A 27-year-old Los Angeles woman was arrested after rear-ending a squad car while under the influence of alcohol. According to a news report in WeHoNews.com, the car crash occurred at Santa Monica Boulevard and Orange Drive in West Hollywood. Officials say they were conducting a pedestrian stop when a vehicle rear-ended their squad car. The deputies were not hurt in the crash. The driver allegedly registered .24 and .22 blood alcohol content (BAC) readings during the preliminary alcohol screening tests, which is nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent. She was treated at a nearby hospital and detained on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI).
You can face criminal charges for driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or higher. Under California Penal Code 23152 (b), you can be found guilty of DUI if your BAC is .08 percent or greater regardless of whether you were actually under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The prosecution only has to prove that you drove a vehicle and that your BAC was above the legal limit.
There are enhanced consequences for those with a BAC of .15 percent or higher. Before 2006, enhanced penalties were reserved for drivers with a BAC of .20 percent or higher, but now individuals with a BAC of nearly twice the legal limit will face a six-month alcohol program instead of a three-month program.
When someone has a BAC over twice the legal limit, prosecutors will likely seek the most severe penalties possible. Instead of facing a few days in jail, the prosecution may seek a number of penalties, including prolonged jail time, steep fines, mandatory meetings, probations, suspensions, and work sentences.
No matter what your BAC is at the time of your arrest, it would be in your best interest to seek the counsel of a skilled Los Angeles DUI defense attorney who will protect your rights and ensure that you are able to achieve the best possible outcome in your case.