Articles Posted in DUI

Actor Ryan Rottman has been arrested for driving under the influence. According to TMZ, the Nickelodeon star of “Gigantic” was arrested on July 7, 2011 in Hollywood. The actor allegedly blew a .19 percent BAC, which is over twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Authorities pulled him over after allegedly witnessing his vehicle jump a curb. According to the report, the authorities smelled alcohol when they pulled him over and administered a field sobriety test.

According to California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a): “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.” Penalties for first-time DUI offenders in California typically include a four-month license suspension and substantial fines.

The penalties for a DUI arrest in California can fluctuate depending on the driving history of the defendant and the circumstances of the arrest. Increased penalties will result from a repeat offense, an arrest related to an injury accident and in cases where the motorist refused to take a breath test. In some cases, an experienced Hollywood DUI defense attorney can have the charges lessened or even dismissed.

Rock singer Rick Springfield has been charged with two counts of driving under the influence following his arrest in Malibu in May. According to a news report by TMZ, the singer had a .1 BAC when he was pulled over by the authorities on May 1, 2011. If Springfield is convicted of the two counts of DUI, he could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

California Vehicle Code 23152 states that “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.” Under the same section, 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.

Failure to seek skilled legal representation following a DUI arrest in LA can result in unnecessarily harsh penalties. There is a wide range of consequences for a DUI conviction including incarceration, fines, mandatory alcohol treatment and the installation of an ignition interlock device. A DUI defense attorney will fight to have the charges reduced, or in some cases, thrown out completely.

Recently, prosecutors in Santa Clara County dropped charges in several DUI cases because of faulty breathalyzers that were used in field tests. According to a news report in the San Jose Mercury News, county officials conducted a special review of 858 files of which 5 percent or 42 cases were dismissed because a faulty breathalyzer was used. The questionable cases involved drivers who refused to take a second sobriety test at the police station leaving the faulty field test as the main evidence in the case.

The investigation into these cases began a month after prosecutors learned that the Alco Sensor V device that the San Jose and Palo Alto police departments had been using may have incorrect readings because of a manufacturer’s defect that can cause condensation to build up in the tube. In fact, Ventura County officials were the first to learn of the problem in April.

These faulty breathalyzer readings in California have also caused hassles for defendants. One woman, for example, refused to take a plea deal for a lesser charge of reckless driving involving alcohol because, she maintained, she was simply not drunk. Thankfully, her case ended up being dismissed because a test taken at the station showed a blood alcohol level of 0.05 percent, which is below the legal limit of 0.08 percent. The tests taken with the Alco-Sensor V on the filed showed readings of 0.09 percent. Unfortunately, for many others who may have been victims of these faulty breathalyzers, they have already paid fines and served time.

Orange County saw a jump in drunk driving arrests this year over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. An OC Register article reports that 148 individuals in Orange County were arrested for driving while under the influence.

Checkpoints and saturation patrols were held from Friday, May 27, to the night of Monday, May 30. During this enforcement period last year, 139 DUI arrests were conducted. According to the article, arrest numbers are anticipated to be even higher since some law enforcement agencies in Orange County haven’t yet reported their DUI arrest results for the weekend.

The Memorial Day DUI crackdown was led by the multiagency anti-DUI task force known as “Avoid the 38,” which is made up of the Sheriff’s Department, local police departments, and the California Highway Patrol.

Sports Illustrated model and “Planet of the Apes” actress, Estella Warren was recently arrested for driving under the influence and crashing her Toyota Prius into some parked cars on Harper Avenue south of Melrose near the West Hollywood area. According to The Daily Breeze, she is also accused of fighting with police, slipping off her handcuffs, and running out of a police station. She was released after posting a $100,000 bail. She is facing charges of driving under the influence and battery on a police officer.

Driving under the influence of alcohol and or drugs is illegal under California law. According to California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a): “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.” The same section also states that it is illegal for anyone to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher.

