When a young person gets arrested for DUI, it reflects a momentary lack of judgment. Teenagers and 20-year-olds don’t understand how strongly alcohol affects them. They’re also more willing to experiment and take risks than …
Was it legal for the police to search my car during my California DUI arrest?
California has very clear rules about when, and how, the police can search someone’s car. You might assume that police would be careful to follow those rules, but that’s not always true. Illegal searches are …
I was in my car but I wasn’t driving. Is this a valid DUI defense in Los Angeles?
When police see you in a vehicle and believe that you’re drunk, their natural reaction is to arrest you for DUI. But how can you be convicted of driving under the influence if you never …
I was arrested for DUI in California, but I’m from out of state. What do I do?
If you were arrested for DUI while visiting California, you face the same DUI penalties as a state resident would. However, the process can be more complicated, and it will affect your right to drive …
A police officer informed me that my blood-alcohol level registered above a .08%. I know that cannot be right. What can I do?
Police use three methods to ascertain blood alcohol concentration (BAC): blood tests, breath tests and urine tests. In California, blood and breath tests are most common. But none of these tests are reliable in all …
What if I don’t want to go to trial, I just want to get my case resolved?
Most DUI cases never go to trial. They’re usually resolved before the trial date, outside of court. The way this works is the prosecutor will typically offer a plea bargain. However, there is a huge …
If a person is arrested and they have gone through a field sobriety test, are there ways you can fight that?
Yes. Field Sobriety Tests (FST’s) are not reliable indicators of intoxication. And they are not meant to be proof in a court case—they were devised purely to help officers make a judgment in the field …
Why should I not just plead guilty and move on with my life? Why is it a good idea to consult with an attorney?
The first thing a prosecutor will do in most DUI cases is offer you a “deal” if you agree to plead guilty. It is seldom a good idea to take this deal—in most cases it’s …
If I’m arrested for a DUI in the state of California what do I need to know?
If you were arrested for DUI in California, you should know that the penalties are very serious. Counting all fines and fees, a first time DUI can cost anywhere from $1,800 to more than $15,000. …
What is a “rising BAC defense” in a DUI case?
Rising BAC is a DUI defense that says you weren’t drunk while you were driving—even if you were drunk by when the police administered a chemical test. This is because alcohol takes time to be …