Recent Blog Posts in 2011

If you plan on going out this weekend, please be aware of the upcoming DUI sobriety checkpoints. If you happen to be arrested during a DUI check point, contact our California DUI Defense Lawyers as soon as possible. We will look into the details of your case to ensure that the arrest was done lawfully and in accordance to specific guidelines.

Contact our CA DUI Attorneys today at 888-844-4384 or fill out our FREE DUI case evaluation form to have a dedicated lawyer contact you directly!

Friday, December 2^nd

Los Angeles:  8pm-2am - Lincoln Blvd. at Maxella Ave.

Orange County:  DUI roving patrol in the cities of Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel and Laguna Woods

Saturday, December 3^rd

Los Angeles: 8pm - 2am - Cahuenga Blvd. at Broadlawn Dr.

San Jacinto: 7pm - 3am - undisclosed location

San Jose: 9pm - 3am - undisclosed location

Sunday, December 4^th

Los Angeles: 12pm - 8pm - Harbor area

If you plan on going out and drinking this weekend, please make sure to have a designated driver or hire a taxi prior to leaving your home.

 Our California DUI Defense Lawyers know how stressful it can be to go through a DUI sobriety checkpoint, even if you haven't been drinking at all.  Most arresting officials announce the checkpoint prior to its commencement; however, it is not uncommon for the checkpoint to be announced moments before it is to begin.  The information below is designed to inform you of the upcoming DUI checkpoints that may be in your area.

If you are arrested during a DUI sobriety checkpoint, contact our California DUI Defense Lawyers as soon as possible. Waiting to hire a reputable DUI attorney in CA can be detrimental to your case. Fill out our DUI case evaluation form or call us at 888-844-4384!

Friday, November 25^th

Bakersfield:  all weekend long - undisclosed location

Norco : 7pm - 3am - undisclosed location

Saturday, November 26^th

Modesto: 9:30pm-3:30am - undisclosed location

Ventura: 8pm - 3am - undisclosed location

DUI checkpoints are designed to ensure that motorists are not driving under the influence as they could be a danger to not only themselves but other motorists as well.  While most checkpoints are not announced until moments before their commencement, several arresting agencies have posted the cities, times and locations so that drivers are aware of where they will be occurring. 

If you are arrested during a DUI sobriety checkpoint, you need to call and hire a reputable California DUI Defense Lawyer as soon as possible. Waiting to retain counsel will only make your case harder to get through without severe consequences.

Call our California DUI Attorneys today at 888-844-4384 and we will answer any questions you may have as well as provide you with a free quote!

Friday, November 4^th

Los Angeles: 8pm - 2am - Florence Ave. between Main St. & Broadway

Modesto: 9:30pm - 3:30am - undisclosed location.

Rancho Santa Margarita: 6:30pm-2:30am - undisclosed location 

This Halloween weekend will be filled with plenty of unique costumes, candy, parties and of course, DUI sobriety checkpoints. If you plan on going out and drinking, please make sure that you have a designated driver or hire a taxi!   Police officials all throughout California will be conduction both stationary DUI checkpoints as well as roving DUI patrols to make sure that motorists are not driving under the influence.

If you happen to be arrested during a DUI checkpoint, contact our California DUI Defense Attorneys as soon as possible. We want to help keep you driving! Call us toll free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 888-844-4384. To have a lawyer contact you, fill out our FREE DUI Case Evaluation Form now!

Friday, October 28th

Baldwin Park: evening - undisclosed location

Modesto: evening - undisclosed location

Riverside: 6pm-12am - undisclosed location

Sacramento: 8pm-2am - 16 ^th Street & C Street

San Bernardino County:  all weekend long - county wide

Santa Barbara County:  all weekend long - county wide

Studio City:  8pm-2am - Ventura Blvd. & Big Oak Drive

Saturday, October 29^h

Hollywood:  8pm-2am - Sunset Blvd. & Bronson Ave.

