DUI Blogger

A man suspected of DUI in Torrance crashed into a tree injuring himself and his passenger, the Daily Breeze reports. A passenger’s thumb was cut off when the Ford Taurus overturned. The accident reportedly occurred near the intersection of Van Ness Avenue and Del Amo Boulevard.

Both the driver and the passenger were taken to an area hospital for treatment. Police apparently found bottles of alcohol in the vehicle. Officials said the men admitted they had been drinking. Fortunately, no other vehicles were involved in this traffic collision.

Whether a DUI accident is treated as a misdemeanor or a felony depends on the nature of the auto accident and whether there were injuries, deaths or property loss involved. If there are serious injuries or deaths involved, then the defendant could very well be charged with a felony DUI, which is a serious charge with grave consequences. Penalties could include jail time, hefty fines and suspension of driver’s license.

If you or someone you know has been accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, you need an experienced and skilled Southern California DUI Defense attorney who knows and understand the ins and outs of California drunk driving laws. In our minds, DUI cases are rarely hopeless. Our clients come to us because they want to fight their DUI and win. The reality of DUI cases is that you could be arrested or charged when you may not in fact have been “legally drunk.” In the State of California, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more.

If you have been arrested on suspicion of a DUI, don’t give up. Call us to find us how you can fight your DUI and win.

A San Diego County Sheriff’s deputy was injured after his holster got caught on the door of a vehicle he had just pulled over and the driver tried to flee the scene, dragging the deputy. According to an article in the San Diego Union-Tribune, Deputy Robert Gibson had stopped the 46-year-old man on suspicion of drunk driving in San Diego County after seeing him drive his truck on the bike lane for several blocks.

Gibson had reportedly spotted beer on the bed of the truck and smelled alcohol. Gibson stood by the driver’s door and asked him to turn off the engine and hand over the vehicle’s keys. But, the driver suddenly drove off and dragged the deputy with him. The truck jumped over a curb on the center median. Gibson was thrown and landed on some bushes where he hit a tree. The man was eventually arrested shortly afterward in a parking lot nearby.

How many times do we see people trying to evade police or start a chase? It always ends exactly the same way – with the fleeing driver being apprehended. Always remember that if you are stopped on suspicion of drunk driving, it does not mean you will get arrested. Even if you do get arrested, there are many ways to prove that you were not driving drunk.

If you have been charged with a DUI, you need a truly experienced Southern California Drunk Driving defense lawyer, who will independently investigate the case and help you fight your DUI. Call us today to discuss your case.

Los Angeles Police officers arrested 41-year-old Robert Palacios on suspicion of murder in Lincoln Heights after he struck and killed a pedestrian during a police pursuit, the Los Angeles Times reports. Police say it was not considered a “pursuit” because officers did not turn on lights or sirens. They followed Palacios because officials say they suspected him of driving under the influence after seeing him “drive erratically” near Figueroa Boulevard and Avenue 52.

The pedestrian was identified as 61-year-old Demetrio Sosa. Palacios also reportedly struck a minivan, but the occupants of the minivan did not suffer major injuries. Sosa was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

If you are arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Los Angeles, you could face serious charges especially if the incident involves death and/or injuries. If convicted of murder, Palacios will be in serious trouble and will likely face 25 years to life in prison. Generally, those convicted of drunk driving also face hefty fines and suspension or revocation of their driving privilege.

If you or someone you know has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, it is very important that you contact an experienced and knowledgeable Southern California DUI defense attorney. We have the skill and the resources it takes to conduct an independent investigation and build a strong defense that it takes to get you acquitted or get your charges reduced. We have former district attorneys and investigators working with us – people who know very well how law enforcement and prosecutors think and work. Call us today to discuss your case.

A recent Los Angeles Times blog by Susan Brink talks about new tests just like a Breathalyzer that researchers hope will detect drivers operating under the influence of illegal drugs. The National Institutes of Health has reportedly released guidelines on possible ways to conduct these tests. Just as suspected drunk drivers are asked to blow into a Breathalyzer, someone suspected of driving under the influence of marijuana or cocaine may be asked to spit into a cup. Your saliva will then be tested for the presence of drugs.

Experts are hoping that these new guidelines, which are still evolving, will be a good way to identify drivers under the influence of drugs and keep them off the roadways. But the question is: Is this an effective way of finding out if drivers are really impaired? As DUI and drug crime defense attorneys in California, we have consistently found that Breathalyzers that are used in the field by police are not at all an effective measure of blood alcohol content (BAC). A lot of these testing devices are not calibrated properly and show wrong readings, which we have challenged in court and won.

Officials who authorize field tests should seriously consider their efficacy and reliability. First, the tests must be reliable. Secondly, the officers who are conducting the tests should be trained properly and be able to carry out the tests in a proper manner. We’ve seen that hasn’t been the case with Field Sobriety Tests. Even the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) studies show that these tests are not an effective way of measuring whether a driver is intoxicated.

An experienced and knowledgeable Southern California drunk driving defense attorney will be able to help you fight your DUI despite Breathalyzer tests that show a BAC of 0.08 or higher. A truly skilled DUI defense attorney can effectively challenge field sobriety tests and defend the charges against you. If you or someone you love has been arrested on suspicion of a DUI, please call us to schedule a free consultation.