Eric Wright, defensive player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly driving under the influence. According to an ESPN news report, the arrest resulted from a car accident that occurred several blocks away from the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. Officials say the Mercedes SLS that Wright was driving rear-ended a pickup truck. He allegedly told the officers that he had been drinking at a friend’s house. After refusing to take sobriety tests, he was booked on suspicion of California felony DUI.
Under California law, there is an implied consent rule. This means that if you are lawfully arrested for a DUI, you are deemed to have given consent to a chemical testing of the amount of alcohol in your system. You do not, however, have to submit to a breath test until you have been arrested. Once taken to the station, you must consent to the blood, breath, or urine test requested by the authorities under the law. A failure to do so could result in additional charges.
If your BAC is determined to be .08 percent or higher, you will face DUI charges. A first time offender faces penalties including probation, fines totaling up to $2,000, driver’s license suspension, and mandatory alcohol education programs. Under some circumstances, a first-time offender may even face jail time. A skilled criminal defense attorney will know how to fight the charges and how to negotiate for lesser penalties.
The skilled drunk driving accident defense lawyers in San Fernando at Sitkoff & Hanrahan have a successful track record of defending those accused of driving under the influence in Southern California. To discuss your case at absolutely no cost, please call our offices at (866) 430-8383 today.