Modesto: evening - undisclosed location

Murrieta: 7pm-3am - undisclosed location

Redlands: 10pm - 4am - University St. & Church St.

San Diego: evening - near San Diego State University

Monday, October 31^st

Grand Terrace: 5pm - 1am - undisclosed location

Loma Linda: 5pm - 1am - undisclosed location

Santa Cruz: all day - multiple locations

Victorville: 6pm - saturation patrol, city wide

If you plan on going out this weekend, please be aware of the upcoming DUI sobriety checkpoints that may be occurring near you. While most DUI checkpoints are announced prior to their commencement, arresting officials are now trying to postpone the announcement as long as possible so that motorists do not intentionally avoid having to go through a checkpoint.   If you do not see a DUI checkpoint located in a city near you that does not mean that one might not pop up throughout the weekend. Be prepared and have a designated driver or hire a taxi if you plan on going out and drinking.

Once you are arrested at a DUI checkpoint, it is recommended that you hire a reputable California DUI Defense Lawyer who knows the laws and is able to investigate your case.   Our California DUI Attorneys have been practicing DUI defense for over a decade and will fight for you. Call us today at 888-844-4384 or fill out our FREE DUI case evaluation form to have an attorney contact you directly.

Friday, October 7

Escondido: all weekend - undisclosed location

Saturday, October 8

Redlands: 10pm-4am - northbound lanes of Orange St., south of Pearl Ave.

According to CBS Los Angeles, Stanesha Nicole Allen, of Lake Los Angeles , was picking up the children from a caregiver early in the morning after she reportedly had been at a wedding the night before where she had been drinking. She drifted off the road onto a dirt path before she lost control of the 2002 Toyota Sequoia that she was driving.    The SUV rolled over four times before it came to a complete stop.

Two children, a 1-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl, suffered head trauma and were airlifted to the Antelope Valley Hospital .   Allen and four other children, ages 10 months to 11 years old, were taken to the local hospital with minor to moderate injuries.   Three out of the 6 kids are said to be Allen's biological children, two are foster kids and one is Allen's niece.

If you have recently been involved in a DUI related accident or have been arrested on suspicion of a California driving under the influence charge, contact our California DUI Defense Lawyers as soon as possible at 888-844-4384 or fill out our FREE DUI case evaluation form to have a dedicated attorney contact you directly!

According to the San Diego 10 News, 30-year-old Sean Michael Webber stole a police car at around 9:45am Sunday morning, on the corner of Midland and Twin Peaks roads.   Officers were standing near the vehicle when Webber jumped in and drove off. A pursuit began immediately after Webber stole the vehicle with the assistance of a sheriff's helicopter crew as the California Highway Patrol.   The 23 mile, 38-minute chase ended when Webber drove to the end of a cul-de-sac in the Carmel Valley area, barreled through a fence, then came back towards officers before he exited the still-moving car and surrendered.

Officers arrested Webber took him to the San Diego Central Jail where he is being held on a $50,000 bail.  Webber was booked on suspicion of felony evading, felony theft of an on-call emergency vehicle, misdemeanor drunken driving and misdemeanor driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

If you or someone you know has been arrested for driving under the influence in San Diego or for a California DUI, contact our California DUI Defense Lawyers as soon as possible. We will answer any questions you may have, provide you with legal advice as well as a free quote.

Call us today at 888-844-4384 or fill out our FREE California DUI case evaluation form to have our lawyers contact you directly. 

Being arrested for a California driving under the influence charge can be stressful and expensive, especially if you are pulled over during a DUI Sobriety Checkpoint. Fortunately, our California DUI Defense Lawyers have been trained in administering DUI field sobriety tests as well as the breathalyzer test and will utilize this knowledge in helping you get a more favorable outcome in your specific DUI case.  

Our CA DUI Lawyers want you to be aware of the upcoming, as well as previous, DUI sobriety checkpoints that may be near you. While these checkpoints are supposed to be announced prior to their commencement, it is not uncommon for arresting officers to wait until the last minute to post the time and location of a checkpoint. This is done to deter motorists from purposely avoiding a certain area knowing that there might be a checkpoint.

