DUI Blogger

Patrick Valenzuela, a prominent horse racing jockey and the youngest jockey ever to win the Santa Anita Derby, has had his racing license revoked after a recent DUI arrest. The California Horse Racing Board revoked his license after the arrest and reported that it did so because the conditional racing license it had issued was only issued on condition of Valenzuela abstaining from alcohol altogether.

Valenzuela’s history of drug abuse and other substance issues led to the conditional license, which also requires random drug testing. He has already been suspended eight times in connection with drug abuse. Valenzuela’s DUI arrest took place on December 20 in Upland, California.

The Valenzuela arrest and license suspension highlights an often-overlooked consequence of DUI arrests – their affect on a person’s day-to-day activities such as job and community reputation. Though Valenzuela’s DUI was not yet proven, his mere arrest was enough to give the California Horse Racing Board pause. The “zero-tolerance” attitude of many employers and professional organizations towards DUI gives those accused an even stronger motivation to seek a watertight DUI defense or, at the very least, a lawyer who can protect their personal rights as they navigate the often-confusing world of California DUI law.

A good California DUI lawyer can help you keep your license and keep you out of jail. They have access to expert witnesses who can disprove or call into question official “evidence” and can conduct a thorough investigation into the particulars of your case. And they know the system well enough to understand its main players and its particular ins and outs. The experienced attorneys at Neil Shouse & Associates are aggressive in the courtroom and sympathetic to your side of the story. We’re committed to keeping our clients on the road and out of jail. Have you been arrested on suspected DUI? Act now – don’t approach your DUI hearing by yourself. Call today for a completely free and totally confidential phone consultation.

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Posted In: DUI Consequences

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John Joseph Taskey, aged 46, has pleaded not guilty of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol and causing injury, and driving under the influence with prior DUI convictions. His trial will begin April 10 in San Diego Superior Court. Taskey, who has five prior DUI convictions and served time in state prison for the last offense, was on parole when he allegedly struck and killed 76-year-old Rosa Degerman with his truck. The Deputy District Attorney states that Taskey’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.10 at the time of the injury – two percentage points higher than the legal state limit of 0.08.

Taskey is in jail on $1 million bail and will await trial for second-degree murder. The severity of his accusations highlights an unfortunate complication of DUI arrests that are related to car accidents causing injury or death. Criminal charges like the murder and vehicular manslaughter accusations can be added on to the DUI charge, complicating the underlying DUI case and presenting a whole range of issues to the defendant and his or her legal team. In a case such as Taskey’s, it is unlikely that a jury will respond favorably to a man already showing a long-term track record of DUI offenses. However, the right DUI lawyer could get some or all charges dismissed on procedural issues, help uncover evidence that exonerates Taskey, and/or engage in plea bargaining with the District Attorney to lessen the severity of any required jail time or other punishment.

Due to the many ins and outs of California’s legal system, it is never a good idea to “go it alone” when it comes to DUI accusations. Even if you are being accused of your first DUI, the way in which you handle your first offense could affect your freedom and treatment down the road. That’s why it’s so important to find the right California DUI defense attorney to take up your case. The lawyers at Neil Shouse & Associates aren’t just experienced – they’re committed to preserving the freedom and personal rights of each and every client. Contact us today for a free, confidential phone consultation.

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Actress Michelle Rodriguez has been released from Lynchwood County Jail in California after serving only 18 of 180 sentenced days. Her release was due to overcrowded conditions at the jail, which allows female inmates who have not proven themselves to be violent to serve as little as ten percent of their sentence before release. This is not the first DUI-related jail stay for Lost star Rodriguez, whose well-publicized brush with the law landed her in another California jail in 2006. Rodriguez has also served a probation term after driving with a suspended license and pleading no contest to a DUI in 2003.

Rodriguez’ release is not uncommon for those sent to jail on repeat-offender DUI charges. California’s jails are notoriously overcrowded, and many have a program that releases non-violent offenders who have served part of their term on good behavior. However light the jail’s treatment of Rodriguez’ DUI, however, in general California DUIs are punished severely. In fact, the state of California requires that jail time be served for certain DUI offenses. Even a first-offense DUI will rack up a required 48-hour jail sentence, while second offenses require a minimum of 96 hours served. Third-time offenders will face 120 required days of jail, though many counties punish a third offense with up to a year in jail. A fourth-time offender is subject to a felony conviction, which can affect a DUI offender’s ability to work.

