Napa County DUI Courthouse Information

The Napa County Superior Court is located at 1111 Third Street in Napa, California, 94559.  The Clerk's Office telephone number is (707) 299-1100 and is open Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  The court does not have a dedicated parking lot so I generally use the local metered street parking available on side streets.  This court is located near downtown Napa so there's a number of coffee shops and restaurants within walking distance.  This courthouse hears DUI cases from Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, American Canyon and the Calistoga area.  

The Napa County Superior Court of California has jurisdiction over infraction, misdemeanor, and felony cases that occur within the county where the superior court is located. The Criminal Division is that part of the Court's Clerk's Office where a complaint is filed by the prosecuting agency, including but not limited to the Napa County District Attorney.  

Napa driving under the influence arrests involve two distinct cases: a criminal case which is prosecuted at 1111 Third Street in Napa, California and a Administrative Per Se or "APS" case or "DMV Case" which is handled at the Department of Motor Vehicles, DMV Driver's Safety Office at 1377 Fell Street in San Francisco.  A DMV hearing must be requested within ten days of service of the Temporary License, which is typically on the date of arrest.  The Temporary License is usually a pink colored carbon copy type of document and is served on the arrestee at the time of release from jail along with a citation or notice to appear in court.  If the DMV hearing is not requested within 10 days, a request can still be made, however the individual is likely to be denied a hearing and a stay of suspension which means that their Temporary License will expire thirty days from the date of arrest. 

Upon release from jail or custody you will be given a citation or notice to appear in court at some future date.  If your case involved injuries or a felony enhancement, you may be held in custody until your court date unless you post a bail bond.  If your arrest is a first offense DUI misdemeanor, it's likely and advisable that your DUI attorney appear at this hearing on your behalf a pursuant to the authority of Penal Code Section 977.  This hearing is your arraignment.

The arraignment is the first hearing in a DUI case and the purpose is to advise the defendant of the charges, provide initial case discovery, i.e. police reports, blood results, etc., to defense counsel.  Additionally, the judge may be asked to impose release conditions like attending AA meetings or wearing an ankle monitor while the criminal case proceeds.  The court will then schedule your case for a "Pre-Trial Conference."  

The Pretrial Conference is likely the first hearing that a DUI defendant might actually attend.  The purpose of this hearing is to conference with the district attorney about the case generally, inquire about outstanding discovery or investigation, discuss possible immigration and/or employment consequences and ultimately discuss possible settlement of the case.  A settlement offer is typically conveyed and the client either accepts the offer, continues the Pretrial Conference or sets the case for jury trial and/or motion hearing. Napa County is notorious for harsh treatment of DUI cases.  In fact, it's my opinion that Napa County has the harshest DUI sentences and is the most difficult county to have a DUI reduced to reckless driving. 

Napa County DUI clients tend to reside out of the area so it's crucial that they have a local DUI attorney who can appear in court on their behalf.  This is normally allowed as long as the DUI arrest is not for a felony.  

Driving under the influence of alcohol or DUI schools in Napa County are managed by Alternatives for Better Living.  Their information is as follows:  Alternatives for Better Living is now offering court and DMV mandated programs through our new DUI Program. Persons convicted of a first or subsequent arrest for Driving Under the Influence (DUI), may enroll in a variety of programs based on their conviction. Completion of your designated program will satisfy the court and DMV requirements for a DUI conviction. Our DUI Program is located at 68 Coombs Street C1, Napa CA 94559. 

If you or someone you know is facing a DUI charge in Napa County, you need an experienced Napa DUI lawyer on your side.  DUI Attorney Nors Davidson regularly handles cases in Napa  County and has achieved remarkable results for his clients.  Call Napa DUI attorney Nors Davidson today for your free consultation.  Below please find some of Nors Davidson's recent Napa County DUI case results.

