Recent Blog Posts in February 2011

Do you plan on going out this weekend? Check out the new Orange County DUI Checkpoint website before you go!

DUI sobriety checkpoints are designed to deter motorists from drinking and driving.   These check points can be found in areas that are known for DUI arrests or are close to bars and restaurants.   The new OC DUI Check Point website is your one-stop-shop for past times and locations of checkpoints  and current DUI checkpoints in Orange County as well as other information that can be helpful to you.  

Check out the tips for avoiding an Orange County DUI as well as what to expect at an OC Checkpoint. If you are arrested during a checkpoint, you have a right to fight a DUI charge. Contact our leading Orange County DUI Lawyers today for more information! 

Nicholas Arthur Thibault, 27, has been arrested and booked on suspicion of driving under the influence as well as vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.

The San Diego resident was exiting the 805 freeway when he swerved off the ramp, hitting the bushes. Unfortunately, a transient was camping in the bushes when he was struck and killed by Thibault.  According to SFGate, Thibault was booked in a San Diego jail and is being held without bail.

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence, speak with one of our California DUI Defense Attorneys today for more information.  

A former Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) president has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Debra Oberlin, 48, from Gainesville, Florida was veering her vehicle across lanes when officers pulled her over around 1:10am.  According to an article on AOL News, Oberlin told officers she had only 4 beers before driving; however, tests proved her blood alcohol levels were three times that of the legal limit.   Officers noticed she showed signs of intoxication such as bloodshot and dilated eyes and smelled of alcohol so they had her perform DUI field sobriety tests before they arrested her.

Have you been arrested for drunk driving in California? Contact our experienced and knowledgeable California DUI Attorneys today to see how we can help you. 

The weekend is upon us and that means that cops will be out and about, patrolling cities and conducting DUI sobriety checkpoints.  The list below provides you with information on certain cities; however, it is not a complete list of California DUI checkpoints that may be in your area.   If you are going to be out drinking, designate a driver or call a taxi to make sure that you are safe.  

Friday:

Inglewood: 8pm-3:30am – on Florence Avenue at Centinela Avenue

Los Angeles: 8pm-2am – Ventura Blvd. between Noble Ave & San Diego Freeway Sherman Oaks

Riverside: 6pm-2am – undisclosed location

San Marcos: 7pm-2:30am – undisclosed location

Saturday:

Hemet: 8pm-2am – undisclosed location

Escondido: evening – undisclosed location

Lompoc: 6pm-midnight - undisclosed location

Oxnard: 6pm-2am – undisclosed location

San Francisco: 8:30pm-1am – Geary Blvd & 9 ^th Ave.

If you do find yourself arrested for driving under the influence, contact our California DUI Defense Attorneys immediately for more information.

A 57 year old Chico resident has been arrested and booked on suspicion of driving under the influence.

James McFadden Jr. was driving his Mercury Mountaineer near the Skyway overpass when he took the 20^th Street off ramp. The Chico ER states that officers were following him as his car matched the description of a vehicle that was said to be driving recklessly when they watched him crash his car into a Ford Escape that was stopped at a stop light. McFadden was asked to perform field sobriety tests and was taken into custody and booked at the local jail.

If you have been arrested for a drunk driving, contact our California DUI Lawyers to find out more information on how we can help you. 

57 Year Old Leopoldo Tobilla hit and killed a pedestrian and has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, leaving the scene and vehicular manslaughter.

Mercury News states that officers received a call around 1:36am of a dead man on Skyline Boulevard in Pacifica.   Within 30 minutes of officers arriving at the scene, Tobilla returned and admitted to sticking the man as he was walking in the lanes of traffic.   Officers determined Tobilla was under the influence of alcohol when he hit the pedestrian and he was arrested and booked at the local jail in San Mateo County.

Have you been arrested for a DUI-related accident? Contact a leading California DUI Lawyer to find out how we can help you. 

A 22-year-old woman from Newport Coast has been arrested and booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter as well as driving under the influence after she hit a cyclist.

A middle-aged man was enjoying a bike ride along San Joaquin Road in Corona Del Mar when the young woman hit him at around 6pm Monday night.  The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Corona Del Mar Today states that although the crash remains under investigation, the woman appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and has been booked with bail set at $100,000.

As avid cyclists, our DUI defense law office sends our condolences to the family and friends of the cyclist.    If you have been in a DUI-related accident, contact our Orange County DUI Attorneys today to find out how we can help you.

• Sobriety checkpoints frequently screen traffic within, or near, Hispanic neighborhoods. Cities where Hispanics represent a majority of the population are seizing cars at three times the rate of cities with small minority populations. In South Gate, a Los Angeles County city where Hispanics make up 92 percent of the population, police confiscated an average of 86 vehicles per operation last fiscal year.

• The seizures appear to violate a 2005 federal appellate court ruling that determined police cannot impound cars solely because the driver is unlicensed, but should do so only when abandoning it might put the public at risk (i.e., a vehicle located in a fire lane or narrow shoulder).