Contact our California DUI Defense Attorneys today if you are arrested during a DUI sobriety checkpoint. We will discuss the details of your case, answer any questions you may have and provide you with a free quote. Call us today at 888-844-4384 or fill out our FREE DUI case evaluation form to have an attorney contact you directly!

Friday, September 30^th

Inglewood: 7pm-3am - Manchester Blvd. at Kareem Court

San Rafael: 6pm - early morning - Eastbound Third St. at Union St. , may relocate to Irwin St. at Fifth Ave.

San Diego County: evening - Valley Center, time and location undisclosed

Ventura:   8pm-3am - undisclosed location

Our California DUI Defense Lawyers have compiled the list below to provide you with the times and cities of DUI sobriety checkpoints that will be occurring this weekend.   Although most of these checkpoints have been announced, it is not uncommon for their actual location to be undisclosed as arresting officers are attempting to prevent motorists from purposely avoiding the area where a checkpoint will be.  By making the location "undisclosed", officers have a better chance at arresting those who have been driving under the influence.

If you are arrested for a California DUI during a DUI Sobriety checkpoint, contact our California DUI Attorneys as soon as possible. You have only 10 days to contact the DMV to request a hearing that is separate from your criminal court hearing! Let our DUI Defense Lawyers in California request and conduct the hearing for you! Call us at 888-844-4384 or fill out our free DUI case evaluation form!

Friday, Sept. 23^rd

Hanford: 6pm-2am - undisclosed location

San Juan Capistrano: 6:30pm - 2:30am - undisclosed location

Santa Maria: 6pm-1am - undisclosed location

Saturday, Sept. 24^th

Costa Mesa: 6pm-2am - undisclosed location

Fontana: 6:30pm-2am - undisclosed location

Los Angeles: 8pm-8am - Cahuenga Blvd. & Broadlawn Dr.

Modesto: 10pm-3am - DUI roving saturation patrol

Sunday, Sept. 25^th

Livermore: 2pm-10pm - undisclosed location

Getting around California without can be quite hard, especially if you do not reside in a pedestrian friendly city. Unfortunately, if you are arrested for driving under the influence, you could be facing a yearlong license suspension, making it that much harder to get to work, school or anywhere else you may want to go.  

Our California DUI Attorneys want you to be aware of the upcoming DUI sobriety checkpoints so that you can have a designated driver or call a taxi if you plan on going out.   These checkpoints are usually announced prior to their commencement; however it is not uncommon for arresting officials to prolong announcing the checkpoint until moments before it actually begins.

If you are arrested during a DUI Sobriety Checkpoint, contact tour California DUI Defense Lawyers as soon as possible .Waiting to hire an attorney can be detrimental to you case; call us today at 888-844-4384 or fill out our free California DUI case evaluation form to have a lawyer contact you directly!

Friday 9/16

Buena Park: 7pm - 3am - Stanton Ave. & Beach Blvd.

Petaluma: 6pm-2am - undisclosed location

San Mateo: 6pm-2am - Fourth Ave.

Saturday 9/17

Modesto: 9:30pm - 3:30am - undisclosed location

Ventura: 8pm-3am - undisclosed location

Westminster: 9pm-2am - Westminster Blvd. & Edwards St.

DUI sobriety checkpoints are designed to protect the public from motorists who may be driving under the influence. These checkpoints usually occur over the weekend and are near areas known for frequent DUI arrests.   If you plan on going out this weekend, please have a designated driver or hire a taxi as there will be plenty of DUI sobriety checkpoints all throughout California.

 Contact our California DUI Defense Attorneys if you happen to be arrested during a DUI checkpoint; we will look into the details of your arrest and will represent you throughout your entire case.

