Welcome.  This blog is meant to assist both lawyers and non-lawyers alike in understanding California Drunk Driving Laws.  As authors of the treatise: “California Drunk Driving Law“, which is recognized by thousands of California attorneys and Judges as “The Bible of Drunk Driving Defense“™, the main purpose of the blog is to keep the general public informed of the law as it relates to DUI.

This blog is focused, at least primarily, on recent developments in California Drunk Driving Law.  Some of it contains Legalese (legal writing that is oftentimes difficult to read and understand); but let’s face it, DUI laws, and cases analyzing them, are oftentimes complicated and confusing.  This is why it is important to retain a DUI Specialist to defend a person charged with driving under the influence.  It could potentially stand between that person suffering a conviction for driving under the influence or avoiding it.

What makes us experts on DUI defense?  Barry T. Simons has been defending those accused of driving under the influence for over 35 years.  The lawyers at the Law Office of Barry T. Simons are trained and educated in the unique aspects of DUI defense and have presented cases and lectured at seminars all over the country, including the highly specialized intensive program presented by the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) and the California DUI Lawyers Association (CDLA).   

Barry T. Simons

Barry is a nationally recognized expert in DUI Defense.  He was the Assistant Dean and Dean of the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) and one of its Founding Members.  Mr. Simons currently serves on that organization’s 12-member Board of Regents.  He is one of only 5 attorneys in the State of California to hold Board Certification in DUI Defense.

In 2001, Mr. Simons was selected to serve as Vice-Chair of the DUI Advocacy Committee of the National Assn. of Criminal Defense Attorneys.  He is currently on the Board of Directors of the California Association of DUI Lawyers and has qualified as a Specialist Member.  Mr. Simons is rated “Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected to “Who’s Who In American Law“.  Mr. Simons is also the co-author of California Drunk Driving Law, considered the Bible of DUI Defense.

In addition to being the Assistant Dean and Dean of the National College for DUI Defense (2007-2009), Mr. Simons has lectured extensively on the following DUI subjects over the last ten years: 