Jail time, probation, loss of license and hiked-up insurance rates are harsh realities for those convicted of a California DUI. You may be confused, angry and worried when you get accused of a DUI, but you must not waffle when it comes to addressing the charges laid against you. You have only a limited amount of time in which to obtain competent and aggressive legal counsel to help defend you against DUI charges. Neil Shouse & Associates are committed to helping clients overcome DUI charges. Have you been charged with a California DUI? Call us today for a free consultation.

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Posted In: Celebrity DUI Arrests

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Recent reports indicate that the California Highway Patrol will ramp up patrol efforts along the I-15 corridor in an attempt to get a handle on drunk drivers, speeders, and those who fail to properly use seat belts and proper restraints while driving. The crackdown effort will focus on the I-15 corridor that stretches from Nevada to northern Riverside County and will involve speed traps, increased police activity and even air patrols.

According to a recent report by the San Diego Union-Tribune, there were over 130 deaths and nearly 7,000 accidents on that very stretch of I-15 in a single year. The injury, death and property damage toll has prompted the CHP to take action, cracking down on irresponsible drivers. Approximately 18,000 vehicles are thought to take the route daily.

Though the CHP’s action is expected to last only for two days, it is indicative of increasing concern on unsafe driving and DUI behavior on California’s roads. As you may know, California has one of the most draconian sets of DUI laws in the country, and takes both speeding and driving under the influence very seriously.

Possible consequences of a DUI conviction can include losing your license, spending time in jail, facing expensive fines and insurance rate hikes, and newspaper and press exposure that can sully your reputation and make it hard to find a job or do business in your town. The DUI hearing that occurs after your arrest is the most important legal appearance you’ll make in your California DUI case, and it pays to have an experienced California DUI lawyer by your side as you appear before the DMV.

Neil Shouse & Associates is committed to freedom and civil rights for its DUI clients. We know what it takes to fight and win your DUI case. Call today for a free consultation.

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Lieutenant Deborah Pierce, a California Highway Patrol officer working for the Bakersfield division, was pulled over and arrested on drunk driving charges while driving on Highway 99. The officer, who wrecked her car, did not hurt any others while on the road. News reports state that she will face misdemeanor DUI charges. There is no word yet on whether Pierce, who has served with the CHP for over 17 years, will be stripped of her CHP position.

Pierce isn’t the only Highway Patrol officer who has faced legal heat for driving under the influence in recent years. In late 2006, a high-ranking Division Assistant Chief was arrested on DUI charges. He had been a long-time advocate of DUI education and ending California drunk driving. Maples was given administrative leave after his arrest.

Unfortunately, California’s Highway Patrol is no stranger to questionable behavior by high-ranking officials. But Pierce’s pullover goes to show that nobody is exempt from California’s hard-hitting DUI laws. Though administrative leave or loss of job is a real possibility for Pierce, that’s just the tip of the iceberg for how a DUI can affect your long- and short-term prospects.

Not only does a DUI endanger your freedom by potentially costing you your license, but it can cost you over time by adding a mark to your permanent record, raising insurance rates, costing money in penalties and fines, and even requiring imprisonment. That’s why it’s so important to consult with an experienced DUI attorney as soon as you’re charged with DUI. The right DUI lawyer knows the system and can defend you capably and aggressively.

Neil Shouse & Associates have what it takes to defend your DUI. Interested in a free consultation? Time is of the essence. Call us today for more information on how we can preserve your right to drive and get you out of a sticky DUI situation.

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A California teenager was arrested for DUI three times in less than two weeks. Police in the San Francisco suburb of Morgan Hill say 19 year old Anthony Maher was arrested three times in eleven days for driving under the influence.

For two of the arrests, investigators say his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit. The California DMV will suspend Maher’s license for one year.

For underage drivers charged with DUI, a different set of laws concerning license suspension apply. The DMV ramifications are even harsher than those for a legal adult. If an underage driver tests at a 0.1% or more on any test, whether in the field or police station, he can lose his license for one year.

In addition, a 1-year suspension for anyone under 21 years of age who refuses to take a preliminary screening test, meaning a field test, will apply. For these drivers, a DUI conviction will be considered as a first DUI, if others occurred within the following 10-year period.

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Posted In: DUIs and Minors

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