Introduction
Charles H. Shivers operates a DUI defense practice from 40 Central Ave. Suite 5, Salinas, California 93901, reachable at 831-751-1667, with a service area covering Salinas, Carmel, Monterey, and surrounding areas. The central premise of the practice is that an arrest does not equal guilt: even when a driver has failed field sobriety tests or registered a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit of 0.08 percent, DUI charges can be successfully challenged. Shivers examines each case individually, creating defense strategies that vary based on the nature of the alleged offense, any prior arrests or convictions, and the specific court handling the case.
The practice reflects a focused approach: Shivers is a DUI defense attorney in Monterey County, handling these cases with the specificity that comes from concentrating on a single practice area rather than treating DUI as one item in a general criminal defense menu.
Practice Areas
DUI Defense
California Vehicle Code section 23152 prohibits driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The DUI defense practice challenges these charges at multiple levels: the legality of the traffic stop, the validity of field sobriety test administration, the accuracy and handling of blood alcohol testing equipment, the chain of custody for blood or breath samples, and the officer probable cause for arrest. Shivers notes that law enforcement must have probable cause for both the initial traffic stop and the subsequent arrest, and that failures at either stage can affect the prosecution ability to proceed.
Individual cases produce different viable defenses depending on the specific facts: prior arrests or convictions affect both the charges the prosecution may file and the sentencing exposure a defendant faces. The specific court handling the case matters as well, as local prosecutors and judges approach DUI matters differently. Shivers creates defense strategies calibrated to these specific variables rather than applying a generic approach across all cases.
DMV Hearing Defense
California law requires DUI arrestees to request a DMV hearing within 10 days of arrest if they wish to contest the automatic license suspension that follows a DUI arrest. Failure to request this administrative hearing results in automatic license suspension regardless of the outcome of the criminal case. Shivers advises clients about this 10-day deadline and handles DMV hearings as part of comprehensive DUI representation. The administrative and criminal proceedings run in parallel, and losing the DMV hearing does not necessarily affect the criminal case outcome, or vice versa.
Drug-Related DUI Defense
California prohibits driving under the influence of drugs as well as alcohol. Drug-related DUI cases present different evidentiary challenges than alcohol cases, since drug impairment does not have a simple numerical threshold equivalent to the 0.08 percent blood alcohol standard. Shivers handles drug-related DUI matters as part of the DUI defense practice.
Attorney Profiles
Charles H. Shivers practices DUI defense from his Salinas office at 40 Central Ave. Suite 5. He serves clients in Salinas, Carmel, Monterey, and surrounding areas of Monterey County. Consultations are available at no charge by calling 831-751-1667. Shivers approach to each case begins with individual examination of the specific facts, recognizing that effective defense strategies are built from the particulars of each situation rather than from generic arguments.
Location and Service Area
The office is at 40 Central Ave. Suite 5, Salinas, CA 93901. The firm serves DUI clients in Salinas, Carmel, Monterey, and surrounding Monterey County areas.
Website: attorneyshivers.com
Client Focus
DUI clients often arrive following an arrest they believe is straightforward because they were in fact driving after drinking or took a breath test result at face value. The Shivers practice operates from the premise that factual guilt and legal conviction are not the same thing. The government must prove its case within the constraints of proper procedure, constitutional protections, and accurate evidence. When it has not done so, defenses exist.
The 10-day DMV hearing deadline is a practical urgency the firm addresses directly. Clients who contact Shivers promptly after arrest preserve options that disappear if that deadline passes. The free consultation lowers the barrier to getting that timely advice.
The individual case analysis approach means clients receive an assessment of what defenses are actually available in their specific situation, accounting for the nature of the charge, their prior record, and which court will handle the matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can DUI charges be challenged even if I failed a breath test?
Yes. Shivers practice is built on the premise that charges can be successfully challenged even when field sobriety tests were failed or blood alcohol concentration tested above 0.08 percent. The validity of the test administration, the equipment used, and the probable cause for the stop and arrest are all subject to legal challenge.
What is the 10-day DMV rule in California?
Following a DUI arrest, California law requires that a driver request a DMV administrative hearing within 10 days if they wish to contest the automatic license suspension. Failure to request the hearing within that window results in automatic suspension regardless of the outcome of the criminal case.
Does Shivers handle drug-related DUI cases?
Yes. The practice covers both alcohol-related DUI and drug-related DUI matters under California Vehicle Code section 23152.
What areas does the firm serve?
Charles H. Shivers serves DUI clients in Salinas, Carmel, Monterey, and surrounding areas of Monterey County.
Is a consultation available before retaining the firm?
Yes. Shivers offers free consultations by calling 831-751-1667.
Closing
Charles H. Shivers brings focused DUI defense practice to Salinas and Monterey County, built on the principle that an arrest does not determine the outcome of a case. From the legality of the initial stop through the validity of blood alcohol testing to the parallel DMV proceeding, Shivers examines each case for the specific defenses available in that individual situation. DUI arrestees in Salinas, Carmel, Monterey, and surrounding areas can reach the firm at 831-751-1667 or visit attorneyshivers.com