Legal Question in DUI Law in California

Saying "I want to resolve this matter and take responsibility for my actions," isn't a defense at all; it is a way of telling the judge you want to plead guilty on the spot.

In some courts, the DA has an offer ready at the first court appearance. There's no way of knowing whether the offer is reasonable without having an experienced DUI attorney review the evidence.

If you can't afford to hire your own attorney, you should ask the judge to appoint the public defender.

Keep in mind that DMV can suspend your license through a separate administrative proceeding. This suspension automatically goes into effect 30 days after your arrest unless you request a hearing within 10 days of your arrest. Since this is not part of the criminal case, the Public Defender wil not represent you in the DMV proceedings.