Singer Faith Evans has been charged with two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol in Los Angeles, according to the celebrity news Web site, TMZ. Evans was stopped at a DUI checkpoint near Marina Del Rey. Authorities apparently detected alcohol in her breath and impounded the singer’s car and held her in jail overnight. If convicted on both California DUI counts, Evans could face up to six months in jail.
In California it is illegal to drive with blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher. According to California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a): “It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle.”
Law enforcement officers usually use certain standard tests to determine whether a driver is under the influence or not. One of the most common tests used in a California DUI investigation is a set of field sobriety tests (FSTs). As Los Angeles DUI defense lawyers, we know that these tests have a huge margin of error. A driver who is fatigued or ill could easily fail these field sobriety tests. Breathalyzer tests can also be erratic if the instrument measuring blood alcohol content is not properly calibrated.
The Los Angeles and Orange County criminal defense lawyers of Sitkoff & Hanrahan understand the negative impact a wrongful DUI conviction can have on Californians. We review each case carefully to determine if the charges can be reduced or thrown out. Please call us at 866-430-8383 to discuss your case.