• Police across the state have ratcheted up vehicle seizures. Last year, officers impounded more than 24,000 cars and trucks at checkpoints. That total is roughly seven times higher than the 3,200 drunken driving arrests at roadway operations.

• Departments frequently over staff checkpoints with officers, all earning overtime. The Moreno Valley Police Department in Riverside County averaged 38 officers at each operation last year, six times more than federal guidelines require. Nearly 50 other local police and sheriff’s departments averaged 20 or more officers per checkpoint; these operations averaged three DUI arrests a night.

Miguel Cabrera, All-Star first baseman for the Detroit Tigers, was arrested on suspicion of a DUI.

Cabrera was in St. Lucie County, Florida when his vehicle was having issues; he was pulled over on the side of the road when officers noticed smoke coming out of the hood of his car.  According to Fox Sports Detroit, officers noticed signs of intoxication such as a strong odor of alcohol, his speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot and watery.  

Officers noticed Cabrera take a drink out of a bottle of James Buchanan Scotch before he walked towards the road with his hands up.  When officers asked him to return to the vehicle, he did not comply and officers handcuffed him as he resisted.   Cabrera was booked into St. Lucie County jail but released on a $1,350 bond.

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence, contact our California DUI Defense Attorney today to find out how we can help you.  

Turlock police officers visited 116 high-risk DUI offenders who failed to provide proof of installing an ignition interlock device, or IID, on their vehicles.

These IIDs are designed to prevent California DUI offenders from operating vehicles if they have been drinking.   In order for the car to start, the user must blow into the device and resister a below a certain predetermined blood alcohol level.   The data from the IID is then downloaded and sent to the court files for review by the district attorney.  

According to the Modesto Bee, officers found 29 violators, 6 of which were in compliance but had not reported to the DMV, 22 had their licenses suspended and 1 resisted and was booked on an obstruction charge.  

Ignition interlock devices are a convenient and easy way in allowing those who have been arrested for DUIs to continue driving.   If you have been arrested for driving under the influence, contact our California DUI Defense Lawyers to find out if you are eligible for an IID. 

The Costa Mesa police department will be conducting an Orange County DUI checkpoint Wednesday evening.

According to the City of Costa Mesa press release, the check point will be on the 2300 block of Placentia Avenue between the hours of 6pm and 11pm.   During these checkpoints, officers will look for signs of intoxication and may ask motorists to conduct field sobriety tests.

If you are arrested for a DUI in Southern California, speak with our Orange County DUI Defense Attorneys today. 

Four motorists were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence during a DUI checkpoint in Costa Mesa over the weekend.

The Orange County Register states that on top of these 4 DUI arrests, 22 drivers were asked to do DUI field sobriety tests, 17 driver’s licenses were investigated and 11 cars were towed.  With over 429 vehicles that traveled through the checkpoint, only 1% was actually related to DUIs; this means that the grant from the Office of Traffic Safety that funds these checkpoints may not be an effect way of protecting the public from impaired drivers and may actually be wasting more money than necessary.   

Have you been arrested for a DUI during a check point?   If so, speak with our Orange County DUI Defense Lawyers today to find out how we can help you. 

Billy George, 75, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after he hit a California Highway Patrol vehicle.

According to the Red Bluff Daily News, the Corning man was driving west on South Avenue when he was pulled over.   As the officer was exiting his vehicle, George began to back up and crashed into the officer’s car.  The officer noticed signs of intoxication and blood tests proved George was over .08%.  

If you have been in a DUI-related accident, speak with a qualified California DUI Attorney today.   

A Fresno woman has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after she caused a DUI-related accident.  

According to ABC Local, Tina Adame was driving at high speeds when cops tried to stop her. She ran stop signs and red lights to get away from the cops until she crashed into an almond tree on Olive Avenue; the driver and her two passengers in the car were not hurt.   Adame was taken to the Merced County Jail and held on a $52,000 bail.

If you have been arrested for a DUI in Fresno, contact a leading Fresno DUI Defense Attorney to find out what we can do for you.   

Although California has some of the most severe drunk driving penalties in the country, three California cities have been ranked the “drunkest” in America.

According to USA Today, Fresno will receive the dubious distinction of being named the country’s “drunkest” city in the March issue of Men’s Health magazine.

Two other cities in California—  Riverside (#4) and Bakersfield (#10)—also made the top ten.

In contrast, Boston was named the least drunk city.

To determine its rankings, the magazine used data such as death rates from alcoholic-induced liver disease, DUI-related accidents, frequency of binge drinking, number of DUI arrests, and severity of DUI penalties.

The results should not come as a total surprise to residents of Fresno. The median age in Fresno is 29, and the number of bars within 15 miles is 106, according to HomeInsight.com.

In response to the magazine’s ranking, it is likely that the city will continue to step up its efforts to combat DUI with increased sobriety checkpoints in the coming months.

If you or someone you know is arrested for DUI in Fresno, it is imperative to contact a qualified DUI lawyer. Call our knowledgeable Fresno DUI attorneys today.

Steven John Brookes, 53, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after he was involved in a DUI-related accident.

