Sherrod Defense · Torrance & the South Bay
South Bay DUI Defense Attorney
A DUI arrest raises immediate questions about your license, your court date, and your future. Doug Sherrod represents people facing criminal charges in Torrance, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, and the surrounding South Bay.
Discuss the arrest, the evidence, and your next steps with a former prosecutor whose office is in Redondo Beach.
Start with the deadlines and the evidence
If you received a DMV suspension or revocation notice, act promptly: the DMV states that you have 10 days from receipt of the order to request a hearing. Your criminal court date is a separate matter. Bring both sets of paperwork when discussing representation.
Preserve your citation, release documents, temporary license, and any available photographs or recordings. Write down a private timeline for your attorney while events are fresh: when you drove, when testing occurred, what the officer asked, and whether an injury or medical issue affected your ability to follow instructions.
What needs to be examined in a DUI case?
The stop and investigation
The reason for the stop, the officer’s observations, recordings, and the sequence of events deserve careful review. A police report is a starting point for investigating the case.
The testing evidence
Breath and blood results should be considered alongside testing times, collection records, and other evidence. An alleged refusal requires its own review of the warnings, available tests, and what actually happened.
Your circumstances
Prior cases, employment, professional licensing, medical issues, and the allegation of an accident or injury can change the questions that need attention. Bring that information into the discussion early.
DUI charges are not all the same
California Vehicle Code section 23152 separately addresses driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more, drug impairment, and combined alcohol-and-drug impairment. A result below 0.08% does not automatically resolve an impairment allegation. Different provisions also apply to commercial driving and driving a passenger for hire.
The defense should respond to the actual charge and supporting evidence. Doug’s background as a prosecutor informs his work evaluating the government’s allegations. Learn more about Doug Sherrod and his approach to representation.
Torrance and South Bay court information
If your paperwork directs you to the Torrance Courthouse, its address is 825 Maple Avenue, Torrance, CA 90503. Confirm the assigned courthouse, department, date, and appearance requirements for your particular case; an arrest in a South Bay city does not replace that verification.
Sherrod Defense’s office is at 116 S. Catalina Avenue, Suite 113, Redondo Beach, CA 90277. Arrange a consultation to discuss representation.
DUI questions and practical guides
Explore focused explanations of licensing deadlines, chemical testing, and California DUI charges.
Can You Be Charged With DUI Below 0.08% in California?
A blood-alcohol result below 0.08% does not automatically rule out a California DUI charge. Learn why the charge, testing timeline, and evidence of impairment each matter.
DUI Breath-Test Refusal in California: Roadside vs. Post-Arrest Tests
A roadside breath screening and a post-arrest chemical test have different legal rules. Understand the distinction, important exceptions, and the evidence to preserve after a South Bay DUI arrest.
DMV Hearing After a South Bay DUI Arrest: The 10-Day Deadline
A South Bay DUI arrest can trigger a DMV deadline before your first court date. Learn what to preserve, how to request a hearing, and why a hearing request alone does not guarantee permission to drive.
Discuss your South Bay DUI case
Call (310) 279-5113 or request a consultation. Have your arrest date and court and DMV paperwork available so the immediate issues can be identified.
Sources: California DMV DUI guidance; Vehicle Code § 23152; Torrance Courthouse. General information; the applicable law and available options depend on the facts of the case.
First offense, prior cases and alleged refusals
The complaint and driving history need to be reviewed together. A first allegation, a case involving prior convictions and a case involving injury can raise different issues. Tell counsel about earlier DUI cases, existing probation and any restrictions already affecting your license. Do not assume a prior case is irrelevant because it occurred outside the South Bay.
An alleged chemical-test refusal requires a close look at the warnings, what test was offered, what you said and any medical or practical issue affecting the encounter. The criminal and DMV consequences are separate questions. Preserve the paperwork rather than relying on a recollection that the officer said your license would be “fine.”
How the defense review moves forward
Doug can examine the reason for the stop, driving observations, field-test conditions and the timing and reliability of chemical testing. Available recordings may clarify what an officer observed and what instructions were given. A useful challenge connects a specific factual or legal problem to the evidence the prosecution relies on; it is not a promise that a test can always be excluded.
Discuss work-related driving, professional licensing and travel needs before evaluating any offer. Bring the DMV notice and court papers to the same consultation so the two processes can be planned together. A court continuance does not automatically extend the DMV hearing-request deadline.
If the incident also resulted in drug possession charges or assault allegations, those charges require separate analysis. The city guides below explain local prosecution arrangements for Torrance and the beach cities.
Criminal defense throughout the South Bay
Find local information for Torrance, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach. Each city page explains the local prosecution setting and practical next steps.
Explore DUI, domestic violence, drug crimes, assault and battery and theft defense, or return to our criminal defense overview.