Portland Oregon DUI Attorneys Michael Romano and Brandi Becker
If you have been arrested or cited for a DUI in Portland, Oregon, you are facing a criminal charge with strict deadlines and potentially serious consequences. Decisions made early can affect your driver’s license, your court case, and your options moving forward.
This page explains how Portland DUI cases work, including court procedures, DMV license suspensions, typical penalties, and when it makes sense to speak with a DUI attorney.
Romano Law offers paid DUI strategy sessions for individuals facing Portland DUI charges who want case-specific guidance early in the process.
What is Considered a DUI in Oregon?
In Oregon, a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) offense occurs when a driver operates a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher or is impaired by alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both to the extent that they cannot safely drive.
For commercial drivers, the BAC limit is 0.04%, and for drivers under 21, any detectable amount of alcohol is illegal under Oregon’s zero-tolerance law.
An Oregon DUI can be charged even if the driver’s BAC is below 0.08% if law enforcement determines that the driver is impaired. This applies to both legal and illegal drugs, including prescription medications and marijuana, which is legal in Oregon but still subject to DUI laws.
Will I Need an Attorney for a Portland DUI?
Not necessarily, but you should at least have a DUI defense consultation. Most Portland DUI attorneys do not charge for an initial consultation. Therefore, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by understanding more about the process, and your possible DUI defenses. If you ultimately chose to represent yourself (“pro se”), you could be at a real disadvantage.
If you can afford to retain a private attorney, hire one as so
on as possible. Ideally, within days of your arrest, and before your arraignment. This is to make sure your Portland DUI lawyer can request a DMV Implied Consent hearing and prepare for the arraignment. Most private DUI defense attorneys keep busy schedules. Therefore, you do not want to start making calls the day before a DMV hearing deadline or a court appearance.
Oregon DUI Penalties
The penalties for a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) in Oregon depend on whether it is a first-time or repeat offense. Oregon has strict DUI laws, including mandatory sentencing guidelines.
First-Offense DUI
- Jail Time: Minimum 48 hours or 80 hours of community service
- Fines: Minimum $1,000 (can be higher if BAC is 0.15% or above)
- License Suspension: 1-year suspension
- Ignition Interlock Device (IID): Required for 1 year after license reinstatement
- Alcohol/Drug Treatment Program: Mandatory participation
- Probation: Up to 5 years
Second-Offense DUI
- Jail Time: Minimum 48 hours to 1 year
- Fines: Minimum $1,500
- License Suspension: 3-year suspension
- IID Requirement: 2 years after reinstatement
- Alcohol/Drug Treatment Program: Mandatory
- Probation: Up to 5 years
Third-Offense DUI (Felony DUII if within 10 years)
- Jail Time: Minimum 90 days, up to 5 years (if charged as a felony)
- Fines: Minimum $2,000
- License Revocation: Permanent revocation
- IID Requirement: If reinstated, 5 years
- Probation: Up to 5 years
Diversion Program
First-time offenders may qualify for Oregon’s DUII Diversion Program, which allows them to avoid conviction by completing a 1-year program that includes alcohol treatment, victim impact panels, and abstinence from alcohol and drugs. However, failure to complete the program results in conviction and sentencing.
Penalties can increase if the DUI involved an accident, injury, or minor passengers.
What is Oregon’s DUI Diversion Program?
Many people fear the worst in DUI cases. It’s normal to feel anxious and embarrassed. Maybe even a little angry or depressed. The worst mistake that you can make is to take the attitude of “I just want to get this over with so I’m going to plead guilty.” The best thing you can do is sit down with a Portland DUI attorney and discuss your options. Many drivers will be eligible for Oregon’s DUI Diversion Program, and may be able to have the criminal DUI charge dismissed. However, there are DUI diversion eligibility requirements, and not everyone will want to enter a guilty plea in order to enter the program.
Where Are Portland DUI Cases Heard?
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Oregon is a crime. Some people are mistakenly under the impression that a DUI charge is nothing more than a traffic ticket. The truth is that DUI is a class “A” Misdemeanor, and is punishable by one year in jail, five years probation, a $6,250.00 fine, a minimum driver’s license suspension of one year, community work service, electronic monitoring, and drug and alcohol treatment.
If you’ve been arrested or cited for a DUI, your citation will likely be sent to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office for review. If they charge the case, the case will be heard by the Multnomah County Circuit Court. Most defendants are cited into the Multnomah County Justice Center in downtown Portland, however some east-county and Gresham DUI cases may also be heard at the East County Courthouse (the Rockwood complex).
