The July 4 Weekend Resulted in Many DUI Arrests in Orange County

Police officers spend every Fourth of July weekend cracking down on drunk drivers in California. The Orange County Register reports that this year, 51 DUI arrests were made over the holiday weekend in Orange County. Last year, 57 people were arrested during Independence Day weekend.

Authorities know that many drivers are coming from a celebration and there is an increased probability of drivers being under the influence of alcohol. To combat this problem, the California Highway Patrol considers this holiday weekend to be “a maximum enforcement period.” They put out as many officers as they can to cut down on drunk driving. While this tactic leads to safer roads, it also leads to many false DUI charges.

Those charged with a drunk driving in Orange County face serious penalties that can negatively impact their lives for years to come. When the police force is out to arrest people for DUIs, there is always the danger that they prejudge the driver’s condition. When someone who assumes people are driving drunk administers a field sobriety test (FST), that subjective opinion could play a part in the conclusions they draw.

First time California DUI offenders face jail time of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000 and a license suspension of up to six months. They will also be forced to undergo an alcohol counseling program, get points put on their license and may be ordered to install an ignition interlock device (IID). These devices force the driver to take a blood alcohol breath test before starting the car.

Call Sitkoff & Hanrahan at 1-866-430-8383 to get more information about fighting your DUI charges. We will thoroughly review your case and aggressively defend you in court. If your case cannot be thrown out, we will negotiate for lessened charges and alternative sentencing to protect your current way of life. We understand what is at stake and we have the legal experience and knowledge to help you.