Lake Havasu and Needles, California -
DUI & BUI Attorney

California prohibits not only driving under the influence (DUI) but also boating under the influence (BUI). And in the areas of Lake Havasu and Needles, California (which borders the Colorado River), cops set their sights on the water as well as the roads when hunting down people to arrest. On this page, our California criminal defense attorneys discuss the following information about DUI & BUI laws and what we can do to help your case:

Your DUI/ BUI Lawyer Michael Scafiddi, Esq.

Your DMV Hearing

Your DUI Criminal Case

Your BUI Criminal Case

Jail & Courthouse Information

Needles DUI School

If you've been arrested for California DUI or BUI around Needles or Lake Havasu, don't wait to contact our San Bernardino criminal defense attorneys at (760) 430-0400 for a consultation free of charge. Our office is located at 432 N. Arrowhead Avenue.

Your DUI/ BUI Lawyer Michael Scafiddi, Esq.

Needles BUI / DUI attorney Michael Scafiddi draws on his past career as a prosecutor as a police officer and DUI investiagtor to craft the most foolproof defense possible for your case. Police frequently make mistakes, and their breath-testing equipment is often faulty, so Attorney Scafiddi searches for these and other holes in the state's evidence in an effort to dismiss or reduce the charges against you.

Lake Havasu BUI/ DUI lawyer Michael Scafiddi enjoys nearly 25 years of law enforcement and criminal defense experience. His experience covers the entire spectrum of California "under the influence" law, including California misdemeanor DUI, California felony DUI, California Boating Under the Influence (BUI), and California vehicular manslaughter cases. Scafiddi is also a participant in the California DUI Lawyers Association and the National College for DUI Defense.

Your DMV Hearing

A BUI arrest doesnotjeopardize your drivers license, but DUI arrests do. Right after a cop arrests you for driving under the influence in California, he/she will confiscate your license and issue you a thirty-day temporary one. Meanwhile, you have only ten days from the date of your arrest to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles to request a "DMV Hearing," which is where you may contest the license suspension.

The DMV is notoriously difficult to deal with, and DMV Hearings are very tricky since they're like mini-trials. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you hire a criminal defense attorney ASAP to request the hearing and appear on your behalf. Either way, your license usually won't be suspended for more than six months as long as it's your first California misdemeanor DUI; subsequent DUIs may result in a two-to-three year license suspension.

If the DMV does suspend your license, it's very likely we'd be able to secure you a "restricted" drivers license. This would allow you to commute to work and school without fear of arrest.

Your DUI Criminal Case

A DUI arrest creates two cases: One in the DMV (discussed above), and one in criminal court. They're usually charged as misdemeanors as long as no one is hurt, though a fourth DUI in ten years is automatically charged as a felony.

Since DUI cases tend to last up to a year or more, we use the time to investigate your case, collect evidence, and bargain with prosecutors in the hopes of throwing out or at least reducing your charges. Most of the time, we can make all your court appearances for you unless you wish to take the case to trial and testify.

For a first-offense California misdemeanor DUI, the typical sentence consists of the following:

• two days to six months of jail (which we can usually get suspended)



• three years probation



• a three-to-nine month DUI School program (scroll lower for more information)



• six-month drivers license suspension (though we may be able to get you a "restricted license" for work purposes)



• fines of $390 to over $1,000

Subsequent DUIs carry harsher sentences, such as mandatory jail time, greater fines, longer alcohol & drug education programs, and ignition interlock devices installed in your car.

Your BUI Criminal Case

As with DUI, California Boating Under the Influence (BUI) laws prohibit operating a motorboat, aquaplane, jet ski and water skis with a BAC of .08 or more. The Colorado River (bordering Needles) and Lake Havasu are patrolled by various law enforcement agencies, including the Coast Guard, that are constantly looking out for erratically-driven boats, etc. If the authorities suspect you of being intoxicated or high, they'll ask you to perform field sobriety tests and submit to a breath or blood test.

Penalties for a typical California misdemeanor BUI ("simple BUI") include up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine and DUI School. Successive BUI convictions have longer jail terms and steeper fines. And BUI causing injury ("aggravated BUI") may carry up to three years in prison and $5,000 in fines.

Needles and Lake Havasu Jail & Courthouse Information

For misdemeanor DUI and simple BUI, arrestees in Needles and Lake Havasu are often released from the nearest sheriff's substation as long as they can post bail. Otherwise, they may be taken across San Bernardino County to be booked at such jails as:

West Valley Detention Center
9500 Etiwanda Ave.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739
(909) 350-2476

Adelanto Detention Center
9438 Commerce Way
Adelanto, California 92301
(760) 530-9300

And now that the Needles Courthouse no longer handles criminal matters, DUI and BUI cases are currently heard in the Bartow Courthouse, Department Five, located at 235 East Mountain View Avenue. The number is (760) 256-4758.

The San Bernardino County D.A.'s Office prosecutes all DUI and BUI matters, and all court appearances and hearings usually take place on Fridays. You can ask the front test for information about DUI School.

Needles DUI School

For convictions of either driving or boating under the influence, judges always include an alcohol and drug education program as part of the sentence. First-time offenders are often ordered to complete only three-to-nine months (depending on their BAC level), while second- or third-time offenders may be required to take eighteen- or thirty-month programs. One local DUI School in Needles that offers both First Offender and Eighteen-Month programs is:

Needles Center for Change,
Mental Health Systems, Inc.
300 H Street
Needles, CA 92363
(760) 326-4590

Arrested for a BUI or DUI in Needles or Lake Havasu, California?

It's our job to make this process as painless as possible. We want to keep you out of jail and save your drivers license, and we'll do everything to maximize your chances of success. Please phone our Needles and Lake Havasu DUI & BUI Lawyers at (760) 430-0400 to set up a free consultation with one of our attorneys.

5 A Powerful, Effective Advocate to Have in Your Corner

In my time of need I called on Neil Shouse and his law firm. It was one of the best decisions I've made in my life. Not only did he step up to assist me, he went the extra mile in every sense of the word. I found Neil to be honest, professional, and tireless in his efforts on my behalf.

- Jay, a DUI client

Join us to discuss your DUI case at any of our
local offices: You can also contact us 24/7 at
888.327.4652 for a free consultation