With 30 years experience fighting charges of driving under the influence and drunk driving in Southern California, Matt is pleased to announce a new office location in Santa Monica to meet clients by appointment only.
Matthew Ruff, DUI Defense Lawyer -Santa Monica Office
100 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica CA 90401
877-213-4453
Matthew Ruff is a Top Tier Santa Monica DUI Attorney with over 3 decades of experience fighting and winning cases for his clients.
With over 30 years experience fighting cases involving drinking and driving and other alcohol and drug related charges, Matthew knows a thing or two about the laws and regulations and how to use them to keep the Government honest and win cases.
In this case his client was arrested after he was found passed out in his Tesla in the middle of the street. The client was arrested after failing field sobriety tests and later took a blood test which revealed a .21 BAC. The client retained Top Tier DUI Attorney Matthew Ruff.
The attorney immediately requested all discovery (reports, etc.), and set out to ensure the State was able to prove their case with reliable, trustworthy evidence.
One of the issues Matt uncovered was the lack of evidence proving their blood collection was done within the required period of time, which in California is 3 hours of the time of driving. However, in this case the time of driving was never established by the police officers who investigated the crime and arrested the accused.
A formal hearing was demanded to challenge the evidence and request the case be thrown out. At the hearing, the DMV hearing officer ignored these arguments and imposed a suspension of the client’s driver’s license, notwithstanding clear evidentiary problems. Matthew immediately filed an administrative appeal arguing the hearing officer ignored the law and “rubber stamped” the flawed arrest report. See attached for a redacted copy of the administrative appeal brief.
After a tense 30 days the appeal court agreed with Attorney Ruff and reversed the hearing officer’s findings and decision, setting aside the suspension order and reinstating the client’s driver’s license and removing the arrest from his DMV record. See the actual decision below.
Matthew Ruff is a Top Tier DUI Lawyer with over 30 years experience fighting and winning DUI and drunk driving allegations by exposing weaknesses in the case and insufficiency of the evidence.
Matthew Ruff is NHTSA certified in FST Administration.
Office Locations
Matthew J Ruff, Long Beach DUI Attorney
444 W. Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach CA 90802
(562) 473-5390
Matthew J Ruff, DUI Attorney
18411 Crenshaw Blvd.
Torrance CA 90504
(310) 527-4100
Matthew J Ruff, San Pedro DUI Attorney
222 W. 6th St.
San Pedro CA 90731
(310) 514-0877
Matthew J. Ruff, DUI Attorney
333 S. Grand Avenue
Los Angeles CA 90012
(877) 213-4453
Matthew J. Ruff, Huntington Beach DUI Attorney
17011 Beach Blvd.
Huntington Beach CA 92647
(877) 212-2090
Matthew Ruff, DUI Defense Lawyer -Santa Monica Office
100 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica CA 90401
(877) 213-4453
☎️ Call Matt Directly NOW 310-686-1533
A DUI conviction doesn’t have to haunt you forever. In California there is a way to get an old criminal conviction for driving under the influence removed and cleaned from your permanent record. For over 30 years Attorney Matthew Ruff has been clearing past drunk driving cases cleared for purposes of employment background checks and live-scan reports requested by private employers.
The process is called the “1203.4 petition” and Matthew is successful in getting cases dismissed on a regular basis. Below is an actual order of dismissal in a recent DUI case out of Los Angeles Superior Court ⬇️.
The end result of getting a case dismissed pursuant to 1203.4 is that you can truthfully state you have never been convicted of the case on private job applications and most employment background checks.
The process can be done as quickly as 30 days, however can take as long as 3-4 months so it is advisable to get started early if you are planning a job change. The expungement process can be started as soon as you are done with probation on your case.
Torrance DUI Attorney Matthew Ruff has over 30 years experience defending good people charged with criminal offenses and clearing records for those who wish to move forward with their lives and put their past behind them. Matt has a high success rate in getting DUI/DWI cases dismissed pursuant to 1203.4, even in cases where the person had prior offenses on their record.
For over 30 years Matt has been fighting and winning for his clients in Torrance Court. Though most of his cases are resolved favorably without a trial, occasionally the case must be decided by a jury.
In this case the client was accused of battery (Penal Code 243e1) on his girlfriend after a night of drinking in Palos Verdes. An offer was made for probation, however the attorney believed the accuser was fabricating her story of what actually happened.
The case went to trial in Torrance Court where the general consensus is that jurors are very pro prosecution and side with the DA. In this case Matthew believed his client who proclaimed he did not assault his girlfriend and she was lying. After a thorough cross examination by the defense, the jury was skeptical of her claims that the client hit her during an alcohol fueled argument and came back with a Not Guilty verdict.
