Police in Irvine have arrested a senior Orange County Sheriff’s official for driving under the influence after he reportedly caused a car accident, based on a Los Angeles Times report. Irvine Police arrested the official after the vehicle she was driving crashed into the back of another car stopped at a red light on Jamboree Road.
She was driving an unmarked Orange County Sheriff’s Department vehicle at the time of the Orange County DUI crash, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office. The officer was charged with two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol. Officials say the woman had slurred speech, bloodshot and watery eyes and had trouble keeping her balance during a field sobriety test. She apparently had a blood alcohol level of 0.14 percent, nearly twice the legal limit. Fortunately, the driver of the other vehicle was uninjured.
It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher in California. Not only does a DUI charge impose fines and sometimes jail time on a person, it can have drastic effects on an individual’s reputation, personal life and professional career. In this DUI accident, Guidice was transferred from her post as head of Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol to a position at the county’s Theo Lacy Jail. If convicted of the DUI charges in Orange County, she faces a maximum of six months in jail.
Anyone who has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence needs the expert assistance and guidance of experienced Orange County DUI defense attorneys. At Sitkoff & Hanrahan, we have successfully defended numerous clients who have been charged with driving under the influence. We have successfully challenged alcohol tests, subjective field sobriety tests and other methods that law enforcement officials use to assess intoxication. In many cases, we have found that these methods used by law enforcement are prone to error. Call us today at 866-299-4111 for a free consultation and case evaluation of your Orange County DUI case.