• “The Jury Insight Project-A Scientific Investigation Into Juror Attitudes In DUI Cases” National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (October, 2007)
• “Techniques for Opening and Closing Arguments” California State Bar Conference—Criminal Law Section (Anaheim, September 2007)
• “We The Jury Seminar” (March 24, 2007)
• “Handling Administrative Per Se Proceedings: Excessive BAC (.08) & Refusals” Deuce-A-Rama: How to Defend DUI Cases 79^th Annual Meeting of the State Bar of California-Criminal Law Section (Monterey, October 7, 2006)
• “How to Become the Ace of the Deuce” California Attorneys for Criminal Justice Rules of The Road Seminar (September 29, 2006)
• “Latest Law Changes & Sentencing Update” California DUI Lawyers Association (San Francisco, May 20, 2006)
• “The Defense Perspective” International Assoc. for Chemical Testing (Anaheim, April 25, 2006)
• “Final Argument” California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (Rancho Mirage, September 24, 2005)
• “Deuce-A-Rama: How to Defend DUI Cases” California State Bar Conference—Criminal Law Section (San Diego, September 10, 2005)
• “Opening Statements” National College For DUI Defense (Conducted at Harvard Law School, July 2005)
• “Taking on the DMV in 2005″ California DUI Lawyers Association (April 2005)
• “Jury Summation According to the Code of the West” California State Bar Conference—Criminal Law Section (Monterey, October 7, 2004)
• “Breath Testing Challenges to the Alco-Sensor IV” California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (Palm Springs, September 11, 2004)
• “Using Technology in Closing Arguments” National College for DUI Defense Breakout Session (Conducted at Harvard Law School, 2004)
• “Persuasive Narrative Techniques for Opening and Closing Arguments” National College for DUI Defense-Breakout Session (Conducted at Harvard Law School, July, 2004)
• “Bring Your Own File Workshop – Interesting Cases And Creative Solutions” National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Las Vegas, October 16, 2003)
• “Alco Sensor IV XL Point of Arrest, Title 17 Compliant Breath Testing: The Defense’s New Best Friend” California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (Palm Springs, September 20, 2003)
• “Deuce-A-Rama: Steering Clear in DUI Representations and Practices” California State Bar Conference-Criminal Law Section (Anaheim, September 6, 2003)
• “Making Mountains Out of Molehills” National College For DUI Defense (San Antonio, Texas, January 24, 2003)
• “Attacking Faulty Science With Creative Motions” California State Bar Conference – Criminal Law Section ( Monterey, California, October 13, 2002)
• “Cross-Examination of The Arresting Officer Workshop” National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers ( Las Vegas, Nevada, October 4, 2002)
• “Dealing With PAS Tests After People v. Williams” California Attorneys For Criminal Justice (Palm Springs, Sept. 29, 2002)
• “Cross-Examination of the Arresting Officer” Symposium Moderator, National College of DUI Defense (Conducted at Harvard Law School July 24, 2002)
• “21st Century Technology For The Defense of DUI Cases: Use of Computer Animation and Power Point To Get To The Point” South Orange County Bar Association (May 14, 2002)
• “Interstate License Issues” National College For DUI Defense (February 15, 2002)
• “Using Technology In Closing Arguments” National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Las Vegas, October 4, 2001)
• “Medical Issues In DUI Cases: Turn Your Client Into A Patient and Win” South Carolina Bar Association (September, 2001)
• “Science and Innovative Motions for DUI Cases” State Bar of California 2001 Convention (September 8, 2001)
• “Attacking The Prosecutions Scientific Evidence Through Creative Motions” National College For DUI Defense (Conducted at Harvard Law School, July 25, 2001)
• “Science And Its Application To DUI Motion Practice” Criminal Law Section of the California State Bar Assn. (San Francisco, June 23, 2001)
• “How I Would Change The DMV Hearing Process and Why” Department of Motor Vehicles of the State of California Driver Safety Conference (April 5, 2001) (DMV Hearing Officer Training)
• “Creative Attacks At The DMV: How To Save Your Client’s License” West Orange County Bar Association (December 5, 2000)
• “Medical Issues In DUI Defense: Turn Your Client Into a Patient” Difficult DUI’s and Tragic Consequences, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Las Vegas, September 21-23, 2000)
• “Fascinating Insights In: Driving Under the Influence and DMV Proceedings By Recognized Experts” State Bar of California Criminal Law Section, 2000 Annual Meeting of the State Bar (September 17, 2000)
• “Forensic Alcohol Supervisors Course” (Instructor) California Criminalists Institute, California Department of Justice (September 14, 2000)
• “Tools For The DUI Law Office” National College For DUI Defense (Conducted at Harvard Law School, July 29, 2000)
• “DMV Writs and Appeals An Orange County View” Assn. of California Deuce Defenders (Los Angeles, March 16, 2000)
• “Winning Strategies At The DMV” Association of California Deuce Defenders (Orange, California, January 19, 2000)
• “The Implications of Nelson v City of Irvine” ( Atlanta, Georgia, December 10, 1999)
• “Handcuffing the Prosecution In Closing Argument-Avoiding Prosecutorial Misconduct” National College of DUI Defense ( Kansas City, Kansas, December 3, 1999)
• “Writs and Half Wits-Appeals of DMV Hearings, State Bar of California (San Francisco, 1999)
• “Refusals and Medical Twists” National College For DUI Defense (Conducted at Harvard Law School, 1999)
• “Strategies in Handling DUI Cases in California” (San Diego, 1999)
• “Unlicensing the Datamaster in Orange County”, South Orange County Bar Association (Laguna Beach, 1999) (4700 Breath Tests Invalidated In Orange County)
• “Multiple Aspects of Driving Under the Influence” The State Bar of California (Long Beach, October 2, 1999)
• “Rules of the Road II: Trial of a DUI Case, Motions: Win It At The Starting Gate” California Attorneys For Criminal Justice ( Los Angeles, September, 1999)
• “Forensic Alcohol Supervisors Course” (Instructor) Hosted by California Department of Justice And Orange County Sheriff’s Forensic Science Services (1998)
• “Pre-Trial Motion Practice in DUI Cases” California Attorneys for Criminal Justice Seminar (Berkeley, 1998)
• “Motions-What, How to and When” DUI Defense Seminar (Los Angeles, 1998)
• “Interstate Implications of DUI’s, National College of DUI Defense (Boston, 1998)
• “Multiple Aspects of Driving Under the Influences Cases” State Bar of California (Monterey, 1998)
• “Case Scenarios” Mastering Scientific Evidence in DUI/DWI Cases (New Orleans, 1997)

Alan Castillo

Alan Castillo is a 2002 Summer Session Graduate; 2003 Summer Session Graduate; 2004 Summer Session Graduate; and 2007 Winter Session Graduate of the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) and a member of the California DUI Lawyers Association (CDLA).

Mr. Castillo has also participated in legal writings before the Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal and the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition, he has participated in Federal Civil cases before the U.S. District Court in the City of Los Angeles.  Mr. Castillo has also written extensively in the area of California Drunk Driving Law as an Editor to the treatise: California Drunk Driving Law.

