. He is easy to reach and always available to answer my questions. With my experience as a client, I would just say to keep calm and trust Vijay Dinakar. He has always stayed on top of things. Highly responsive Reachable – Always, through mail/text/phone call Fee – Very reasonable. He has put more efforts and time towards my case than the Fee he charged me. All the reviews about Vijay Dinakar Law Firm will prove to be true once you have the initial consultation. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Vijay Dinakar Law Firm to anyone in need of an extremely satisfying legal representation.
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