A DUI is a very stressful event. It is no secret that people convicted of drunk driving in San Diego face losing not only their drivers licenses but potentially their jobs. In addition, the very thought of jail raises real concern. I know from personal experience – I was arrested for a DUI in San Diego before I became a lawyer.

As a result of my DUI “experience” I have a unique perspective as a DUI defense lawyer that I can use along with my extensive experience and proven track record of obtaining positive results for my clients - within the following practice areas:

• Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs (DUI)
  • Misdemeanor
    • 1st Offense
    • Repeat Offenses

• Felony
  • Serious Repeat Offender
  • Accident With Serious Injury
• DUI With a Child Passenger
• Hit and Run Driving
• Reckless Driving
• Contests of Speed
• Driving on a Suspended License
• Other Traffic Crimes
• Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or other state licensing agency Suspension/Revocation Hearings
  • DUI Conviction
  • Chemical Test Refusal
  • Medical or Drug Suspension
  • Negligent Operator (too many tickets) Suspension

There are several things that can be done to when challenging a DUI. The first of which is to set a DMV hearing within 10 days of the date of your arrest otherwise nothing can be done to save your license.

Some cases rely on breath machine results while others rely on the results of a blood test. If you took a breath test you must realize that the "BA" reading could be inaccurate - very inaccurate. The machine is simply that, a machine. Have you ever heard the phrase "garbage in garbage out"? If the operator was not properly trained or the machine was not properly maintained then you may have a basis to fight.

If your blood was drawn in medically approved manner then it should be tested by an independent laboratory to see what result that independent lab derives. Many times the independent lab results vary widely from the results gathered by the government in their effort to convict you.

Did the officer correctly perform the Field Sobriety Tests? Were you contacted by the police based on reasonable cause to suspect you were violating the law? These questions and many more can be asked by an attorney on your behalf and can sometimes lead to outright dismissal of cases. That is not to say that it will happen in your case, but how are you to know if you don't hire an attorney?

Once we decide to take a case, we always invest the time to fully understand a client’s goals and interests, carefully leading the way through the legal labyrinth of the California criminal justice system. Sometimes that means a Not Guilty verdict after a trial, and at other times it can mean a settlement agreement with reduction in the criminal charge to a lesser offense or even complete dismissal of the case. In every instance, we will make certain that you are informed and in control of all decisions to be made in your case.

If you or someone you know in Southern California needs the assistance of an experienced San Diego DUI Lawyer, call me today at 866-682-1503, or use the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.

Testimonials

Michael, Fantastic result. I can not tell you how pleased I am with your efforts on my behalf. I must say that I didn't think that anything could be done, but I guess that is why you are the lawyer and I am not. Please know that I will forever be in your debt and that I will, without hesitation, recommend your office. Thanks again.       M.G. (received 06/05/07)

Thank you both for your attentiveness and understanding regarding my case. I feel so foolish being in this position but appreciate your professionalism every step of the way. I appreciate both of you.      Cheryl (received 05/23/07)

Michael, I can not thank you enough for your services re: my DUI. I can not tell you enough how important it is, or I guess I should say now "was", that I did not have a DUI on my record. Fantastic Job. Thank you VERY much.      R.A. (received 05/18/07)

Hi Michael, I wanted to take the time to say thank you very much for all of your hard work. It is because of your expertise, determination, and experience that the DMV through out my DUI case. I recommend your attorney services to anyone who wants the absolute best representation. Thank you,       Richard G (received 05/18/07)

Dear Michael, Now that my case has come to a close, I just wanted to drop you a line to tell you once again how safe and secure I felt with you handling everything. I appreciate that you constantly kept me informed of the status of my case and the fact that you handled everything, I mean everything! I did not have to miss work or disrupt my life in order to take care of the situation, you did it all for me. Your hard and thorough work for me is evident in the outcome and I am very grateful. I will most assuredly direct to you anyone who finds themselves in a situation such as mine. I know they will certainly be in good hands. Regards,      FKH (received 05/18/07)

I am so pleased with the work of Michael Richmond and his law firm. Thanks to his efforts the DVM did not suspend my license.       Edward B (received 05/9/07)

I would like to thank you for your patience with my case Mr. Richmond, through 3 consecutive DUI your skills as a lawyer prevailed. Facing three DUI I would have never thought that I would have walked away with no jail time. In addition, i would like to thank you for your financial patience during this unfortunate incident and would recommend you to anybody who needs a miracle.       A. Jackson   (received 04/19/07)

I would recommend Mike Richmond to anyone that was in need of a DUI Attorney. He took my case and has given me positive results from the start. I did not loose my license to the DMV thanks to Mr. Richmond’s hard work. The quick response to my questions make me feel that my attorney is looking out for me.       A. R.   (received 03/31/07)