Alan Castillo has lectured on the following DUI subjects: 

• “The In-Person Approach To DMV Hearings” California DUI Lawyers Association (San Francisco, May 20, 2006)
• “Out-Of-State Licensee Issues” Georgia State Bar (Atlanta, February 16, 2006)  
• “Taking on the DMV in 2005″ California DUI Lawyers Association (Los Angeles, April 23, 2005)
• “Writ Procedures/Briefs & Government Code § 800 Attorney Fees” Deuce Defenders/California DUI Lawyers Association ( San Francisco, August 24, 2002)

Ronald L. Moore

Ronald Moore is a 2008 Winter Session Graduate and 2008 Summer Session graduate of the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) and a member of the California DUI Lawyers Association (CDLA). 

Mr. Moore is the former supervisor of the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner, Forensic Science Services, the forensic alcohol laboratory for the government.  Mr. Moore spent over 18 years with the Orange County Crime Laboratory specializing in: (1) Driving Under the Influence (DUI) cases, (2) the identification of controlled substances, firearms and toolmark examination, and (4) homicide/OIS field investigations (CSI).

Mr. Moore is also the former chair of the International Association for Chemical Testing committee on accreditation and individual certification.  Before leaving the Orange County Crime Laboratory, Mr. Moore was a member of the American Society of Crime Lab Directors / Laboratory Accreditation Board’s ad-hoc committee on ISO standards for breath testing instrument calibration laboratories. Mr. Moore also participated in many of the meetings of the Forensic Alcohol Review Committee revising the California regulations governing blood and breath alcohol testing in California pursuant to Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations.

Ronald L. Moore has lectured on the following DUI subjects:

• “Cross-Examination of the State’s Expert” California DUI Lawyers Association (Irvine, January, 2008)
• “Cross-Examination of the State’s Expert” The Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association & National College of DUI Defense’s Mastering In Scientific Evidence Seminar (March, 2008)
• “Cross-Examination of the State’s Expert” California DUI Lawyers Association (San Francisco, April, 2008)
• “Persuasive Direct & Cross-Examinations of Experts” National College of DUI Defense (Conducted at Harvard Law School, July, 2008)

Mr. Moore has also written extensively in the area of California Drunk Driving Law as a contributor to the treatise: California Drunk Driving Law.

Peter F. Iocona

Peter F. Iocona is a 2007 Winter Session Graduate; 2007 Summer Session Graduate; and 2008 Summer Session Graduate of the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) and a member of the California DUI Lawyers Association (CDLA).  Mr. Iocona has lectured on the following DUI subjects:

• “Effectively Handling DMV APS Hearings” California DUI Lawyers Association (Irvine, February 6, 2008)
• “Effectively Handling DMV APS Hearings” California DUI Lawyers Association (Oakland, June 5, 2008)
• “What Is Administrative Law?” Orange County Bar Association (Santa Ana, California, July 12, 2008)

Mr. Iocona has handled hundreds of Administrative Per Se Hearings and successfully argued numerous writs of erroneous DMV decisions.  Mr. Iocona has also written extensively in the area of California Drunk Driving Law as a contributor to the treatise: California Drunk Driving Law.

Marlo Cordero

Marlo Cordero has handled hundreds of Administrative Per Se Hearings and successfully argued numerous writs of erroneous DMV decisions.  She has also successfully argued several motions to suppress on insufficient probable cause and unlawful entries into people’s homes.  Ms. Cordero has also written extensively in the area of California Drunk Driving Law as a contributor to the treatise: California Drunk Driving Law.  

DISCLAIMER: This website and blog are intended for use by those seeking general information relating to California drunk driving law.  The reader should be aware of the fact that California DUI laws and legal procedures such as those presented in this website are constantly changing.  Consequently, any statute, law, or procedure discussed herein may have been changed as a result of drunk driving laws, judicial court decisions, or California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) license suspension rules, regulations, policies or procedures enacted since similar information was posted on this website.

Moreover, the information provided here is not intended to be legal advice and should not be relied upon as such because there is no substitute for consulting with a qualified DUI Specialist.  Accordingly, the reader is strongly advised to consult with a DUI Specialist and anyone with a legal problem should immediately obtain legal representation and advice from an attorney with extensive experience handling California DUI Defense cases. 

The Law Office of Barry T. Simons assumes no liability whatsoever for any use of this website or blog as it is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice from this office or from any attorney working for this firm.  Rather, the information contained in this website and blog are intended to initiate further, subsequent discussions between the reader having a specific legal problem and a qualified DUI attorney.  All readers are informed that no attorney-client relationship is intended nor formed by any use of this website or blog and all readers are advised, in line with the Rules of the State Bar of California, that the only way to form an attorney-client relationship with The Law Office of Barry T. Simons is to execute a binding retainer agreement.