RECENT NAPA COUNTY DUI CASE RESULTS

Napa County DUI .15% BAC First Offense DUI High BAC Enhancement

Outcome: ENHANCEMENT DISMISSED: 3 yr Probation; $1973 Fine, 3 Month Online DUI School & NO JAIL OR SWAP

Description: Client, like all DUI defendants in Napa County, was visiting from out of state, when he was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol for weaving and using his cell phone for directions. Client performed Field Sobriety Tests but refused the Preliminary Breath Test (PAS). After arrest, client submitted to a BLOOD test which returned with a result of .15% BAC. The District Attorney charged client with DUI with a High BAC Enhancement. The original offer by the DA to settle the case was stiff: 5 years probation, 6 month DUI school, 10 days jail or SWAP and one year of an Ignition Interlock Device ("IID"). After several court appearances, I negotiated a settlement which was much more favorable: 3 years probation, NO JAIL OR SWAP, 3 month DUI school which can be done online and a fine of $1,873. The enhancement and all other offer conditions were dismissed. Client never once had to appear in court and was extremely pleased with the better result we obtained through persistence.

Napa County DUI .13% BAC First Offense DUI Collision

Outcome: Probation Granted for three years, $2,500 fine, ONLINE DUI School & 16 Hours Comm. Service

Description: Client rear ended vehicle at stop sign. Napa Police Department investigated for driving under the influence and client submitted to PAS test with .13% BAC and later a blood test of .13% BAC. Since client was just visiting Napa from out of state, it was key that we settled the case for outcome that never required her to travel back to California. Today, I did just that and she was sentenced to three years probation, fines of about $2,500, three month DUI school online with 16 hours of volunteer work at non-profit in lieu of the mandatory jail or SWAP time.

Napa County DUI .25% BAC Second Offense DUI Collision High BAC Enhancement

Outcome: Probation Granted: Four Years, Fine $3,500, Four days SWAP and one year IID

Description: Client on driving under the influence probation  when he was involved in a minor motor vehicle collision.  Client submitted to PAS test .25% BAC and Blood .25% BAC. Case strategy was to get client into some form of alcohol treatment and it worked out as the judge gave client a lighter sentence. Client sentenced today to four years formal probation, one year IID or ignition interlock device, four days of SWAP in lieu of actual jail time and fines of about $3,500.

Napa County Fighting in Public (647i) Misdemeanor

Outcome: ALL CHARGES DISMISSED

.Description: Client went to dinner with her husband in Calistoga to celebrate a new job and had a glass of wine. After that, they went to an unfamiliar bar and had three drinks. Husband left and during that time, the wife became "strange" and combative with other people in the bar. She didn't remember a thing and woke up the next day in a restraint chair in jail. District Attorney charged her with fighting in public and disturbing the peace. As she couldn't take a misdemeanor  conviction due to her new job, my work was cut out for me. The defense theory was that she was involuntarily drugged by a bar patron while her husband was gone. Although the DA eventually offered diversion then a disturbing the peace infraction, we held our ground and before I could set the case for trial, the DA dismissed all charges. 

Napa County .11% BAC DUI First Offense DUI

Outcome: Probation Granted, $2,733 Fine, Three Month DUI School, NO JAIL OR SWAP

Description: Today I settled a .11% BAC first offense DUI in Napa County for 5 years probation, fine of $2,700, 3 month DUI school online and six month mandatory license suspension. Client, an out of state driver, was stopped by California Highway Patrol while on vacation in Napa. I fought the case on her behalf for over one year appearing for multiple pre-trial conferences and a Motion to Suppress Evidence hearing. After all avenues for better settlement were exhausted we resolved the case for a DUI but one that she could manage from out of state.

Napa County DUI .11% BAC First Offense DUI

Outcome: CASE REDUCED TO "WET RECKLESS"

Description: Client stopped for speeding and district attorney stuck to first offense DUI. Set case for trial and DA caved settling the case for a wet reckless, thus eliminating the normal five years of probation a DUI defendant receives in Napa County. Client paid fine of $600 and was required to complete three month DUI school. No SWAP, Jail or Community Service. License suspended for 30 days with five month restriction. Saved client two years of additional probation and about $1,400.