An individual arrested for DUI/DWI in California may be released on their own recognizance, which means that the arrestee is released from jail on written promise to appear in court to answer the DUI/DWI charges.  Or, the individual may need to post bail before being released.  Depending on the county, there may be an OR officer that will screen those arrested for drunk driving to determine the suitability of their release on their own recognizance. Some counties will release a DUI / DWI suspect automatically, so long as they have identification, are a local resident, and they remain in custody long enough so as not to present a danger to others.  This is to protect the arresting agency from liability in the event a DUI / DWI suspect is released to get into a DUI / DWI accident where someone is injured.
If you know someone who has been arrested in California for a DUI/DWI, you may need to help post bail.  In order to do so, you will first need to locate that person in jail.  This is not always as easy as it may seem.  Although the arrestee is in custody, you may not know the facility where that person is being held.  If you need to locate someone arrested for DUI/DWI, be prepared to provide the person’s full name and date of birth.  If you’ve been contacted by the individual arrested, he or she may be able to provide you with a booking number.
If you are unable to post bail, you may need the services of a bail bond provider.  Once bail is posted, the individual can be released.  Be aware that bail may be forfeited if the driver fails to appear in court to address the DUI / DWI arrest.  Additionally, a bench warrant for their arrest will issue, and the driver may face separate misdemeanor or felony failure to appear charges, depending on whether the underlying DUI was charged as a misdemeanor or felony.
If someone you care about has been arrested for drunk driving in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Riverside or the Inland Empire, Ventura County, the San Francisco Bay area, including San Francisco, Oakland, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Jose, or any other Bay Area DUI / DWI arrest, the Law Office of Thomas Wallin can help locate that person promptly, and work quickly to secure their release.