Southern California’s Most Respected DUI Attorneys Your Problem Is Our Problem. We're Here To Help.

You have only 10 DAYS from the date of your arrest to request an administrative per se hearing and avoid automatic license suspension.

Orange County DUI Attorneys

Southern California DUI Attorneys Servicing Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and San Diego County

In California, a DUI conviction can upend your life. The state’s strict laws and tough stance on impaired driving mean you could face jail time, heavy fines, license suspension, mandatory classes, and a criminal record that follows you for years. While these laws are meant to protect the public, many good people get swept up and face penalties that are harsher than the situation calls for. We don’t think that’s acceptable.

At Braden & Tucci, we focus exclusively on defending people accused of DUI in criminal court and before the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). As a dedicated DUI defense attorney team in Orange County, we’re widely recognized in the DUI defense community. Vincent Tucci holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Rating for legal ability and ethics, serves as co-chair of the DUI Committee for the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, and is a past president of the California DUI Lawyers Association.

If you’ve been arrested for drunk driving, a DUI defense attorney in Orange County can immediately begin challenging the evidence and preparing for both the criminal case and DMV administrative hearings. We’re proud to be a DUI defense firm serving clients throughout Orange County and across Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties. Our firm is defense-only, and our combination of aggressive advocacy, technical training, and personal attention sets us apart from larger “DUI mills.”

Get to Know Braden & Tucci Here.

To schedule a free phone or virtual consultation for your DUI case, call us at (949) 996-0170 today.

  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.
  • By submitting, you agree to be contacted about your request & other information using automated technology. Message frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Acceptable Use Policy

The DUI Attorney Checklist

  • Before you hire someone make sure you're comparing and contrasting.
    Vincent Tucci
    Other Firms
  • Former President of the CA DUI Lawyers' Assn.
  • AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale Hubell
  • Nationally Recognized DUI Expert
  • Conducted Over 100 DUI Trials
  • Conducted Over 2000 DMV Hearings
  • Obtained Not Guilty Verdicts in DUI Trials
  • Obtained Set Aside (wins) at the DMV
  • Over 25 Years of Experience Handling DUI Cases

Decades of DUI Defense in Southern California

Braden & Tucci was founded in 1997. Since then, we’ve represented more than 2,000 clients and taken over 100 DUI cases to jury trial. We receive referrals from public defenders, DMV employees, police officers, judges, and even district attorneys, reflecting the respect we’ve earned across the legal community. Whether you’re facing a first-time misdemeanor or a felony DUI involving multiple charges, our firm can step in quickly and provide focused, defense-only representation. Every attorney at our firm comes from a defense background with no prior ties to law enforcement or the prosecution, so our perspective has always been fully client-focused.

Contact Us for a Consultation

We Know What You're Facing. We Know How To Win.

  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.
  • By submitting, you agree to be contacted about your request & other information using automated technology. Message frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Acceptable Use Policy

We help you move forward

  • “The outcome far exceeded the expectations that were initially set.”

    - Isaac G.
  • “Mr. Tucci is an aggressive bulldog attorney that you want representing you!”

    - Bree R.
  • “Thank you again, Mr. Tucci, through your efforts you have altered the course of my life. Truly the greatest to have ever done it.”

    - Less F.

Your DUI Case & DMV Hearing, Handled Together

The Orange County DUI lawyers at Braden & Tucci are ready to go the extra mile for you. A DUI arrest in California triggers two separate legal proceedings: a criminal case in court and a DMV Administrative Per Se action that can lead to an automatic license suspension if a hearing isn’t requested within 10 calendar days of the arrest. We handle both tracks, working to protect your record in court and your driving privilege at the DMV.

California DUI law is unrelenting and often treats people as case numbers rather than individuals. Our attorneys understand what you’re up against and use motion practice, negotiation, and thorough trial preparation to challenge the prosecution’s case at every stage. We can challenge blood alcohol concentration evidence, field sobriety testing, and breath test calibration and administration, and we draw on our trial experience when evaluating whether to take a case before a jury.

You’re more than a case file to us. You’re a person whose license, job, and reputation are on the line. We treat your problem as our own and work closely with you to pursue the best available outcome in both your criminal matter and your DMV Administrative Per Se hearing.

Braden & Tucci is ready to stand between you and the full weight of a DUI charge. To schedule a free phone or virtual consultation, call (949) 996-0170 or contact us online today.

Meet the Attorneys Defending Your Case

Vincent Tucci has personally tried close to 100 DUI jury trials and has represented clients against the DMV more than 2,000 times. He’s student-certified in Standardized Field Sobriety Tests in accordance with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration standards, and certified in the administration, calibration, and maintenance of the Intoximeter Alco-Sensor IV, the breath test device that may have played a role in your arrest. That technical foundation helps our team challenge prosecution evidence at a level many defense attorneys can’t match.

Vincent has been a member of the National College of DUI Defense since 2000, received the Ed Kuwtach Attorney of the Year award from the California DUI Lawyers Association in 2012, and received the President’s Award from the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice in 2009. He has held an AV Preeminent® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell® and has been licensed to practice law in California since 1997.

An accomplished and decisive attorney in her own right, Sonia Braden Tucci is a graduate of Loyola Law School and has practiced law at Braden & Tucci since 1999. Clients work directly with our experienced attorneys, not substitutes or less experienced stand-ins, so you know who is handling your DUI defense.

We know your life is busy and your responsibilities are important. A DUI conviction can threaten your job, your ability to drive, and your future plans. Our team works to protect your rights, your license, and your reputation.

