Case Victory: Heavy DUI Charges Dropped and DMV Refusal Suspension Overturned
Long Beach DUI Attorney Matthew Ruff, protecting your driving privileges and securing your freedom through relentless legal defense is our highest priority. We are proud to share a recent landmark victory showcasing how a meticulous, science-driven approach can completely dismantle a severe, complex DUI case.
In this matter, our client was facing both devastating criminal charges and a mandatory one-year driver's license suspension due to an alleged chemical test refusal. Through relentless investigation, both actions have been completely resolved in our client's favor: the criminal case has been dropped, and the DMV refusal allegation has been completely set aside.
The Incident & Aggressive Allegations
Our client was contacted by the Long Beach Police Department in an area known for high-crime activity. According to the police narrative:
The Initial Contact: Officers alleged the vehicle was stopped in a known prostitution corridor ("the blade") speaking with pedestrian individuals.
Objective Intoxication Signs: Officers claimed our client displayed classic signs of impairment, including bloodshot/watery eyes, slurred speech, an unsteady gait, and a strong odor of alcohol.
The Double Refusal: The arresting officer stated that our client flatly refused to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) and unequivocally refused to submit to a voluntary breath or blood chemical test.
Because of the alleged chemical test refusal, officers obtained a forced McNeely search warrant to draw our client's blood hours later. Furthermore, the DMV immediately initiated a strict one-year administrative license revocation with zero option for a restricted hardship license based on the officer's sworn refusal report.
How Matthew Ruff Secured a Total Dismissal
A standard defense attorney might look at an alleged refusal combined with a forced blood result of 0.169% and advise a client to plead guilty. Matthew Ruff does things differently. Utilizing decades of criminal defense expertise and a deep focus on forensic toxicology, Mr. Ruff prepared an attack on the state’s case on two primary fronts:
1. Striking Down the DMV Refusal Suspension
Mr. Ruff successfully convinced the DMV to set aside the refusal action. This saved the client from a mandatory, career-ending one-year hard suspension.
2. Dismantling the Criminal Charges & Blood Sample Integrity
In the criminal court, Mr. Ruff leveraged critical laboratory errors found deep within the police and lab records. The forensic report admitted that the blood samples were not properly preserved and were left out of refrigeration at the end of the shift.
In forensic science, improper temperature control of an unpreserved blood sample can lead to microbial contamination and neo-genesis of alcohol—meaning the sample itself can artificially produce ethanol while sitting at room temperature. Because the integrity of the sample was compromised by the government's own handling errors, the prosecution's 0.169% reading was rendered completely unreliable.
Faced with a ruined blood sample and a successfully defended refusal hearing, the prosecution recognized they could not prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. The entire criminal case was completely dropped.
Facing a DUI or Refusal Allegation in Southern California?
If you have been arrested for a DUI or are facing an administrative driver's license revocation due to a chemical test refusal, do not give up hope. Even cases involving high chemical test results and complex police allegations can be successfully fought and won with the right scientific defense strategy.
Contact the Law Offices of Matthew Ruff today to speak directly with an experienced attorney who knows how to spot the mistakes law enforcement and crime labs make.
