Q. “I have been arrested and charged with DUI. What happens next?”
A. First, you should immediately retain an attorney to ensure your rights are protected. Otherwise, you will be railroaded by the system.

Q. “My family thinks I should just plead guilty. I was drinking that night. Should I just go in alone and plead guilty?”
A. No. We understand you may feel guilty and want to take responsibility as soon as possible, but every case is unique and deserves to be thoroughly reviewed by a qualified DUI Defense Attorney. Retaining an attorney does not mean you are trying to cheat the system—it means you are embracing your rights as an American. Our system of justice is predicated upon the balance of power—one prosecutor, one defender, and one neutral judge. Just pleading guilty will be cheating yourself of your legal rights. Even if you strongly believe in your guilt, you should at least call the San Diego DUI Hotline and talk to a DUI Defense Attorney first. There is hope.

Q. “What happens after I hire you to represent me?”
A. Immediately after you hire us, we enter an appearance of counsel. We then schedule your DMV hearing, schedule your court hearing, and request Discovery to review and gather evidence to support your case. We also request and begin preparations for a jury trial.

Q. “There are many DUI Attorneys. Why should I hire Butters and Bye?”
A. We provide unprecedented personal service. When you hire our firm, you don’t just hire an attorney, you hire a Team. While Amy L. Butters, our managing partner, will be your lead defense attorney, from the beginning, your file will be reviewed and discussed by all of our attorneys to ensure every angle of your defense has been explored. We have on our team a former prosecutor, a veteran DUI defense attorney, a former police officer, and a former DMV employee. Our entire firm will be dedicated to your case.

Q. “Do you practice any other areas of law?”
A. DUI is all we do—we police the police.

Q. “Is it true that police officers are paid to arrest for DUI?”
A. Yes. Police officers have a financial incentive to arrest you. They are trained to look for DUI because that extra DUI means extra overtime—a minimum of 4 hours—which means extra money. And when they make an arrest, rest assured knowing they are not writing down any “not guilty” evidence. As a former prosecutor, one thing Justin Johanson knows—do not trust the cops.

Q. How do I retain Butters and Bye?
A. You can meet with our Managing Attorney, Amy L. Butters, at our offices in Downtown San Diego located at 501 W. Broadway, Suite 800, or you can retain us over the phone right now using your credit card. Whatever is most convenient. Please call us at 1-888-DUI-HOTLine anytime.

Q. What are your legal fees?
A. Our fees vary depending on the circumstances of each case. We charge a flat fee for our legal services, eliminating the guess work of potential unknown billable hours and surprise legal fees. We are competitive with the area legal market and are confident our clients get what they pay for.