I just wanted to take time and say thank you for everything. Drinking and driving was the worst decision I have ever made and deciding to go with you as my lawyer was the best decision I ever made. I thought I was going to jail for a long time I was facing 2 felony counts of drunk driving with accident/injury) and was sick at the thought that I had ruined my life, but since the first phone call I made to you (and when I called you I talked straight to you not some secretary or paralegal) and you calmed me down and told me how confident you were we could get my charges reduced to a misdemeanor. I really wasn't sure you could do it but thanks to your expertise in your field and absolute professionalism I only now only have the inconveniences of a Misdemeanor instead of the possibility of years in prison and a felony record. I'm from Orange County and luckily got my DUI in San Diego county or I wouldn't have come across your web page. I would recommend you to everyone even if they don't get their DUI in San Diego county. I just want to thank you again for being straightforward about the whole process and all your hard work. If someone gets a DUI and doesn't have you for their lawyer I feel sorry for them because they don't have the best. Freedom is something you can't put a price on and I want to thank you for not trying to rip me off like a few of the other big name web sites I visited. A million thanks to you. I don't know what I would have done without you.       N.H.   (received 03/22/07)

Hi Michael,
Absolutely outstanding job! Please know that I intend, without hesitation, to recommend your office to everyone I know who has been arrested for a DUI. Thank you very much!       Freddie  (received on 03/19/07)

Mr. Richmond,
I wanted to thank you for all of your help with my DUI. I really appreciate your no nonsense approach and I can’t tell you how happy I am that you were able to get my DUI reduced especially since I had a .16 alcohol level. If anyone I know ever has the misfortune of being arrested for a DUI in San Diego or Southern California for that matter, I will definitely recommend your services. Sincerely,      KJB   Sgt USMC

Dear Michael,
First of all let me thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking my case and helping me through all this. When I first talked to you I thought that all was lost. But even during our very first conversation you made me feel so much better about my whole DUI situation. Having dealt with other attorneys, I really appreciate your frankness and honesty. I felt confident in your services from the very beginning. Please know that I will refer everyone I know who gets a DUI to your office. Thanks again for such a wonderful job!      F.H.   (received 02/26/07)

I would like to recommend Michael Richmond as a DUI defense attorney. He was able to get me amazing results that I did not think were possible. THANK YOU MICHAEL RICHMOND.     G.Monroe   (received 2/25/07)

Thank you very much for all your help through this, I sincerely appreciate everything you've done for me.
     jeremy   (received on 2/25/07)

December of 2006 I was at a Christmas party and had too much to drink; consequently getting a DUI - on a military base, no less! Not only did I have to deal with the military, but I had my ticket forwarded to the DMV as well. It's definitely a lonely place to be, especially if you don't know the California DUI laws. I contacted Mike Richmond and spoke with him at length about my case and he answered every question I had and gave more advice. Not only does he know everything about these cases, he handles them on his own as well, ensuring consistency with each and every case. In no time I had my DUI cleared from the DMV and no legal action was taken regarding my driver's license. Mike had appeared at the DMV for me, I never had to go. When he appeared at the military traffic court with me, my only punishment was a restriction from driving on base for a period of months - no points were taken away from my license. Not only is his law office less expensive than most I had looked into (such as the ones on the TV commercials), he was always available by either phone or email to answer all questions I had regarding my case. Whether you are in the military and get a DUI on base, or a civilian and get a DUI, I sincerely recommend Mike Richmond to be your counsel. He has the experience needed for your case, and you won't feel like a file folder buried on someone's desk. I was able to make easy and affordable payments as well as retain my driver's license without any future employer ever knowing this happened! You just can't beat the outcome!     Sincerely, A.J.G.   (received on 02/23/07)

I can not thank you enough for all of your help with my DUI. The result you were able to achieve without the un-necessary expense of trial is simply outstanding. Please accept my sincerest thanks. P.H.  

Mr. Richmond I want to thank you one more time for all of your help on my case. You have no idea how much you have helped and I only wish I could do more for you than merely sending this email. ED  (received 02/03/07)

Mr. Richmond, I want to Thank-you aging for helping me get my driver License, so I can take of my business hear in New Mexico. I could not have done it without you. and Thank-You for staying with me until I got them. I will recommend to other people that I know that may have problems where ever they my live about you. I think you have done a Great job in helping me. I hope I never need your help aging but if I do, I know you are the best. And I want to Thank-You for all your help. You have a Great Day Your Friend Edward Cornwell   (received 02/02/07)

Mike,
Awesome result!! If anyone I know gets a DUI, I'll be giving them your number. Thank you, Adam   (received 01/22/07)

