A DUI arrest in Murrieta can derail your career, family life, and freedom. Whether you were stopped near Town Square Park, the I-215 freeway, or Quail Valley, you need a lawyer familiar with the local courts, prosecutors, and police tactics. As one of the fastest-growing cities in Riverside County, Murrieta is experiencing increased DUI enforcement.
At Liberty Criminal Defense, we know that a single mistake shouldn’t ruin your life. Led by Attorney Evan Vargas, our firm has 20 years of experience defending DUI cases. We specialize in navigating the local Murrieta court system to protect our clients from the severe repercussions of a conviction, ensuring that your rights are upheld at every stage of the legal process.
Defend Your DUI with a Local Murrieta DUI Lawyer
With over two decades of experience, Evan Vargas has honed the skills necessary to dismantle complex DUI cases. He understands the science of blood alcohol testing, the mechanics of field sobriety tests, and the procedural requirements of a lawful traffic stop. This depth of experience allows us to craft proactive rather than reactive defense strategies.
Most Murrieta DUI cases are prosecuted at the Southwest Justice Center, right in town. Evan Vargas is a familiar face here. He knows the District Attorneys and how to negotiate effectively in this specific jurisdiction. He recognizes the judges who are strict on terms for probation and who are more lenient regarding community service over fines. This unparalleled local knowledge is your advantage.
Murrieta PD and CHP use advanced roadside screening, but these tools are not infallible. We successfully defend clients by exposing errors in blood draw procedures, proving a lack of probable cause for the stop, and demonstrating that medical conditions (like GERD or diabetes) mimicked signs of intoxication, leading to false arrests.
Murrieta courts treat first DUIs as a serious criminal offense. For a first offense, you could face up to 6 months in jail (though often suspended), fines totaling over $1,800, including assessments, 3 to 5 years of summary probation, and a mandatory DUI education program ranging from 3 to 9 months. We fight to minimize penalties or eliminate them through dismissal.
If you have three or more prior DUI convictions within 10 years, or if your DUI resulted in injury to another person, you may be charged with a felony.
Felony DUI cases carry potential state prison time and strictly enforced parole conditions. We aggressively defend felony cases, challenging the severity of injuries or the validity of prior convictions to get charges reduced to misdemeanors.
For those holding a Class A license, a DUI means a one-year suspension of your commercial driving privileges with no option for a restricted license. This effectively ends your career. We understand the high stakes for truckers and delivery drivers in the logistics-heavy Murrieta area and prioritize defenses that protect your CDL.
If you are arrested for a DUI in Murrieta, Temecula, or any other part of Southwest Riverside County, your case will almost certainly be processed at the Superior Court of California – Southwest Justice Center (also known as “Southwest” in the law enforcement community) located right here on 30755-D Auld Road, in Murrieta.
This facility serves as the regional legal hub, holding jurisdiction over misdemeanor and felony DUI cases arising from Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, and the neighboring unincorporated areas.
The Southwest Justice Center is equipped to manage the full spectrum of DUI-related litigation:
Every phase of your DUI case is adjudicated at this site. You’ll attend the Southwest Justice Center for:
Yes. Even a first offense carries probation, fines, and license suspension. A skilled lawyer can often negotiate better terms, such as reduced fines or alternative sentencing, and identify defenses to get the case dismissed that you wouldn’t know to look for.
Yes, providers like the “Safety Center” on Jefferson Ave (nearby in Temecula) or other local alternatives serve the Murrieta area. We can help you get referred to a program that is convenient for you.
Checkpoints must adhere to strict legal guidelines regarding advance publicity, neutral selection of cars, and safety. If the Murrieta PD failed to follow the operational plan, the stop might be deemed illegal, and the evidence suppressed.
A DUI conviction stays on your driving record for 10 years for “priorability,” meaning if you receive another DUI charge within that time, it counts as a second offense. It stays on your criminal record indefinitely unless expunged.
Yes. Once you complete your probation and pay all fines, we can file a motion for expungement (PC 1203.4) to have the conviction dismissed, allowing you to tell most employers you have not been convicted of a crime.
Most misdemeanor DUIs in Murrieta result in “informal” or summary probation, meaning you don’t have a probation officer. Felony DUIs result in “formal” probation, where you must check in with an officer and have travel restrictions.
Riverside County is part of a pilot program where IIDs are often required if you want to drive without restrictions during your suspension period. Judges at Southwest Justice Center frequently mandate them.
Absolutely. Blood samples can ferment if not stored properly, forming new alcohol in the vial. We analyze the chain of custody and the lab’s refrigeration logs to find these errors.
You can still be arrested for DUI if there is proof of “volitional movement” or if the engine was on. However, we can use the “no driving” defense to argue you used the vehicle as a shelter, not for transportation.
Immediately. You only have 10 days to request a DMV hearing. Furthermore, valuable evidence such as surveillance video from nearby businesses can be deleted within days. We act fast to preserve this evidence.