Whether a DUI case in California involves a celebrity or an average citizen, DUI laws do not change. If you have been arrested for DUI, you must contact the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 10 days of the arrest to request a hearing or to stop your automatic driver license suspension. If this is your first offense, your license could be automatically suspended for four months. If this is your second offense, you could lose your driving privilege for a year if you fail to contact the DMV.

Rick Springfield, the singer of “Jessie’s Girl,” has been arrested for drunk driving this past week. According to a news report in The LA Daily News, the DUI arrest occurred on the Pacific Coast Highway near Trancas Canyon Road in Malibu the night of May 1. Officials conducted a field sobriety test as part of the DUI investigation. Springfield also submitted to a breath test. Officials say his blood alcohol content (BAC) was .1 percent.

In California, the legal blood alcohol limit is .08 percent. 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.” The manner in which an officer conducts a blood alcohol test is significant in such cases. The calibration of the device used for the breath test must also be checked to ensure that the readings are accurate.

California drivers have 10 days to request a hearing from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to have their license suspension delayed until after an administrative review. First-time offenders typically face a four-month license suspension. There are, however, potentially much more serious penalties for a DUI that involves a high BAC. A first-time offense may result in up to six months in jail, a fine of $1,600, undergoing a mandatory alcohol education program, and the required installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) on an offender’s vehicle.

A Los Angeles police officer has been charged with driving under the influence after allegedly driving the wrong way through the Sepulveda tunnel near LAX, according to The Ventura County Star. It does not appear from the report that anyone was harmed in the incident. It also is not clear if the officer will be suspended because of the arrest.

California Vehicle Code 23152 makes it “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.” Penalties for first-time DUI offenders in California could include 96 hours to six months of jail time, a substantial driver’s license suspension, mandatory enrollment in an alcohol education program, and installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) in their vehicle.

A drunk driving charge or conviction in California can have devastating consequences for those working in law enforcement. Such individuals could even face immediate employment termination if convicted. It is particularly important for these types of defendants to seek the counsel of a skilled attorney right away. In some cases, the charges can be reduced or dismissed completely.

A 52-year-old man from Azusa, CA, has been arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol after backing his SUV into a police car. According to a news report in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the arrest occurred on West Sierra Madre Boulevard in Azusa. Officials say that after being pulled over, the man put his Chevrolet Trailblazer in reverse and crashed into the police car. No one was hurt in the accident but the man was charged with driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license. It is unclear from the report as to why his license was previously suspended or if the officers administered a breath test at the scene.

Under California Vehicle Code 23152, “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.” It is also illegal in the state of California to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or higher. California Vehicle Code Section 14601 states that makes it illegal to drive on a suspended license.

The Los Angeles County DUI defense attorneys at Sitkoff & Hanrahan protect the rights of motorists throughout LA County. We have extensive experience and a successful track record of helping those charged with driving under the influence. Our reputed lawyers carefully examine the circumstances surrounding an arrest to build a strong case on your behalf so we can fight for the charges made against you to be reduced or completely dismissed. If you have been charged with driving under the influence in California, please contact our law offices at 866-430-8383 today. We always offer free consultations.

Seven drivers were arrested recently for drunk driving in Lake Forest and neighboring cities including Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita after the Orange County Sheriff’s Department conducted roving saturation patrols on March 6. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the patrol consisted of eight cars staffed with two deputies each. In total, the patrols stopped 105 vehicles. Seven drivers were arrested for DUIs and two were cited and released for driving on suspended licenses.

Law enforcement officials believe that roving patrols are more effective than DUI checkpoints because deputies look specifically for drivers who show signs of impairment. These patrol officers are reportedly trained to look for intoxicated drivers. These roving patrols are funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety.

Whether it is DUI checkpoints or roving patrols, there is no question that mistakes are consistently made by arresting officers. Breathalyzers and field sobriety tests have inherent flaws. Although officers may be specially trained to identify impaired or intoxicated drivers, they are by no means experts. They are human beings who are very likely to make mistakes.