Mr. Richmond,  I want to thank you for your hard work, patience and commitment.  Thank you, T.R.    (received 01/22/07)

Mike, Thank you very much for you honesty, hard work and outstanding result. You made the whole experience very easy-going with your friendly attitude and excellent communication. I will not hesitate to recommend you to anyone arrested for a DUI in San Diego. J. H. Attorney at Law   (received 01/04/07)

Dear Mr. Richmond, First of all we would like to thank you for your hard work and dedication with our case. Along those lines, we really appreciate your patience and willingness to answer any and all questions that we had.  We also think that it is important to thank you again for your flexibility, when the charges of our case changed.  We are very pleased with your ability to get the best possible solution for us and we would be happy to recommend you to anyone looking for an attorney.  KF and JE   (received 11/07/06)

Hello Mike, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your work on my DUI cases . I was going through some rough times and two DUI's in less than two months was devastating to me. Thought  I would do some long jail time and loose my license for a very long time. As it stands I have no jail time and will have my license back in eight months. Without your help I probably would have lost my business and home. Aside from your great legal help I was extremely impressed with your personal attention to my cases. You kept me up to date via e-mail  with detailed explanations regarding my court proceedings and never failed to answer your phone or return my calls to answer any questions I had. You took care of both cases without me ever having to go to court. I have successfully sought help regarding my drinking; and I never plan to get another DUI but if I ever run across anyone that has been charged with a DUI I certainly will refer them to you. Thank you so much, Arnold M   (received 10/29/06)

Dear Michael: I just wanted to write you and say thank you for representing me in my recent DUI case. As you know, since you have gone through this experience before, how frustrating and scary this whole ordeal is. Being that this was my 3rd DUI, I really wasn't sure what was going to happen to me, knowing that I could face jail time or work release as well as all the other punishments that go along with it. I'm really not sure how you did it, but am extremely grateful that my first two DUI's were dropped and I am only facing a first conviction. I am so grateful to you for allowing me to save my job, my home and my sanity from this experience. I would definitely recommend you to anyone that is facing a DUI, whether it be their first or multiple convictions. I don't know where I would have been if I didn't hire you to represent me, but I am sure that it would not have been a good place. Thank you again for your work in representing me.  I am very pleased with your results. Sincerely, Jennifer   (received 10/23/06)

Dear Mr. Richmond, I can not thank you enough for your services relative to my DUI.  When I was first arrested I thought I was going to go to jail, however, you were able to somehow get charges dropped.  I would gladly recommend your services to anyone arrested for a DUI.  Thank you again. John C.   (received 08/07/06)

Mike is a great attorney. He did wonders on my first DUI and when I got a second DUI, there was no other option for me but to go back to Mike Richmond! I highly recommend him to anyone and everyone for their DUI case. R.K.    (received 08/12/06)

Dear Michael, I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for all of your services in assisting me with my current situation. You were so easy to talk to and handled everything so promptly! I really appreciate all of your efforts. Because of you I am able to rest easy. I am hoping that I will never have to use your services again, but if I ever run into another situation you can bet that I will come to you first.    Thank you again, Rachael P.  

Dear Mr. Richmond, First and foremost, thank you for your hard work and tireless effort. When I was first arrested I thought that my career was over. Secondly, I wanted to let you know that I am very pleased with the results and will, without hesitation, recommend you to any one I know who might also need a San Diego DUI Lawyer.  With great thanks, Chris  

Mr. Richmond, I wanted to thank you for all of your help with my case.  I really appreciate your no nonsense approach and I can’t tell you how happy I am that you were able to get my charges reduced especially since I had a .16 alcohol level.  If anyone I know ever has the misfortune of being arrested, I will definitely recommend your services. Sincerely, J.B. USMC  

Mr. Richmond, Thanks again for everything you've done. As far as I know, I don't see anything that you could have done better. You kept me up to date on everything. You answered any questions I had. You got my charge reduced more than i thought you would. I'm very happy with the result of you being my lawyer. J.K.  

Dear Mr. Richmond, When I received a Drunk Driving charge in August of ’05 I was lost.  I decided to hire you as my attorney for the main fact that your prices were reasonable and you were very knowledgeable. I never had to go to court and you even got my charge lowered to what I wanted. You made this experience one of the most painless experiences that I ever would have thought it could have been. Thanks again. W.E.W.  

Mike, I wanted to take a moment and thank you for the help with my DUI case. For as much trouble I thought I was in, you helped me out a lot with handling my case. I recommend to any one that might unfortunately get a DUI, use Law offices of Michael A. Richmond. He is very informative, helpful and handles it. I would not recommend representing yourself. If [you] have ever been to San Diego courthouse, it is a nightmare. Thanks to the help of mike, I did not miss a day of work and that was very important to me. Sincerely, S. C.   

