Business Details
30 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted DUI & Criminal Defense Attorney in San Rafael, CA
The John Stanko Law Office has provided dedicated legal representation for over 25 years, specializing in DUI defense, traffic ticket disputes, and criminal defense across the San Francisco Bay Area. Our practice prioritizes personalized client attention, with direct communication and accessibility as core principles. We handle all stages of defense, from DMV hearings to courtroom trials, with a focus on minimizing penalties and protecting clients' rights.Our experience spans thousands of cases, including complex DUI challenges, traffic violation dismissals, and criminal record expungements. We tailor legal strategies to individual circumstances while maintaining affordability and transparency in all engagements.
Services
DUI Defense
Traffic Ticket Defense
Criminal Defense
Expungements
DMV Hearings
Details
- Year established: 1996
Highlights and features
- We offer 25+ years of dedicated DUI and criminal defense experience
- Our firm provides direct attorney communication 24/7
- We handle DMV hearings and criminal court proceedings
- We specialize in traffic ticket dismissals and penalty reductions
- Our practice includes criminal record expungement services
What people say
Great lawyer
Successful results
Professional and courteous
Helped us through a difficult time
Highly recommend
Services
DUI Defense
Our DUI defense service challenges evidence through technical analysis of breathalyzer calibration, field sobriety test validity, and police procedure compliance. We represent clients in DMV hearings to prevent license suspension while building courtroom defenses tailored to blood alcohol concentration levels and case circumstances. With over 25 years of experience, we focus on minimizing penalties while protecting driving privileges and criminal records.
Traffic Ticket Defense
We contest traffic citations through procedural challenges and evidentiary analysis, particularly for red light camera violations and speeding tickets. Our defense strategies address signage compliance, photographic evidence quality, and speed measurement device calibration. We work to reduce fines, prevent insurance increases, and maintain clean driving records for both personal and commercial drivers facing license suspension risks.
Criminal Defense
Our criminal defense covers DUI-related charges, domestic violence allegations, drug possession, and theft offenses. We challenge evidence admissibility through constitutional violations analysis while negotiating plea bargains when appropriate. The practice includes representing clients in both misdemeanor and felony cases across Northern California courts, focusing on minimizing incarceration risks and employment impacts from criminal records.
Expungements
We assist clients in clearing criminal histories through post-conviction expungement proceedings. This service addresses both misdemeanor and felony convictions, focusing on eligibility requirements and petition preparation. Our process helps individuals improve employment opportunities and housing prospects by legally dismissing qualifying offenses from public criminal records in California courts.
DMV Hearings
We represent clients in administrative DMV hearings following DUI arrests, challenging automatic license suspensions. Our defense includes technical challenges to chemical testing procedures and procedural violations in arrest documentation. We coordinate these hearings with criminal court proceedings to create comprehensive defense strategies that protect both driving privileges and criminal records simultaneously.
People
John Stanko
Owner
John Stanko has practiced criminal defense law in Northern California since 1996, specializing in DUI defense and traffic violations. A New College of California graduate, he handles cases across seven Bay Area counties while maintaining direct client communication. His practice focuses on technical challenges to evidence and procedural violations in criminal proceedings.
Questions
What should I do immediately after a DUI arrest?
Contact our office immediately to request a DMV hearing within 10 days. We'll challenge evidence admissibility and work to prevent license suspension while building your courtroom defense.
Can traffic tickets be dismissed?
Yes, through procedural challenges. We've successfully dismissed red light camera violations due to improper signage and contested speeding tickets based on device calibration issues.
How do you handle criminal defense cases?
We analyze constitutional violations in evidence collection, challenge prosecution witnesses, and negotiate plea bargains when appropriate. Our focus is on minimizing penalties while protecting future employment opportunities.
What's involved in expungement proceedings?
We review your criminal record for eligible offenses, prepare petitions, and represent you in court to have qualifying convictions dismissed from public records under California Penal Code §1203.4.
Do you handle DMV hearings?
Yes, we represent clients in administrative hearings to challenge license suspensions following DUI arrests, coordinating these proceedings with criminal court defense strategies.
Are you available outside regular business hours?
Yes, we provide 24/7 legal representation for DUI arrests and other urgent criminal defense matters requiring immediate attention.