See the actual Court trial record (redacted) reflecting the jury verdict of acquittal below ⬇️
A post trial interview of one of the jurors revealed they did not find the accuser credible based on her testimony and demeanor during cross examination.
Torrance’s DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney Matthew Ruff has over 30 years defending good people accused of criminal offenses, including domestic violence, in the South Bay, Palos Verdes and throughout Los Angeles County.
Unlike many other law firms, Matthew focuses on getting weak charges dismissed, even if it means taking the case to trial. If you have been arrested on the peninsula and are looking for a DUI attorney in Rancho Palos Verdes or any other city, give us a call for a free consultation.
Long Beach DUI Attorney Matthew Ruff has been fighting the DMV and the Government for clients facing a driver’s license suspension from a DWI arrest for over 30 years. In this case Matt was able to obtain a dismissal (set aside) and reinstatement of driver license by exposing a violation of the California rules and regulations pertaining to breath alcohol testing (Title 17). Matthew got the case dropped at the DMV even though the reported breath test results were .16/.17 (twice the legal limit).
How Matthew Ruff Won the Case:
The facts of the case are fairly straightforward. The client was contacted on the 405 freeway after a collision and the CHP officer detected odor of alcohol, slurred speech and unsteady gait. After the client failed to satisfactorily perform FST exercises she was given a PAS test onsite with a .17 BAC result. A subsequent chemical breath test at the station reported a result of .16 BAC (twice the legal limit). See the actual report below ⬇️
The client was released the next day and served a pink DMV notice that her license is being suspended. She immediately searched for a Long Beach DUI Attorney and found Matthew Ruff after reviewing his numerous client reviews online. The attorney jumped on the case, requested a DMV hearing, obtained the evidence and reports and was able to identify a number of evidentiary issues he believed could win the case, if properly presented.
The Turning Point, What Matthew Uncovered that would Win the case
During the investigation, Matt obtained the original printout strip from the breathalyzer at the Long Beach Police Department, see below ⬇️. An analysis of the document revealed the actual breath test operator was an Officer “Korn”, who was not the same officer who signed the sworn breath test certification. Bingo!
Prior to the DMV hearing Matthew submitted a brief which explained what he had discovered and pointed out the officer who administered the breath test did not properly certify the results, the certification was made by another officer who did not actually administer the test. This, the lawyer argued, was a violation of the regulations and should result in a set aside (dismissal) of the suspension and reinstatement of his client’s drivers license. The hearing officer agreed with Matthew and granted his request for a reinstatement. See the actual set aside order below ⬇️
Matthew Ruff is a Torrance Defense Attorney and Long Beach DUI Lawyer with over 30 years experience fighting and winning driving under the influence cases for clients by leaving no stone unturned, uncovering evidence defects, violations of regulations, police misconduct and failure to follow proper procedures.
Matthew Ruff is a Nationally recognized driving under the influence lawyer and member of the National College of DUI Defense and DUI Defense Lawyers Association.
Matthew has offices throughout Los Angeles, serving Long Beach Court.
Office Locations
Matthew J Ruff, Long Beach DUI Attorney
444 W. Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach CA 90802
(562) 473-5390
Matthew J Ruff, DUI Attorney
18411 Crenshaw Blvd.
Torrance CA 90504
(310) 527-4100
Matthew Ruff, DUI Attorney
222 W. 6th St.
San Pedro CA 90731
(310) 514-0877
Matthew J. Ruff, DUI Attorney
333 S. Grand Avenue
Los Angeles CA 90012
(877) 213-4453
Matthew Ruff, DUI Attorney
17011 Beach Blvd.
Huntington Beach CA 92647
(877) 212-2090
☎️ Call Matt Directly NOW 310-527-4100
There are many advantages to hiring a local DUI Attorney in Hermosa Beach. Among the many benefits are that the lawyer knows the local practices and procedures and can identify mistakes and errors in the investigation. Just this month Hermosa Beach DUI Attorney Matthew Ruff won a DUI case out of Hermosa Beach California where the client was stopped for running a stop sign at the intersection of Pier Avenue and Bard Street in the city of Hermosa. The officer detected alcohol and slurring of speech and administered field sobriety tests which led to the arrest. A breath test was administered a total of four breath results were obtained, all reported a .12 BAC.