You can find the Multnomah County Courthouse at
Multnomah County Courthouse
1200 SW 1st Ave
Portland, OR 97204
DUI Arraignments in Portland
Your arraignment will typically be held in Circuit Court before a state judge. Arraignments are important procedurally, but you typically do not need to make any substantive decisions (e.g. you don’t have to plead guilty or request a trial) at your first appearance. However, it is critical that you appear personally for your arraignment or have your attorney do so for you, because the judge can issue a warrant for your arrest if you fail to appear, revoke any security you posted, and possibly exclude you from the diversion program if you are otherwise eligible.
Discovery (police reports, photographs, audio recordings, video recordings, etc.) are typically provided at or soon after the arraignment. You will want to review all the materials in the case with your attorney because you most likely will not understand some of the references in the materials or be able to spot issues that an experienced DUI attorney will.
After your arraignment, a review of the discovery, and a substantive meeting with your attorney, you typically report back to court for an entry of plea hearing. This is the time that you and your attorney officially indicate to the Court what you want to do (e.g. enter a plea, enter into a diversion, set the case for a Motion to Suppress, set the case for trial, etc). Depending on what you do at this hearing, you may have no more appearances before the Court, or you may have several.
What is a DMV Hearing, and Why Do I Need One?
Typically, the most time-sensitive matter with a DUI charge is dealing with the DMV Implied Consent suspension that comes with any breath test failure or breath test refusal. Oregon uses the Intoxilyzer 8000 for all breath tests, and if your test result was a .08 or greater– or if you declined the breath test– there will be an administrative suspension of your driving privileges by the Oregon DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). This suspension is independent of any consequences or actions taken in the DUI criminal charge. The suspension typically starts 30 days after arrest without further notice to you.
In order to have a fighting chance to avoid this driver’s license suspension, you must request a DMV Implied Consent hearing within 10 days following your arrest or citation for DUI. If you’re going to be working with an attorney, it’s best to have your attorney send in the request along with his/her dates of availability for the hearing. The hearing is typically within 30 days after arrest or citation. DMV Implied Consent hearings for Portland DUI arrests are typically held at the Office of Administrative Hearings in Tualatin, Oregon.
We handle DUI cases throughout the Portland Metro Area:
- Portland DUI and Gresham DUI cases (Multnomah County Circuit Court)
- Hillsboro, Tigard, and Tualatin DUI cases (Washington County Circuit Court)
- Wilsonville, Oregon City, and West Linn DUI (Clackamas County Circuit Court)
- Troutdale DUI (Troutdale Municipal Court)
- Beaverton DUI (Beaverton Municipal Court)
- Lake Oswego DUI (Lake Oswego Municipal Court)
Which Police Agencies Make Portland DUI Arrests?
The Portland metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million people and actually spans three Oregon counties: Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas. There are several law enforcement agencies working DUI patrols and making DUI arrests in Portland. The Portland Police Bureau, the Gresham Police Department, and the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office are the law enforcement agencies most responsible for DUI enforcement in Multnomah County. However, the Oregon State Police also handle DUI investigations and make arrests. On average, there are a total of about 3,000 DUI arrests each year in the Portland area.
Will I Serve Jail Time for a DUI Charge?
Drivers arrested for DUI in Multnomah County will typically be booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center. If any jail service is required later as part of a sentence, you will serve additional jail at this location or at the Multnomah County Inverness Jail. Drivers eligible for Oregon’s DUI Diversion time will not need to serve additional jail time for their DUI if the charge is dismissed. However, drivers convicted of a DUI will likely serve additional jail.
The Multnomah County Detention Center Jail
The Multnomah County Detention Center Jail is located downtown in the Justice Center.
1120 SW Third Ave
Portland, Oregon 97204
Phone: 503-988-3689
Multnomah County Inverness Jail
The Multnomah County Inverness Jail is the main jail.
11540 NE Inverness Drive
Portland, Oregon 97220
Phone: 503-988-5060
What is a DUI ADES Evaluation, and Who Handles Them in Portland?
Any driver entering into the DUI Diversion Program or convicted of a DUI charge will need an ADES evaluation. For more information on the evaluations in Multnomah County, please see the Multnomah County DUI page.
Who offers Drug and Alcohol Treatment Options for a Portland DUI?
Any driver entering into the DUI Diversion Program or convicted of a DUI charge will need to complete a drug and alcohol education class or treatment. There are many providers in the Portland Metro Area, but you don’t have to complete treatment in Portland. For more information on the DUI treatment programs and providers in Portland and Multnomah County, please see the Multnomah County DUI page.