Friday 9/9

Fortuna: 9pm - early morning - 500 block of S. Fortuna Boulevard

Lynwood: 6pm-2am - undisclosed location

Modesto: 10pm-3am - city limits, undisclosed location

Pacifica: 7pm-1am - city limits, undisclosed location

Sacramento: 8pm - early morning - 5 ^th Street & L Street

Ventura: 8pm-3am - undisclosed location

Saturday 9/10

Buellton: 5:30pm - 11:30pm - undisclosed location

Rancho San Diego: 7pm-1:30am - undisclosed location

Santee: 8pm - 3am - undisclosed location

Monday 9/12

Costa Mesa: 6pm-12am - undisclosed location 

When California state senators vote on proposed legislation addressing California sobriety checkpoints, the bills will be a bit different from those originally proposed by Assemblymen Gil Cedillo and Michael Allen.

In their original form, both bills addressed police impounds of cars at DUI/license checkpoints. According to the Press-Democrat, the impoundment provision has been dropped from Allen's AB 1389. The remaining provisions address how California DUI checkpoints must be conducted, including a requirement that police give at least 48 hours notice of a checkpoint's location.

Meanwhile, the impoundment component was shifted to AB 353, proposed by Cedillo. Allen and Cedillo decided to team up on the impoundment issue and to become joint authors of AB 353, according to Allen aide David Miller.  

The proposed bill, which is pending in the Senate, would limit the impounding of cars of unlicensed drivers at California DUI checkpoints if the car wasn't used in a crime. In addition, a car couldn't be impounded if a licensed driver was available, or an officer was able to park the car in a safe place.

Allen's California DUI law now "deals only with DUI checkpoints," Miller said.

Another change in Allen's bill involves more specific advance notice of checkpoint locations. Initially, he had wanted police to cite the actual location, but his bill was amended in the Assembly to "general location." In the Senate version, the word "general" was deleted, signifying a desire to require police to be more specific on locations.

Miller said publicizing locations remains the "subject of ongoing negotiations with law enforcement and social justice groups." As we have continually highlighted on this blog, studies have shown that giving notice is helpful in deterring some instances of drunk driving.

If you or someone you know has been arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence in California, contact our California DUI attorneys today. If you are interested in learning more about the locations of California DUI checkpoints, you can also visit our Facebook page!

Actress Jaime Pressly will avoid jail time after pleading no contest to California drunk driving charges last week. Instead, the My Name is Earl actress, 34, was sentenced to three years of informal probation, according to media reports.

In addition to probation, Pressly is also required to attend a six-month alcohol education class and must have an ignition interlock device installed on her car. For drivers who are not familiar with these devices, they are designed to prevent drivers from operating a motor vehicle when they have a measurable amount of alcohol in their systems.

As detailed on this blog, the actress had previously pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from her January 5 arrest in Santa Monica after a failed field sobriety test. Pressly reportedly had a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.22 percent, significantly more than legal limit of 0.08 percent. Prosecutors had charged the actress with driving under the influence as a misdemeanor offense.

Being arrested for a California DUI can be a traumatic experience, and not just for those in the public spotlight. Therefore, it is important to have an experienced and knowledgeable California DUI defense attorney.

If you or someone you know has been arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence in California, contact our California DUI attorneys today.

Please stay safe this Labor Day Weekend as there will be multiple DUI sobriety checkpoints and DUI roving patrols all throughout California.   From September 1 ^st through September 5 ^th, police departments as well as the California Highway Patrol will be deploying most of their arresting officers to ensure that the public is safe from intoxicated drivers.

If you plan on going out this weekend, please have a designated driver or hire a taxi. If you are arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and or drugs, contact our California DUI Defense Attorneys as soon as you are released.   We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 888-844-4384. To have a DUI attorney from California contact you directly, fill out our free DUI case evaluation form today!

Thursday:  9/1

Cypress: September 1 ^st - 9pm-3am - undisclosed location

Redlands: 10pm - 3am - southbound lanes of Cajon St., south of Cypress Ave.

