Kern County DUI Arrests

About DUI Arrests in Bakersfield

The DUI Process in Kern County, CA

There are steps associated with most DUI arrests and criminal charges in the Kern County area. Understanding these and contacting a Bakersfield DUI attorney as soon as possible after your arrest can help ensure the protection of your legal rights and interests when you need it most.

Commonly, when someone is arrested for a DUI in Kern County, they go through the following:

  • A police officer observes or receives a tip of a driver who is driving erratically (swerving in and out of a lane, violating traffic laws, driving too slowly, etc.)
  • The officer turns on the siren and pulls the driver over to the side of the road, where he or she asks for the driver's license and registration.
  • At this time, the officer will also observe the driver for outward signs of intoxication (slurred speech, the smell of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, etc.). The officer may ask the driver if he or she has been drinking or where he or she was going.
  • Depending on the officer's observations of the driver, he or she may ask the driver to step out of the vehicle and perform field sobriety tests.
  • Field sobriety tests are administered to determine whether a driver's abilities are impaired by alcohol or drugs.
  • Depending on the results of the field sobriety tests, statements the driver may have made, and the officer's observations of the driver, the officer may make an arrest for DUI at this point.
  • After the driver is arrested for DUI in Kern County, he or she will be taken to the police station where law enforcement will request that he or she take a breath or blood test to determine his or her blood alcohol concentration.

The evidence obtained in a Kern County DUI arrest will typically provide the primary foundation for the state's case against you. Make sure you have a skilled DUI lawyer to counter this evidence and testimony by the arresting officer at every stage of your case.


Contact our skilled DUI attorney by calling (661) 874-1325 or filling out our online form today. 


Why Choose Middlebrook & Associates?

  • 38 Years of Collective Legal Experience
  • Over 250 DUI Trials Handled - With a 97.4% Success Rate
  • Handled More Than 8,500 DMV Hearings in Kern County
  • Expert Member of California DUI Lawyers Association
  • ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer - Scientist Designation
  • AV Rated by martindale.com - Leading Authority on Attorney Ratings
  • Teaches Lawyers & Scientists - DUIDLA, American Academy of Forensic Science & American Chemical Society
  • Founding & Board Member - DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA)
  • Top 100 Lawyers in America - DUI Defense

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Client Testimonials Hear from Real People Who We've Helped
  • “No words to describe the teams professionalism”
    I was arrested for a first time DUI on December of 2015. I went to Mr. Middlebrooks's office the very next day and explained my case. He gave me a step by step overview of what is going to happen. It would be a shame on my part if I didn't review his teams work for me. I was updated promptly and they basically took over the entire area and only called me once or twice where I was actually needed with my case. After 6 months of deliberation, he managed to get my case thrown out due to technicalities and all charges were dropped against me. My greatest gratitude goes to his entire team. I've had sleepless nights over my arrest and how my future was going to be permanently affected if I had been convicted. After researching, I noted that he actually charges a bit more than the average for a DUI attorney in town, but I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever with his service and I would not hold back from recommending his office to anyone. I truly appreciate his teams commitment to quality of work they have done.
    - Gabriel
  • “Best DUI Attorney Around!”
    Mr Middlebrook came highly recommended by a friend who is also an attorney. Mr Middlebrook's knowledge and experience was immediately evident to me during our first conversation about my DUI citation. While I've heard all too often that it's not worth trying to fight a citation for a DUI, he gave me the confidence to do so when I ended up getting one. From that day forward he and his team took care of everything and kept me well informed throughout the process. He was very responsive to any questions I had and while he provided options at every stage along the way, his advice (which you'd have to be a fool not to follow given his track record in these cases) prompted me to pursue the best outcome possible rather than settle for less. He knew he could win and he did. My case was dismissed by the judge before it ever made it in front of a jury. I couldn't be more thankful to him and to my friend for the reference. Hopefully this recommendation will help others achieve a similar outcome by utilizing his expertise. He's worth every penny. Give him a call and speak to him just once about his experience and advice as it pertains to your specific situation. You'll understand what I mean.
    - Eric
  • “The best people I ever invested in”
    Mr Middlebrook and his staff are the best people I ever invested in. They are very professional and my outcome was better than I could have hoped.
    - Steve S.
  • “The best law firm!”
    Hello my name is Pedro I did the biggest mistake of my life and drove with alcohol in 2019 in my system. When I got caught I felt like I was never going to get through this by myself till I heard about Richard middlebrook. I went to their office very worried not knowing what was going to happen 2 me or my life. Before Richard and his team got to work they made sure i was calm down and started explaining to me everything by detail in how they work and what I liked the most Is that I didn't have to show up to court not once or twice. I really do recommend them for anybody who is going through hard times like I did you'll be in good hands with Richard and his team they do what they exactly promise to do and that is be their for you and you'll end up with good results by choosing them to pick up your case.
    - Former Client