Arrested for your first DUI? Your license and record are both on the line.
Daniel Kolacia is a former prosecutor who knows how DUI cases are built, where they break down, and how to protect your driving privilege from day one.
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Rancho Cucamonga First DUI Attorney Fighting Prosecution
A first DUI is not a minor ticket. Even with no prior record, a conviction under California Vehicle Code 23152 can bring jail time, fines and fees, a suspended license, an ignition interlock device and higher insurance for years. Daniel Kolacia spent years as a prosecutor and now uses that experience to defend first-time DUI clients.
You are fighting two cases at once. The DMV moves to suspend your license on its own timeline, and you have only 10 days from your arrest to request a hearing. The criminal case proceeds separately in court, where the evidence, the stop and the testing can all be challenged.
First-offense DUI cases from Rancho Cucamonga, Alta Loma, Etiwanda, Upland, Ontario, Montclair, Chino and Chino Hills are usually heard at the Rancho Cucamonga Courthouse on Haven Avenue in San Bernardino Superior Court. In 2023, Rancho Cucamonga recorded 66 alcohol-involved injury or fatal collisions and 173 DUI arrests, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety, so local prosecutors take these cases seriously.
First DUI Defense Built on Trial Experience
Trial-Tested
Former Prosecutor
Focused on Getting Charges Dismissed
Committed to Keeping You Out of Jail
Protecting Your License and Career
First DUI Penalties in San Bernardino County
Court Penalties Under VC 23536
- Jail: 96 hours up to 6 months in county jail, though many first offenders serve no time beyond the arrest.
- Fines: $390 to $1,000 base fine, which grows to roughly $2,000 or more once penalty assessments are added.
- Probation: Three to five years of summary (informal) probation with conditions such as no driving with any measurable alcohol.
- DUI School: A 3-month program, or 9 months with a BAC of 0.20% or higher or a chemical test refusal.
- Other Conditions: A MADD victim impact panel, restitution for any damage, and an ignition interlock device (IID) in some cases.
California Vehicle Code 23152(a) covers driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both, and 23152(b) covers driving with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. Most cases charge both, and both can be challenged.
License and DMV Consequences
- DMV Hearing Deadline: You have 10 days from the arrest to request an Administrative Per Se hearing, or the suspension takes effect automatically.
- Administrative Suspension: A 4-month suspension starts 30 days after the arrest if no hearing is won.
- Conviction Suspension: A first DUI conviction brings a 6-month suspension under VC 13352, with a restricted license available by installing an IID.
- Chemical Test Refusal: Refusing a breath or blood test after arrest triggers a 1-year suspension and can be used against you in court.
- Reinstatement: Requires the full suspension period, an SR-22 proof of insurance filing and completion of DUI school.
When a First DUI Is Charged More Harshly
A BAC of 0.15% or higher, a test refusal, excessive speed or a child under 14 in the car can lead to longer jail terms and stricter probation. A first DUI causing injury under VC 23153 carries 5 days to 1 year in jail, fines up to $5,000 and restitution, and can be filed as a felony. A first DUI conviction also counts as a prior for 10 years, so a new arrest in that window is charged as a second DUI.
A former prosecutor, now on your side.
Daniel Kolacia was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2006. He served as a Deputy District Attorney in Riverside County and later as a county attorney in Iowa, and he handled cases ranging from DUI and drug charges to white collar crime and homicide. In 2021 he opened Kolacia Law to put that experience to work for the accused.
2006
ADMITTED TO THE BAR
100+
JURY TRIALS
200+
BENCH TRIALS
Insight Into the Prosecution's Case
Credibility at the Negotiating Table
Prepared to Go to Trial
Direct Access to Your Attorney
A Practice Devoted to Criminal Law
Proven Results
Recent Case Results
Dismissals, diversions, sealed records and reduced charges: a sample of how we have fought for our clients.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and depends on its own facts and circumstances. Client last names are abbreviated for privacy.
What Happens When You Call
Free consultation and record review
DMV hearing request within 10 days
Defense and court appearances
Flexible Payment Plans
Flat
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50%
UPFRONT
No
CREDIT CHECK
Court dates will not wait for payday. Flat fees are set up front, and in-house plans need no credit check.
Pay 50% of the flat fee upfront and spread the balance over several months (a one-time service fee applies). We accept cash, checks, and credit and debit cards, and Affirm financing is also available.
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Trusted in the Legal Community and Close to Home
California Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Part of the state’s leading criminal defense bar organization.
Riverside County Bar Association
Active in the Inland Empire legal community.
American Inn of Court
Leo A. Deegan Inn, promoting professionalism and ethics in the law.
California CLETS User Group
Connected to the statewide law enforcement records community.
Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce
A local firm invested in the community we serve.
BBB Accredited Business
A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