Friday 9/2

Apple Valley: 6pm-2am - undisclosed location

Coachella: 7pm - early morning - undisclosed location

Laguna Beach: all weekend starting Friday, Sept. 2 ^nd through Monday, Sept. 5th

Lake Elsinore: evening - undisclosed location

Lemon Grove: 7pm - early morning - city limits

Mission Viejo: 7pm-3am - undisclosed location

Redlands: 10pm-2am - westbound lanes of Redlands Blvd., west of Eureka St.

San Bernardino County: 7pm-2:30 am - between the cities of Chino and Montclair

San Jacinto: 6:30pm-2am - city limits

San Marcos: 7pm - early morning - city limits

Saturday 9/3

Imperial Beach: 7pm - early morning - city limits

Long Beach: 6pm-2am - western section of the city

Palm Desert: 8pm-2am - city limits

Santa Barbara: 8pm-2am - undisclosed location

Sunday 9/4

Poway City: 7pm - early morning - city limits

In previous blog posts, we have highlighted two California Assembly bills designed to regulate California sobriety checkpoints. Specifically, the bills address concerns surrounding the high number of vehicles impounded at California sobriety checkpoints and the disproportionate impact on unlicensed drivers.

Both bills made it to the Senate floor last week.

As detailed by California Watch, AB 353 addresses many concerns associated with California sobriety checkpoints by prohibiting cities from having operations that focus equally on valid driver's licenses and intoxication. California law already prohibits license-only checkpoints.

With few exceptions, police could seize a car only when the motorist is suspected of a crime beyond unlicensed driving. Local governments would be protected from liability for damage or loss when they park, rather than tow, a vehicle.

Finally, on occasions when an unlicensed driver's car is taken to an impound lot, the legislation requires the vehicle be available for release the next day.

Meanwhile, AB 1389 would require checkpoints to be on roads with "a high incidence of DUI arrests or a high volume of DUI-related accidents," and not necessarily only on city streets or minority neighborhoods.

It would also provide unlicensed motorists caught at checkpoints an opportunity to find a legal driver and avoid impoundment. Police would still be permitted to seize cars when drivers are intoxicated, have revoked or suspended licenses, flee from officers, or the car serves as evidence of a crime (other than unlicensed driving).

We will continue to provide updates on both bills as they advance through the legislative process.

If you or someone you love has been arrested for drunk driving at a California DUI checkpoint, be sure to consult with an experienced California DUI Defense attorney as soon as possible.

Most California drivers are aware that driving impaired is illegal. But how do you define "driving?" For instance, what happens if the police find you passed out in your vehicle?

California DUI law (California Vehicle Code §§23152 and 23153) requires that the defendant "drive" a motor vehicle in order to be convicted of driving under the influence.  In some case, this is very clear; in other circumstances, such as the case of a passed out driver described above, it is not so clear.

As a result, the California courts have interpreted the law to determine the definition of driving for purposes of conviction. The following are some of the interpretations of the term "driving."

• In the case of Mercer v. DMV, the act of driving was defined as the "volitional movement of the vehicle" while the intoxicated individual is in physical control of the vehicle.
• California courts have subsequently further clarified what constitutes "actual physical control." In the case of Keeler v. Superior Court of Amador Country, the court interpreted the term "actual physical control of the vehicle" and determined that both volitional movement and actual physical control must be present to be considered as "driving" under the penal statute.
• Similarly, in the case of In re Queen, the court held that both elements of volitional movement and actual physical control must be proven by the prosecution in order to sustain a DUI conviction, although circumstantial evidence may be used. In that case, the court found that steering a car, while someone else works the gas and brakes, is driving.

In essence, actual physical control means the defendant must physically be in or near the vehicle and have the capability to operate the vehicle, regardless whether he or she operated the vehicle at the time of the arrest.

Under the definitions described above, it is still possible for a California driver to be charged with DUI in a parked car. For instance, if the engine was on, the parking brake released, and the impaired person was behind the wheel, these circumstances could constitute "driving."

