For the second time this year, singer Bobby Brown has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. According to a news report in The Huffington Post, the alleged DUI (driving under the influence) incident occurred in the San Fernando Valley. Officials stopped Brown’s car in the Topanga area of Los Angeles and booked him on suspicion of driving under the influence. The 43-year-old singer previously pleaded no contest to a DUI charge in March of this year and checked himself into a rehabilitation center in August.
Drivers who are involved in multiple DUI cases could face harsher penalties compared to first-time offenders. A first-time DUI conviction in California could result in fines between $390 and $1,000, a jail sentence of 48 hours, a license suspension of four months, enrollment in DUI school, mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device, and community service. All of these penalties can increase with additional convictions.
A second DUI in Los Angeles within 10 years can result in a jail sentence between 96 hours and one year. License suspensions can increase in length to two years and drivers may also face 19 months of DUI school and between three and five years of probation.
All DUI cases must be taken seriously. Anyone who has been arrested in Los Angeles for driving under the influence will need representation from an attorney who understands all of the legal options available. In some cases, it is best to aggressively fight the charges. In other circumstances, the more effective strategy may be to negotiate for lesser penalties and to explore alternative sentencing options such as rehabilitation and community service.
The skilled DUI defense attorneys in Tarzana at Sitkoff & Hanrahan have a long and successful track record of helping clients fight DUI charges. If you or a loved one has been charged with driving under the influence, please call our offices at (866) 430-8383 for a free and comprehensive consultation.