What sets us apart:

  • Zealous, Individualized Representation for Your Case
  • Proven Successes in Trial, in Court & with the DMV
  • Certified in Alcohol Screening & Field Sobriety Testing
  • Southern California’s Most Respected DUI Attorney
  • Former President of the CA DUI Lawyers Association
  • Southern California’s Most Aggressive and Successful DUI Attorney

Contact Us for a Consultation

We Know What You're Facing. We Know How To Win.

Responsive Image

Frequently Asked Questions

You undoubtedly have a million questions and may not know where to start. “What do I do first?” “What can really be done?” “What kind of lawyer do I need to fight this?” We’ve been handling DUI and drunk driving cases in California for decades, and our drunk driving defense lawyers in Orange County know what needs to be done. We’re here to answer your questions, appear in court when possible so you don’t have to, and guide you through both the criminal case and DMV license suspension issues. Start with a few answers here, and contact us today at (949) 996-0170 for more.

  • What should you do after a DUI arrest in Orange County?

    After a DUI arrest in Orange County, it's essential to take specific steps to protect your rights and potentially improve your legal situation. Here's what you should do:

    1. Remain Calm: A DUI arrest can be stressful and overwhelming, but losing your composure will only make things worse. It's crucial to stay calm and focused throughout the process.

    2. Cooperate with Law Enforcement: Be respectful and cooperative with the arresting officer. Refrain from arguing or making any statements that could be used against you later.

    3. Invoke Your Right to Remain Silent: You have the right to remain silent and avoid self-incrimination. Politely inform the officer that you'd like to exercise this right until you consult with your attorney.

    4. Avoid Field Sobriety Tests: You have the right to decline field sobriety tests, which are subjective and can be used against you in court. However, in some jurisdictions, refusing these tests at the police station after you have already been arrested can result in immediate administrative penalties, such as a driver's license suspension.

    5. Request an Attorney: As soon as possible, request to speak with a DUI lawyer. If you don't have one, ask for a public defender. Having legal representation is crucial during this process.

    6. Document the Incident: If possible, try to remember and document any relevant details about the arrest, such as the officer's behavior, any potential issues with the breathalyzer or blood test, or any witnesses present.

    7. Bail and Release: After processing, you may be released on bail or your recognizance, depending on the circumstances. Follow all the conditions set forth by the court during this period.

    8. Contact the DMV: In Orange County, you typically have ten days from the date of arrest to request a DMV hearing to challenge the suspension of your driver's license. Your attorney can help you with this process.

    9. Avoid Discussing the Incident: Refrain from discussing the details of your arrest with anyone other than your lawyer. Statements made to friends, family, or on social media can potentially be used against you.

    10. Seek Professional Legal Advice: Consult with an experienced Orange County DUI lawyer at Braden & Tucci. We can review your case, explain your rights, potential defenses, and guide you through the legal proceedings.

  • Why should you hire Braden & Tucci for your DUI case and DMV Hearing?

    Your choice of legal counsel is not a decision to take lightly. The attorney you choose can mean the difference between excellent results or real complications. If you want to be fully informed about your legal rights and you want attorneys who will fight for your rights, (and not a DUI broker/dump truck who is just going to take your money and plead you out), call us. We will aggressively represent you both in your court trial and at the Department of Motor Vehicles hearing.

    Braden & Tucci will give your case the personal attention it needs. Your problem is our problem and we will handle your case as if it were our own. That is what we would expect and you shouldn’t settle for anything less.

  • Why should you even hire an attorney?

    Don’t and you’ll guarantee the result. Defending yourself in the criminal justice system will be almost impossible and very rarely successful. Some legal commentators call drunk driving the guilty until proven innocent exception to the Constitution. Drunk driving is a complex field of law. The politics and the odds are stacked against you. The penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol and or drugs can be very severe. The penalties may include the following: a jail sentence; a substantial fine; attendance in alcohol abuse classes; suspension, revocation, or restriction of your driver’s license; and/or other penalties. Further, pleading guilty to a DUI will result in your insurance premiums doubling and even tripling over the next several years. Often the fines are not as financially draining as the rise in insurance costs.

    A drunk driving arrest triggers two separate legal actions against you. One is the criminal action. The other is the DMV civil action to automatically suspend your license. Often with skilled and aggressive representation, it may be possible to have the charges dropped or reduced without the expense of trial. However, we prepare EVERY case as if it were a trial case. Obviously, not every case is a trial case. But we prepare every case that way for two reasons:

    1. In case it is a situation where we are going to trial, we’re ready.
    2. It is the best way to ensure a possible reduction or dismissal of the charges before trial.

    Either way, the client has been afforded quality, aggressive representation which will in turn ensure the best possible result. If your case is filed as a misdemeanor, the law permits me to attend all of the court appearances on your behalf. You won’t have to miss time from work and you don’t have to suffer the stress and anxiety of appearing in court. It is quite possible that I will be able to resolve your case to your satisfaction without you ever having to set foot in the courtroom. Remember the more experience your attorney has with DUI cases, the better your outcome and the less chance you as the client will have a negative experience from the system.

  • Why should I talk with an attorney?
    The reason you are on this website is that you already aware of the need to speak with and possibly hire an experienced DUI attorney with a proven track record. It is possible that the police may have violated your rights or committed some error that could result in the charges against you being reduced or even dismissed. Therefore, it is very important that you speak with us as soon as possible after your arrest.