Therefore, if you cannot call a cab or find a sober driver to pick you, the best idea may be to place the keys in the trunk and lay down in the back seat.

If you are arrested for California DUI in a parked car, it is important to hire an experienced California DUI/DWI attorney who will be able to raise doubts about whether you were actually "driving."

As a DUI offender, you could be looking at hefty fines, lengthy license suspension and potential jail time, even on a first time DUI offense.  Whether you are stopped on the road or during a DUI sobriety checkpoint, it is imperative that you hire a reputable DUI defense attorney who will fight for you.

Our California DUI Lawyers have compiled the following list of DUI checkpoints in California that will be occurring this weekend.   Although most police departments announce a checkpoint prior to its commencement, not all provide the checkpoint information far in advance; many arresting officials provide the public with very little detail hours up to the check point.   If you are arrested during a DUI sobriety checkpoint, contact our California DUI Attorneys today!

Friday:

Anaheim: 8pm-3am -DUI roving patrol

Irvine: 8pm-3am -DUI roving patrol

Lake Elsinore: evening - undisclosed location

Los Angeles: 8pm-2am -

·         Figueroa Street & 9th Street in Central Area

·         Manchester Avenue &Broadway in Southeast Area

·         Sunset Boulevard & Hoover Street in Northeast Area

Lower Lake: 6pm-2am - near Highways 53 & 29

Newport Beach: 8pm-3am - DUI roving patrol throughout the city

Poway: 7pm - early morning - undisclosed location

San Diego: 9pm-4am - undisclosed location

San Bernardino: 6pm - early morning - 500 block of W. 40 ^th Street

San Bernardino County: 6pm-2am - undisclosed locations within the cities of Hesperia, Redlands, San Bernardino, Cal State University of San Bernardino, Upland, Barstow and Chino Hills

Santa Ana: evening - undisclosed location  

Santa Barbara: evening - undisclosed location

Santa Monica: evening - undisclosed location

Stanislaus County: evening - within the cities of Modesto & Turlock

Temecula: 9pm - early morning - undisclosed location

Ventura: 8pm-3am - undisclosed location

Visalia: evening - undisclosed location

Saturday:

Adelanto: 6pm - 2am - undisclosed location - saturation patrol

Anaheim: 8pm-3am - DUI roving patrol

Buena Park: 8pm-3am - DUI roving patrol

Garden Grove: 8pm-3am - DUI roving patrol

Goleta: 8pm-3am - undisclosed location

Indian Wells: 8pm-2am - city limits

Livermore: evening - undisclosed location

Los Angeles: 6pm-2am - West Los Angeles area

Santee: 7pm - early morning - undisclosed location

Upland: 6pm - 2am - undisclosed location - saturation patrol

Sunday:

Redlands: 6pm-2am - city of Redlands - saturation patrol

Santa Barbara: 6pm-2am - undisclosed location

The Orange County Sheriff's Department's Avoid the 38 Orange County DUI Task Force is implementing an intensive campaign to target drunk drivers during the last few weeks of summer.  These Orange County DUI sobriety checkpoints and roving DUI Patrols have begun August 19 ^th and will continue through September 5 ^th to ensure that the public is safe from motorists who may be driving under the influence of alcohol and or drugs.

According to the press release released by the Orange County Sheriff's Department, in "2009 alone, 10,839 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the legal limit, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)".

While it is unfortunately that so many individuals lost their lives due to drunk drivers, many question whether conducting DUI sobriety checkpoints in Orange County are actually beneficial. These checkpoints not only cost tax payers lots of money to run and hardly ever result in DUI arrests but rather make the city money.

If you have recently been arrested for driving under the influence or have been arrested during an Orange County DUI Checkpoint, contact our Orange County DUI Lawyers as soon as possible. We will look into the details of your arrest and ensure that you receive a more favorable sentencing.

