A woman suspected of driving under the influence slammed into the side of a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s patrol car in Compton, according to this CBS News report. The female motorist was arrested for DUI in Los Angeles and the female sheriff’s deputy was taken to the hospital for examination and treatment of injuries. The alleged DUI car accident occurred near the 91 Freeway when the woman driving south on Alameda Street crossed onto the wrong side of the road and struck the driver’s door on the patrol car. Two other vehicles were also involved, but no one else was injured or arrested, the news report stated.
Under California law, it is illegal for anyone to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) states: “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.” Another section of the Vehicle Code also states that “it is unlawful for any person who has 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle.”
The consequences of a Southern California DUI arrest are quite significant. The severity of the charges would depend on a defendant’s level of intoxication, the extent of injuries involved (to those other than the drunk driver), and the defendant’s prior criminal record or DUI record. And a more serious charge of driving under the influence and causing bodily injury can result in significant jail time and a one year driver license suspension.
If you or a loved one has been charged with drunk driving – be it a first-time offense or a repeat offense – please contact a skilled Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer at Sitkoff & Hanrahan for a free and comprehensive consultation. We will work hard to get your charges dismissed or reduced, your fines and penalties eliminated or reduced, and help you keep your driver license by effectively representing you at your DMV hearing. Call us today at 866-299-4111 to find out more about your legal rights and options.