To: Michael A. Richmond I would like to take a moment to thank you for you outstanding work regarding my DUI case. When I received my DUI I had no idea what was going to happen to me. You made the process very simple and easy and I am confident that I received the best possible legal advise and action that was offered. I am pleased with the outcome of my case and I will recommend you with the highest regards. Thank you, J. F.   

To Whom It May Concern: I highly recommend retaining services with Michael Richmond for anyone who is need of a good attorney. He took care of everything for me and I was pleased with the results. Sincerely, C. L.   

I'm writing this letter to anyone in San Diego County who finds themselves in need of an attorney for a DUI. Let me give you a brief background of my experience. I was cited in San Diego for DUI in April 2003. To make matters worse, I had a previous conviction, just less than seven years earlier, so this was a second offence. I knew I needed an attorney, and had no idea were to go. I went online, and found Michael Richmond. I met with Michael the next day, and discussed the details of my arrest. He was strait forward with the consequences that I face, and how he planned to handle it. His fee was reasonable, and he was up front about what it covered, so there was no surprises. The next time I talked to Michael, he called to tell me that the prosecutor had agreed to try my case as a first conviction. A while later I received a letter from the DMV stating that my case had been set aside, so there is no suspension of my drivers license. Through the whole process, I did not go to court, I did not go to a DMV hearing, and I did not loose my driver's license, Michael Richmond did all the work, and let me go on with my life. In dollars alone, he has saved me MANY times his fee, plus jail time, plus DUI programs, plus license suspension. I highly recommend Michael Richmond for DUI defense. He'll work for you. Sincerely, M.B.  

Dear Mr. Richmond, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your time and effort while working on my DUI case. I would like to congratulate you on your experience and professionalism, I was very surprised when the DMV dismissed all charges on me. Thanks to you and your knowledge of the law.  Again, thank you and be sure that I will recommend you to anyone who needs such help. Sincerely, J. O'C.    (received 11/28/05)

Dear Mr. Richmond, I wanted you to let you know that I will highly recommend your office to anyone I know. I really appreciate all of your effort on my behalf and I can not tell you how important it was to me that you were always available to personally explain things to me and to thoroughly answer my MANY questions. I'm not sure how, but I am very pleased that you were able to reduce my charges down to "3 one pointers" and also save my license. I can not tell you how important is was to keep my license. Thank you again. I really appreciate the hard work you did on my behalf. J.W.    (received 07/09/05)

Mike I can't thank you enough. You were very helpful and informative throughout the whole court and dmv process. I really appreciate your quick response to my questions and e mails which really gave me peace of mind. B.P.  

(These testimonials or endorsements do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. All emails are available for in office review.)

If you or someone you know in Southern California needs the assistance of an experienced San Diego DUI Lawyer, call Attorney Michael A. Richmond today at 866-682-1503, or use the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free phone consultation.

Professional Profile

ADDRESS OF THE FIRM:
The Law Offices of Michael A. Richmond
360 West Lexington Ave, Suite 100
El Cajon, CA 92020
Telephone: 866-682-1503
Fax: 619-334-8730

MICHAEL A. RICHMOND:

I enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 20 and after graduating from "boot camp" in San Diego I served aboard the USS Lynde McCormick (DDG 8) as a Machinist Mate. After finally advancing to become a MM2 I was awarded and took advantage of a full-scholarship from the United States Navy to attend Oregon State University.

After Graduating from O.S.U. with a Bachelor of Science degree and being Commissioned an Ensign in The United States Navy I was then sent to serve aboard the USS Ranger (CV 61). Onboard Ranger I qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer, and became 1 of 6 qualified "Officers of the Deck" while at sea. I was also honored to be able to participate in Operation Desert Storm.

I resigned my commission to attend law school and after graduating from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law and becoming a member of the California State Bar I immediately began defending individuals.

I believe that the majority of my clients have retained my services specifically because I always give an honest, straightforward evaluation of your situation.

LEGAL EDUCATION:

• Thomas Jefferson School of Law

JURISDICTIONS LICENSED IN:

• California

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Exclusively DUI defense throughout San Diego County
• Attorney of Record on over 750 DUI cases in San Diego
• Member National College for DUI Defense
• Member California DUI Lawyers Association
• Member National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Member California Attorneys for Criminal Justice
• Member San Diego Bar Association
• Member San Diego and Imperial County BBB
• Certified Breath Machine Maintenance Technician
• Certified Breath Machine Operator
• National Highway traffic Safety Administration - Field Sobriety Testing