Check out our Orange County DUI Checkpoint page to find out where the most current DUI sobriety checkpoints in Orange County will be.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department's Avoid the 38 Orange County DUI Task Force is implementing an intensive campaign to target drunk drivers during the last few weeks of summer.  These Orange County DUI sobriety checkpoints and roving DUI Patrols have begun August 19 ^th and will continue through September 5 ^th to ensure that the public is safe from motorists who may be driving under the influence of alcohol and or drugs.

According to the press release released by the Orange County Sheriff's Department, in "2009 alone, 10,839 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the legal limit, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)".

While it is unfortunately that so many individuals lost their lives due to drunk drivers, many question whether conducting DUI sobriety checkpoints in Orange County are actually beneficial. These checkpoints not only cost tax payers lots of money to run and hardly ever result in DUI arrests but rather make the city money.

If you have recently been arrested for driving under the influence or have been arrested during an Orange County DUI Checkpoint, contact our Orange County DUI Lawyers as soon as possible. We will look into the details of your arrest and ensure that you receive a more favorable sentencing.

Check out our Orange County DUI Checkpoint page to find out where the most current DUI sobriety checkpoints in Orange County will be.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department's Avoid the 38 Orange County DUI Task Force is implementing an intensive campaign to target drunk drivers during the last few weeks of summer.  These Orange County DUI sobriety checkpoints and roving DUI Patrols have begun August 19 ^th and will continue through September 5 ^th to ensure that the public is safe from motorists who may be driving under the influence of alcohol and or drugs.

According to the press release released by the Orange County Sheriff's Department, in "2009 alone, 10,839 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the legal limit, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)".

While it is unfortunately that so many individuals lost their lives due to drunk drivers, many question whether conducting DUI sobriety checkpoints in Orange County are actually beneficial. These checkpoints not only cost tax payers lots of money to run and hardly ever result in DUI arrests but rather make the city money.

If you have recently been arrested for driving under the influence or have been arrested during an Orange County DUI Checkpoint, contact our Orange County DUI Lawyers as soon as possible. We will look into the details of your arrest and ensure that you receive a more favorable sentencing.

Check out our Orange County DUI Checkpoint page to find out where the most current DUI sobriety checkpoints in Orange County will be.

What is a DUI Checkpoint?

A California DUI Checkpoint is a structured operation that is conducted by local arresting officers to ensure that motorists are not driving while intoxicated.   These checkpoints often are set up in one location (on public streets and roadways, usually near bars or areas known for frequent DUI arrests) and must be conducted according to specific guidelines.   

During a DUI checkpoint in California, officers look for signs of intoxication such as bloodshot or watery eyes, slurred speech or even the scent of alcohol. If an officer is under the impression that you are driving drunk, they will ask motorists to step out of the vehicle and investigate by asking the driver to perform DUI field sobriety tests and a breathalyzer or blood test.

What is a DUI Roving Patrol?

Because DUI checkpoints must be announced prior to their commencement and are highly visible, DUI roving patrols in California are considered more effective in catching intoxicated drivers.  The word roving can mean nomadic, wandering and traveling which is completely different than a DUI Checkpoint which stays in one location for the duration of the operation.

 In short, Roving DUI Patrols are harder to avoid as arresting officers are not stationed in one specific area but rather are driving around the city looking for individuals who display obvious signs of driving under the influence.  

Contact Us for More Information

Our California DUI Defense Lawyers want you to be aware of the differences so that you can be more prepared. Check out our California DUI Checkpoint Locations Facebook page to stay up to date with all upcoming DUI sobriety checkpoints!

A California district attorney has found herself on the wrong side of a California driving under the influence case. Proving no one is immune from a California DUI, Gloria Mas, an El Dorado County deputy district attorney, was arrested in July on suspicion of drunken driving, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Mas was arrested in the early afternoon of July 25 at the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office after witnesses said she drove into the parking lot there, appearing to be intoxicated. According to the California Highway Patrol's arrest report, the attorney told a CHP officer that she consumed two vodka tonics between noon and 1 p.m. while at home for lunch and then drove to the office.