If you are searching for a drug & alcohol treatment provider that’s approved for Oregon’s DUI Diversion Program and/or a DUI conviction with probation requirements, please see this official list of Oregon Substance Use Disorders Services Directory published September 8, 2024.
What is the Victim Impact Panel (VIP), and Where Can I Attend in Portland?
Any driver entering into the DUI Diversion Program or convicted of a DUI charge will need to attend a Victim Impact Panel (VIP) lecture. Portland DUI Victim Impact Panel lectures are on the second Monday, fourth Monday and fourth Tuesday of each month at: Legacy Emanuel Hospital, 2801 N. Gantenbein Avenue, #2013, Portland, Oregon 97227. The cost is $50. Michael Morrison is the Program Coordinator, and can be reached at: 503-413-1777. Call Lisa Davidson at: 503-413-4530 to register, or email her at: ldavidso@lhs.org. For other VIP lecture locations, please see the Oregon DUI Victim Impact Panel list.
Our Portland, OR DUI Attorney Law Office Near You
We’ve found that many clients have enjoyed the convenience of video conferencing with our team from their phone, tablet, or computer. However, for clients who prefer in-person meetings – or for clients who need to bring paperwork to us – our office is conveniently located in Cedar Hills, right off Highway 26 (aka “Sunset Highway”).
We are located at:
Romano Law, PC
13765 NW Cornell Rd # 250
Portland, OR 97229
503-208-5529
Open 24 Hours
DUI Defense Representation in Portland
Michael Romano and Brandi Becker are Oregon criminal defense attorneys who represent individuals charged with DUI in Portland and throughout Multnomah County. Their practice focuses on careful case analysis, strategic decision-making, and practical advocacy informed by decades of courtroom experience.
Michael G. Romano
Michael Romano has more than two decades of experience defending clients against DUI charges in Oregon. His background includes service as a former Oregon DUI prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney, as well as extensive experience representing individuals accused of serious criminal offenses in courts across the state.
This combination of prosecutorial and defense experience provides a detailed understanding of how DUI cases are investigated, charged, negotiated, and litigated.
Michael Romano’s experience includes:
• Over 24 years of trial experience
• More than 10,000 hours spent in Oregon courtrooms
• Over 200 criminal jury trials
• Former Oregon DUI prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney
• Training in the administration of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests
• Training in the instruction of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests
• Training in the operation of the Intoxilyzer 8000 breath testing device
Brandi Becker
Brandi Becker is a criminal defense attorney who works closely with clients facing DUI charges and other serious criminal matters. She brings a disciplined, detail-oriented approach to case preparation and client communication, with a strong focus on identifying weaknesses in the state’s evidence and ensuring clients understand both the legal process and the practical consequences of each decision.
Brandi Becker is known for her ability to analyze police reports, testing procedures, and charging decisions, and for guiding clients through complex cases with clarity and professionalism.
A Strategic and Individualized Approach to DUI Defense
No two DUI cases are the same. Some clients may be eligible for diversion and want to resolve the case efficiently. Others may be facing prior convictions, enhanced penalties, professional licensing concerns, or the possibility of long-term loss of driving privileges.
Michael Romano and Brandi Becker tailor their defense strategy to the specific facts of each case and the client’s goals. Depending on the circumstances, that strategy may involve negotiating a resolution, challenging the legality of the stop or testing, filing motions to suppress evidence, or preparing the case for trial.
Courtroom Experience and Proven Results
Not every DUI case should proceed to trial, but some do. Michael Romano has obtained not guilty verdicts for clients in DUI cases involving alleged blood alcohol concentrations ranging from 0.08 to 0.26.
When litigation is appropriate, the firm’s work often includes:
• Analyzing police reports, video, and testing records
• Identifying constitutional and procedural violations
• Challenging the prosecution’s evidence
• Negotiating reduced charges or penalties when appropriate
• Providing clear, realistic guidance at every stage of the case
Choosing a Portland DUI Attorney
Clients who work with Romano Law benefit from:
• Extensive DUI-specific experience in Oregon courts
• A practical, informed approach to case strategy
• Strong courtroom advocacy when litigation is required
• Clear communication and straightforward advice
• Local knowledge of Portland and Multnomah County DUI procedures
If you are facing a DUI charge in Portland and want informed, case-specific guidance, contact Romano Law to schedule a DUI strategy session.