Matthew was hired and investigated the case thoroughly. During the investigation process Matt uncovered a significant violation of the standard evidence protocol and regulations requiring the officer to certify he was trained and qualified to operate the breath machine used in the case, a violation of Title 17 CCR. An actual redacted copy of the report is shown below ⬇️
The Legal Argument
Matthew filed a motion at the DMV Hearing arguing the breath test results, all 4 of them, should be suppressed. Specifically, Matt asserted the DMV has presented no foundation for the breath test results; that is, no evidence the test was administered in compliance with Title 17 or any evidence to establish that the test apparatus was in proper working order, the test was properly administered and the Hermosa Beach Police Officer was competent and qualified. (See People v. Adams (1976) 59 Cal. App.3d 559, 561, the evidence of blood-alcohol concentration in the present case therefore lacks “competency, reliability, and trustworthiness” (See Daniels v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1983) 33 Cal.3d 532). The DMV Hearing Officer agreed with Matt and threw out the case, reinstating the client’s license on the spot, see actual set aside order below ⬇️
Result – Case Dismissed! License Returned!
Torrance DUI Attorney Matthew Ruff has over 30 years experience fighting and winning DUI cases for clients in Hermosa Beach and throughout Southern California by finding and exposing violations of the California rules of evidence and scientific regulations (CCR).
California law requires that police officers follow evidential protocols and procedures in order to ensure the evidence is reliable and trustworthy, if these rules are not followed the law requires the evidence be suppressed and the case thrown out.
Should I Hire a Hermosa Beach DUI Lawyer for my case? It depends. If you are ok with having a driving under the influence charge in your permanent record and losing your drivers license for up to 2 years then not hiring a defense lawyer may be the right decision. However, if you want to do everything you can to avoid the consequences, Matt can help.
Arrested For DUI? Call ☎️ Matt 310-686-1533
Two recent scientific studies exploring the efficacy of drug recognition expert (DRE) protocols and field sobriety test for marijuana impairment may be inherently, flawed, and scientifically unreliable. Police routinely use DRE protocol when deciding whether to arrest a suspected marijuana impaired driver (DUID).
Summary of Article by McNichol:
FSTs for THC are pseudoscientific “police science” that use questionable indicators and lack scientific validation. Studies show that DRE protocols produce false results 45.5% of the time (that’s not much better than a coin flip), with officers disagreeing with each other frequently; yet, courts often accept this unreliable evidence. There is yet to be a valid objective method for detecting marijuana impairment.
Summary of Article by Marcotte & Fitzgerald:
Studies find 48.5% of placebo-controlled participants performed poorly when evaluated by blinded officers. Researchers must develop unbiased, standardized tools for identifying impairment from marijuana. These tools do not currently exist.
The findings of these 2 new scientific studies reveal the unreliability of current investigation techniques that police use when making decisions to arrest marijuana impaired drivers.
Prosecution of drivers for marijuana dui is fraught with many problems. The biggest problem associated with proving a driver was impaired by cannabis is the lack of consensus among the scientific community of the level at which THC impairs the driver to no longer drive a vehicle with the caution characteristic of a sober driver. The defense of a marijuana dui is quite different from that of alcohol.
If you have been arrested for marijuana DUI (DUID), you should consult with a lawyer. Matthew Ruff is a Top Tier Marijuana DUI Attorney in California with over 30 years experience.
Read the interview of Attorney Matthew Ruff by the Daily Breeze Regarding DRE Use in Marijuana DUI Arrests.
Arrested For DUI? Call ☎️ Matt 310-686-1533
Torrance Attorney Matthew Ruff has been defending driving under the influence cases for over 30 years. Due to his experience, he can often spot defenses that other lawyers may not see. In this case Matthew used Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations to beat a DUI case involving a breath test of .14/.15 and save his client’s license.
Here is a summary of the case: The client was arrested for DWI and chose a breath test. Prior to beginning the testing process the client asked to use the bathroom. The officer allowed the client to use the bathroom and then brought him into the breath test room to take a breath test which came back .14/.15. His license was taken and was released after few hours later.
The client hired DUI Attorney Matthew Ruff to defend him and save his license, which he needed for employment. Matthew investigated the case and discovered the officer failed to continuously observe the client for 15 minutes prior to administering the breath test. This failure to continuously observe was a violation of Title 17. This step is important because it ensures the subject does not burp or belch, which could contaminate the results.
Matthew presented the issue at the DMV hearing and was able to get the breath test thrown out and the DMV returned the client’s license and set aside the suspension. See the actual decision (redacted) below.⬇️
So what is Title 17 and why is it important? Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations sets forth official standards or guidelines that police officers are required to follow in order to ensure breath and blood testing in DUI cases is reliable and scientifically accurate. A violation of Title 17 causes the chemical test results to be questioned and possibly suppressed. The bottom line is if police officers don’t follow the rules and regulations set forth in Title 17 CCR the breath test can be thrown out. That was the result in this case.