According to the arrest report, a CHP officer attached to the District Attorney's Office saw Mas drive into the district attorney's lot. The officer and other witnesses, whose names were edited out of the report, told an investigating CHP sergeant that Mas showed signs and symptoms of intoxication.

The arresting officer, Sgt. T. Brown, subsequently performed field sobriety tests and a breath test in District Attorney Vern Pierson's office.

Mas failed to perform the tests properly, and the field breath test showed a blood-alcohol level of about 0.12 percent, according to the report. Results of a test conducted at the El Dorado County jail, where Mas was booked, were blacked out of the report.

The county DA referred the case to state Attorney General Kamala Harris' office because of the potential for conflicts resulting from prosecuting one of their own.

"We have taken that case," confirmed Nick Pacilio, a spokesman in the attorney general's office. A decision on whether or how to prosecute has not been made, and the case is under review.

If you or someone you love has been arrested for drunk driving, be sure to consult with an experienced California DUI Defense attorney as soon as possible.

A 23-year-old R&B singer was arrested for driving under the influence after she crashed her vehicle early Friday morning.

According to The Boom Box, Teairra Mari rear ended her silver Infiniti into another vehicle while driving in Beverly Hills.   Once officers arrived at the scene, they noticed the singer exhibited signs of intoxication and became combative with the arresting officers, giving one a minor cut.    Mari was released later that night on a $50,000 bail and has since issued a statement apologizing for her actions.

If you have been arrested for drunk driving in California, contact our California DUI Defense Lawyers today. We will investigate the details of your case, subpoena records and officers if needed and make sure that you get the best possible representation for both your DMV hearing and criminal court hearing. 

Bryan Young, 35, was tasered and arrested after he attempted to escape officers during a routine DUI sobriety checkpoint.

According to the Lake Elsinore-Wildomar Patch, the Lake Elsinore man was about to go through a checkpoint when he made a U-turn to go in the opposite direction. Once officers approached Young, he displayed symptoms of driving under the influence of drugs and later admitted to being in possession of marijuana.

When an officer led the motorist away from his vehicle, Young attempted to run off but was stopped when a second officer tasered him.  Upon further investigation, officers found Young was a convicted felon serving probation for domestic violence and he had a loaded .38-caliber handgun as well as marijuana in his vehicle. Young has been arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, probation violation and driving under the influence of drugs.  

If you have been arrested during a DUI sobriety checkpoint in California, contact our California DUI Defense Lawyers as soon as possible. You have only 10 days to contact the DMV to request a hearing; let our attorneys request and conduct the hearing on your behalf so you don't have to!

A 21-year-old California man who admitted to driving under the influence and causing a fatal DUI accident has been sentenced to four years and four months in prison, according to Sign On San Diego.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Eugenia Eyherabide sentenced Long Xu of Los Angeles County to the lowest prison term available under the law, stating that Xu had apparently lived a law-abiding life until this incident.

"By all accounts, you are a very good, extraordinary person," Eyherabide told the defendant. At the same time, she highlighted noted that the evidence showed that Xu drove "way too fast," causing the car to flip three or four times. His blood-alcohol content was 0.10 percent following the collision, according to prosecutors.

When police arrived at the scene of the accident, Xu was outside a 2011 Toyota Camry with his friend Guozhen Yu, 23, who had been a passenger in the back seat. While Yu and Xu only suffered minor injuries, Jiani Cheng, who was in the front passenger seat, died of blunt force head trauma.

Her aunt and uncle described her in court as an accomplished dancer who had competed in England and Hong Kong and dreamed of one day performing on "Dancing with the Stars."

As this case demonstrates, a California DUI accident can have serious, life-altering consequences. Therefore, if you or someone you love has been arrested for drunk driving, be sure to consult with an experienced California DUI Defense attorney as soon as possible.