Category: DUI Defense

Local law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles County went all out when it came to holiday driving under the influence (DUI) enforcement in 2012. According to a news report in The Diamond Bar Walnut Patch, officials held 72 sobriety checkpoints, 25 DUI warrant sweeps, and 153 DUI saturation patrols countywide as part of their “Avoid the 100” DUI crackdown. This effort to curb drunk and drugged driving during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays resulted in more than 2,100 arrests. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s department, between midnight on Dec. 14 through midnight on Jan. 1, officers arrested 2,168 drivers for… Read More

Law enforcement agencies throughout the county will be conducting multiple checkpoints this holiday. According to a report by The Glendora Patch, there will be 72 DUI (driving under the influence) and driver’s license checkpoints in Los Angeles County between December 14, 2012 and January 1, 2013. Additionally, there will be 153 local DUI saturation patrols and 25 DUI warrant and probation sweeps. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is extending the hours of their officers during the busiest holiday periods as well. During the crackdown on drunk driving that occurred during the holidays last year, thousands of people were arrested. A… Read More

After you are arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI), you only have 10 days from that date to request a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) hearing. A DMV hearing is an administrative hearing where you will get a chance to explain why you should be allowed to keep your license. If you do not respond within 10 days, you automatically waive your right to a hearing. If you fail to take action, your driver’s license will be suspended by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. A number of drivers make this mistake because when they see a… Read More

A field sobriety test is one of many tools that officers use in Los Angeles to determine if a driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Drivers commonly assume that they are required by law to participate in these motor skills tests, but field sobriety tests are voluntary. You have the right to decline. If, however, you have already consented to a field sobriety test, you should contact a skilled Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer right away. During a traffic stop, an officer will try to detect the smell of alcohol. Empty bottles, slurred speech, or unusual behavior… Read More

Increased driving under the influence (DUI) patrols in Orange County over Thanksgiving week resulted in more DUI arrests this year compared to 2011. According to a KTLA news report, between November 21 at 6 p.m. and November 24 at 6 a.m., there were 44 DUI arrests in Orange County. That number reflects a 16 percent increase from the 37 DUI arrests that occurred in Orange County during the same period in 2011. Statewide, however, arrests decreased from 903 in the year 2011 to 840 this year. Officials also say that there were no reported traffic fatalities over the holiday in… Read More

For the eighth year in a row, Los Angeles County has been awarded a substantial grant to implement more driving under the influence (DUI) checkpoints. According to an EGP News report, Los Angeles County’s DUI task force has been awarded $450,000 to fight drunk driving through September of 2013. The grant will allow law enforcement officers to conduct DUI saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints throughout the county. The city of Montebello has not conducted a DUI checkpoint for a while, but officials have applied for support to begin cracking down on drunk driving. Bell Gardens has not had a checkpoint… Read More

Bobby Brown, the late Whitney Houston’s ex-husband, has been arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated (DWI) for the second time in six months. According to a report by The Los Angeles Times, the arrest occurred near Ventura Boulevard and Corbin Avenue in Tarzana. Officials claim that they smelled alcohol after pulling him over. It is not clear if Brown took a Breathalyzer test, but he was booked for drunk driving before being released. Brown was previously arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in March near Victory Boulevard and Wilbur Avenue in the San Fernando Valley. Individuals who have… Read More

A sobriety checkpoint is when law enforcement officers block off a roadway to search for impaired drivers. In Los Angeles, it is common to see checkpoints on busy roadways near popular bars and restaurants where alcohol is served. For example, there were recent driving under the influence (DUI) checkpoints at the intersections of Hollywood Boulevard and Ivar Avenue; South La Cienega Boulevard and West Manchester Boulevard; and at Ventura Boulevard and Rubio Avenue. You can be sure that local law enforcement agencies across Los Angeles County will man a number of sobriety checkpoints this Halloween as well. It is common… Read More

If you have ever tried to get around Los Angeles or even Southern California without a vehicle, you can imagine how difficult it must be to have a suspended license. Los Angeles residents who have their license suspended often experience negative consequences financially, professionally, and socially. If you are arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Los Angeles, you may face a lengthy license suspension. The length of that suspension will usually depend on your driving record and the circumstances of the incident, such as your blood alcohol level. A first-time drunk driving conviction could result in a six-month license… Read More

It is a common mistake for drivers to assume that they have to plead guilty or negotiate for a plea deal if they have been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. The truth is that many Los Angeles drivers have it in their best interest to fight the driving under the influence (DUI) charges they face. There are many potential DUI defenses and it is often possible to fight the charges. An important part of building a solid defense is reviewing every aspect of the alleged incident and subsequent arrest. Arresting officers must adhere to a standardized set of procedures… Read More