DUI Defense in Grass Valley & Nevada County

A DUI arrest can feel like the ground shifting under you — the worry about your license, your job, your record, and your standing in a community where word travels. Take a breath. An arrest is not a conviction, and you don't have to face this alone.

I'm Michael Phillips. For more than 25 years I've represented people in Nevada County's courts, and I handle DUI defense personally — not a paralegal, not a rotating associate, me. Below is an honest picture of how California DUI cases work, what's actually at stake, and how I fight for the best result the facts allow. When you're ready, the first call is free.

A DUI is really two cases at once

This surprises almost everyone. A DUI arrest sets two separate matters in motion: a criminal case in Nevada County Superior Court, and an administrative case at the DMV over your license. They run on different tracks, with different rules and different deadlines — and the DMV's 10-day clock is the one that catches people off guard. Handling both, in the right order, from the very beginning is what protects your options. Here's the full picture of how a DUI case works.

What to do right now

1. Protect the 10-day deadline. Call me and I'll request your DMV hearing in time — that single step preserves your ability to fight the suspension.
2. Don't discuss the case with anyone but your attorney — not friends, not family, not social media.
3. Write down what you remember while it's fresh: where you were, what you had, what the officer said and did, and the testing.
4. Gather your paperwork — the citation, any pink temporary license, and anything the officer gave you.
5. Don't assume it's hopeless. DUI cases turn on the stop, the testing, and the procedure, and there's far more to challenge than most people realize.

How I can help

Whatever your situation, there's a page here that speaks to it directly — and a real conversation behind it:

• DUI Defense — start hereThe full overview: California's DUI laws, the two-case structure, the process step by step, and the defenses that matter.
• First-Offense DUIWhat a first DUI really involves, and how a reduction or dismissal can keep it off your record.
• Second-Offense DUIThe steeper penalties a prior brings — and how the prior itself can be challenged.
• Third-Offense DUISerious exposure, mandatory minimums, and why the next one would be a felony.
• Felony DUIWhen a DUI becomes a felony — a fourth offense, a prior felony, injury, or worse — and how it's defended.
• DUI Causing InjuryThe line between a misdemeanor and a felony, the enhancements, and the causation defenses.
• Under-21 DUIZero-tolerance law, a young person's future, and what parents should do first.
• DMV Hearing & Your LicenseThe 10-day deadline, how the hearing works, and how we fight to keep you driving.
• Clearing a Past DUIAlready convicted? You may be able to set it aside and get a fresh start.

Why work with me

There are plenty of places that will take a DUI. Here's what makes this different.

• You work directly with me. The same lawyer from the first call to the last — you'll have my attention, not a call center and a revolving cast.
• Deep local knowledge. More than 25 years in Nevada County Superior Court. I know how cases actually move here, and I know the prosecutors, judges, and officers involved.
• A criminal-defense foundation. My background in criminal and DUI defense means I know where these cases break — the legality of the stop, the field sobriety tests, the breath and blood evidence, and the Title 17 rules behind them.
• Honest counsel. I'll tell you straight what your case is worth and what's realistic. No false promises, and no scare tactics — just a clear plan.
• Respect, not judgment. Good people end up here. You'll be treated like one.

Serving all of Nevada County

From my office in Nevada City, I defend DUI cases throughout the county — Grass Valley, Nevada City, Truckee, Penn Valley, and the surrounding communities. Wherever the arrest happened, Nevada County cases are handled in the Superior Court here, and having a lawyer who knows these courtrooms matters.

What it costs

I handle DUI defense on a clear, agreed fee — flat or hourly depending on the case — so you understand your cost from the start, with no surprises. The first consultation is free, and its job is simple: protect your 10-day deadline and map out the best path forward. You'll leave the call knowing where you stand.

Common questions

Do I really need a lawyer for a first DUI?

Yes — and a first offense is often where the right defense makes the biggest difference, because keeping that first conviction off your record protects you from far steeper penalties if there's ever a next time. More on first-offense DUI.

What's this 10-day deadline I keep hearing about?

It's the window to request a DMV hearing to fight your license suspension. Miss it and the suspension is automatic. It's the first thing I take care of. More on the DMV hearing.

Will I lose my license?

Not necessarily. The suspension is challenged at the DMV hearing, and even where some suspension applies, a restricted license can often keep you driving to work and essential places.

Can a DUI be reduced or dismissed?

Often, yes — depending on the stop, the testing, and the evidence. Outcomes range from a full dismissal to a reduction to a lesser charge like a "wet reckless." The only way to know is to look closely at your case.

How much does a DUI lawyer cost?

I quote a clear flat or hourly fee up front, and the first consultation is free. Cost is part of that honest first conversation.

Where do you handle cases?

Throughout Nevada County — Grass Valley, Nevada City, Truckee, Penn Valley, and nearby — all through the Superior Court in Nevada City.