Category: DUI Defense

A DUI conviction in Los Angeles can result in a lengthy license suspension and increased insurance premiums. There are many other potential criminal and civil penalties that can result from a conviction as well. If you have been charged with driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol in Los Angeles, it is absolutely vital to your case that you contact an experienced DUI criminal defense attorney. You could be facing severe criminal penalties and devastating civil litigation from anyone who may have been affected by the incident.

Under California Vehicle Code 23152, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or greater. This offense is typically charged as a misdemeanor unless you have previously been convicted of a felony DUI. Penalties for a first-time conviction can include imprisonment, hefty fines and a license suspension.

Driving under the influence causing injury is a separate offense. Whenever a serious injury results from a DUI to someone other than the driver, the driver can face misdemeanor or felony charges under California Vehicle Code 23153. The severity of the penalties depends on the seriousness of the injuries suffered, the circumstances of the crash and the defendant’s driving record.

A number of drivers were arrested at a Los Angeles County DUI checkpoint that was conducted over an eight-hour period. According to a report in The Los Angeles Daily News, the checkpoint began the evening of April 5 on Lyons Avenue at Wheeler Road in Newhall. Officials arrested three motorists on suspicion of drunk driving and a fourth driver for felony possession of narcotics. During the checkpoint, five vehicles were towed, seven drivers were cited for various vehicle code violations, and 12 drivers were sent to court for driving without a license or on a revoked or suspended license. There were 944 vehicles that were screened at the checkpoint.

If you are approaching a DUI checkpoint, your every move will be closely monitored. Police officers will actively search for any signs of intoxication or suspicious activity. Here are a few useful tips if you are at a checkpoint in Los Angeles County:

A 25-year-old Los Angeles man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after police saw him running to his car suspiciously. According to a news report in The South Pasadena Patch, the DUI arrest occurred on Fair Oaks Avenue in South Pasadena. Officials followed the man after watching him run to his car late at night. After observing him drive, they decided to pull him over. It is not clear from the report as to what signs of intoxication he exhibited before the traffic stop. He faces charges of driving under the influence and driving with a revoked or suspended license.

Police officers who are patrolling the roadways late at night are usually looking for telltale signs of impaired driving. They will likely pull you over if they observe you running a red light, making an illegal turn, swerving in and out of traffic or traveling well below or above the speed limit. If you are pulled over while driving late at night, there are a number of important things to remember.

California police officers commonly use field sobriety tests to determine if a driver is impaired. Field sobriety tests such as the walk-and-turn test a driver’s coordination, balance, and motor skills all at once. These types of tests can occasionally show that a driver is impaired, but they are subjective exercises that are prone to errors. There are many reasons why even sober drivers can fail a field sobriety test and it is common for officers to see signs of impairment when there are none.

Under California law, field sobriety tests are voluntary. It is common, however, for officers to encourage participation in these tests without informing drivers that they are not mandatory. You have the right to refuse to take a field sobriety test. You should know that declining to take a test may result in an arrest and you are required by law to submit to a chemical test at the station.

Every holiday, local law enforcement agencies increase their efforts to crack down on drunk driving. The Orange County Register reports that 45 people were arrested in Orange County on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, and many others were pulled over, cited, and fined. As part of the “Avoid the 38” DUI task force’s efforts, officials conducted a number of DUI checkpoints, roving patrols, and saturation enforcement actions. The number of DUI arrests made this year is similar to the 64 arrests made over the entire St. Patrick’s weekend in the year 2012.

Orange County law enforcement officers conduct DUI checkpoints year round to catch drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you are approaching a checkpoint, here are a few DUI arrest prevention tips to help you avoid getting arrested:

Los Angeles DUI defense lawyers know that the cost of being convicted of a DUI in California has increased dramatically in recent years. A study by the Automobile Club of Southern California, as reported in The Los Angeles Times, shows that a first-time misdemeanor DUI conviction can cost up to $15,649.

That reflects a 29 percent increase from the year 2011. The Auto Club determined this substantial increase by calculating the mandatory state and local fines as well as the penalties, restitution, legal fees, and insurance increases associated with a DUI conviction. This number does not, however, include lost wages, bail, or losses associated with car accidents, such as vehicle damage and personal injuries.

There are other losses that can result from a DUI conviction as well. Some drivers are required to install an ignition interlock device, which will prevent the vehicle from starting if an unacceptable level of alcohol is detected in the driver’s breath. These devices cost hundreds of dollars to install, service, and maintain. Other motorists are required to attend lengthy alcohol treatment sessions and classes.

A 21-year-old Lawndale man has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) after crashing into the back of a marked Hermosa Beach police vehicle. According to a news report in The Daily Breeze, the alleged DUI incident occurred on Eighth Street west of Pacific Coast Highway in Hermosa Beach.

Officials say that the man was driving without a valid license and showed a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .22 on his preliminary breath test. The officers involved in the allegeddrunk driving crash were treated for minor neck, head, and back injuries. The 21-year-old man was being held on $100,000 bail.

If you have been charged with DUI (driving under the influence) in Los Angeles, you may be worried that you will have to serve time in jail or prison. While a conviction for a DUI can result jail time, hefty fines, and penalties, a skilled DUI defense attorney will know of a number of ways to help you avoid going to jail.

A DUI can result in misdemeanor or felony charges in Los Angeles. Misdemeanors could result in up to one year in jail and felony charges can result in prison sentences. Most first-time DUI cases, however, do not result in incarceration unless there are aggravating circumstances. The prosecution will likely only pursue incarceration if the defendant is a repeat offender or if he or she caused serious or fatal injuries. A second DUI within 10 years, however, will likely result in at least 96 hours of jail time and a third conviction can result in a minimum of 120 days in jail.

If you have ever been pulled over for a minor traffic violation, you know how stressful dealing with police officers can be. Now, imagine that you were pulled over and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI). You will likely be nervous, confused, or even frightened. It is important that you take a deep breath and remember that you do have rights.

If you have been stopped for a DUI, remain polite and calm. You will have to provide your name, address, license, and registration. It is not advisable, however, to engage in a conversation with an officer regarding what you had been drinking earlier that day. You may politely decline to take a field sobriety test and a preliminary alcohol screening breath test.

A 58-year-old Yorba Linda man has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) after officials say he fatally struck a skateboarder. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the car crash occurred on Rose Drive north of Castner Drive.

Officials suspect the man was under the influence of alcohol when his vehicle fatally struck a 14-year-old skateboarder. The teenager was retrieving his skateboard from the roadway at the time of the collision.