The outcome of the accused drunk driver getting his license returned and arrest removed from his record is justified as the law requires that all chemical test results be reliable and trustworthy. Police misconduct and mishandling of evidence are other ways cases can be thrown out.
This case is another example of an outcome in a DUI case where Matthew Ruff used science and the regulations governing breath alcohol testing to get the charges dropped.
Matthew Ruff, California DUI Lawyer is a Torrance DUI Attorney with a stellar track record of winning drunk driving cases by showing the police failed to follow the rules and official standards.
Recently, Torrance DUI Attorney Matthew Ruff was successful in getting serious driving under the influence causing injuries (VC23153) and other charges dropped in exchange for a plea to a misdemeanor non injury DUI. The plea agreement required informal probation, a fine, alcohol class and some community service and restitution. No jail time was imposed.
The incident occurred on PCH and involved a rear end collision between the client and the victim’s vehicle. The client was arrested and booked for felony DUI with injury charges and felony hit and run with injury.
Matthew was able to show there was insufficient evidence of the driving under the influence causing injury and the hit and run resulting in injuries charges. Matthew had previously won the DMV hearing on the refusal arguing a theory of defense known as “Miranda Confusion”, thereby saving the client from a mandatory 1 year license suspension. The attorney used that decision from the DMV along with other facts obtained during his investigation in his negotiations with the prosecution.
The disposition was the culmination of months of investigation, court hearings and negotiations. Though the case originated as a felony arrest and charges, the ultimate resolution was for a misdemeanor non-injury DWI. A copy of the official Court Docket is shown below:⬇️
DUI causing injury can result in prison time of up to 3 years. The client was very grateful and posted a client review for Matthew Ruff shown below, referring to the outcome as “the deal of a lifetime”.⬇️
Matthew Ruff is a Top Tier DUI Lawyer with over 30 Years experience as a criminal defense lawyer firm and Torrance Hit and Run Attorney.
Arrested for DUI? Call ☎️ Matt 310-686-1533
Disclaimer, the results on this page are real and contain an actual account of the case, however because all cases contain different facts it does not constitute a guarantee the results would be the same in your case.
This just in, the United States House of Representatives passed legislation allowing for deportation of illegal aliens and other noncitizens convicted of DUI, DWI and driving under the influence in any state.
Can a single DUI get you deported? Yes, if the recent bill becomes law.
The House passed the Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act of 2025 on June 26, 2025:SEC. 2. Inadmissibility and deportability related to driving while intoxicated or impaired. The new law is also referred to as the “Protect our Communities from DUI’s Act” and would amend the immigration laws to provide for:
(a) Inadmissibility.—Section 212(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:“(J) DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED OR IMPAIRED.—Any alien who has been convicted of, who admits having committed, or who admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements of an offense for driving while intoxicated or impaired, as those terms are defined under the law of the jurisdiction where the conviction, offense, or acts constituting the essential elements of the offense occurred (including an offense for driving while under the influence of or impaired by alcohol or drugs), without regard to whether the conviction or offense is classified as a misdemeanor or felony under Federal, State, tribal, or local law, is inadmissible.”.
(b) Deportability.—Section 237(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:“(G) DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED OR IMPAIRED.—Any alien who has been convicted of an offense for driving while intoxicated or impaired, as those terms are defined under the law of the jurisdiction where the conviction occurred (including a conviction for driving while under the influence of or impaired by alcohol or drugs), without regard to whether the conviction is classified as a misdemeanor or felony under Federal, State, tribal, or local law, is deportable.”.Similar bill – H.R.6976 – Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act was also passed house during the 118th Session.
This legislation would mean any undocumented immigrant and many other noncitizens would be subject to immediate removal and deportation from the United States. This new law can have a significant impact on permanent lawful residents (green card holders), temporary visitors and obviously unlawful, undocumented immigrants.
This new law would dramatically increase the consequences for a noncitizen arrested for DUI. It would be critically important to beat the charges or get them dismissed in order to avoid the consequence of deportation.
In recent months ICE agents have been observed detaining noncitizens who have been arrested for minor offenses such as drunk driving. These detentions of aliens for DUI now appear to be part of a larger trend towards deporting and denying citizenship to anyone with a history of alcohol related driving offenses.
Any noncitizen arrested and those accused of or charged with driving under the influence, DUI, DWI or any impaired driving violation should certainly consult a criminal defense attorney and immigration lawyer before pleading guilty, no contest or admitting to the charges.