Brookes, a city attorney for the city of Lakeport, was driving a Volvo on Main Street Kelseyville when he crossed a lane and hit a Ford F-350.  The incident occurred at 7:10pm and Brookes drove away from the scene but was later located and arrested for a DUI.   According to the Lake County Record Bee, Brookes was booked into county jail at 9:30pm and was later released.

If you have been arrested for a California DUI, contact an experienced and knowledgeable California DUI Defense Attorney to find out more information on what you could be facing and how we will fight for your rights. 

California DUI checkpoints are designed to protect the public from motorist who are driving under the influence.  When conducting these checkpoints, police officers look for signs of intoxication such as slurred speech, bloodshot or water eyes or even alcohol odor.  If officers notice any of these signs, they may require the driver to conduct DUI field sobriety tests.   Because these sobriety test must be done according to specific guidelines, there is room for error; if you have been arrested during a checkpoint or after failing a field sobriety test, contact an experienced California DUI Defense Attorney immediately.

The list below includes several cities that will be conducting DUI checkpoints; however, there may be additional locations that are not listed. If you will be drinking this weekend, assign a designated driver so that you do not put yourself and others at risk.

 Friday:

Escondido: evening – undisclosed location

Fairfield: 6pm-11pm – undisclosed location

Lake Forest: 6:30pm-2:30am – undisclosed location

Los Angeles: 8pm-2am – Sepulveda Blvd. and Orion Avenue

Newport Beach: 9pm-3am – Northbound Newport Blvd. at Finley

Ontario: 6pm-2am – undisclosed location

Redondo Beach: 7:30pm-2:30am – undisclosed location

Saturday:

Costa Mesa: 7pm-1am – Newport Blvd. at Flower St.

Lake Forest: 7pm-2am – undisclosed location

Norco: 7pm-3am – undisclosed location

Sunday:

Santa Barbara: 6pm-2am – undisclosed location 

A Ventura County man has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after he crashed his vehicle into a home.

The Ventura County Star reports that the 26-year-old man was on the road at around 1:38am when he lost control of his vehicle on a turn causing his car to drive through a fence and hit a gas line before it struck a home in Ojai.   Due to the gas leak, several neighbors were forced to evacuate for a half hour. The driver of the vehicle was arrested and booked into the county jail.

If you have been in a DUI-related accident, contact our Ventura County DUI Defense Attorneys today to find out how we can help you. 

Sergio Montgomery has been arrested without incident and booked into county jail on suspicion of driving under the influence.

The Santa Clara County man was driving a 1977 Ford pickup when officers suspected him of driving while intoxicated and tried to pull him over.   Mercury News states that Montgomery then fled on Highway 17 early Wednesday morning.   California Highway Patrol was able to finally catch Montgomery by placing a spike strip on the highway, near Granite Creek Road.

If you have been arrested for a DUI in or around Santa Clara County, contact our California DUI Defense Attorneys to find out what we can do for you. 

Shane Sheckler, 18, was arrested in San Clemente on suspicion of driving under the influence.

The actor, who stars alongside his real-life brother in “Life of Ryan”, was driving his white GMC truck when officers pulled him over. OC Weekly says Sheckler was driving his truck erratically and once stopped, he showed obvious signs of intoxication.   Sheckler was taken to a nearby jail, was released several hours later and is due back in court next month.

If you are under the age of 21 and have been arrested for a Southern California DUI in or around Orange County, contact our California DUI Defense Lawyers today. 

A 48 year old woman was arrested after she caused a DUI-related accident while driving a golf cart in Hidden Valley Lake.   

Deborah Selna, 48, along with her two female passengers were all intoxicated when they were riding on a red 200 Yamaha golf cart.  According to the Lake County Record-Bee, Selna was operating the golf cart at a high speed when she lost control, hit a tree and caused the golf cart to roll over and land on its roof.   All three women were taken to the hospital as the driver and a passenger suffered major injuries while the third woman only suffered moderate injuries.

Contact a local DUI Defense Attorney if you have been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence while operating any type of vehicle. 

Sean Quintero, 18, was arrested for vehicular manslaughter while driving while intoxicated as well as gross negligence and driving under the influence causing injury.

Mercury News states that the South San Francisco teen was driving his mother’s Toyota when he slammed into the back of another vehicle.   The impact, which occurred around 3:20am on Highway 101, caused a 17-year-old girl to be killed and injured the three other passengers who are all between the ages of 17 and 18.   Quintero has been held without bail and if convicted, he could be facing up to 11 years in prison.

If you have been in a DUI-related accident, contact our California DUI Defense Attorneys immediately. 

Russell Hanson, 32, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicle manslaughter.

According to the Redlands Daily Facts, Hanson was driving a 2007 GMC Yukon on the 210 Freeway where he crashed his vehicle into a 1994 Lincoln Town Car that was stopped on the side of the road.   A man sitting in the back of the Lincoln, age 77, was killed at the scene while the two other passengers suffered injuries and were hospitalized at Loma Linda University Medical Center.  Firefighters cut out the window to remove the critically injured driver as well as cut the roof off to rescue a 76-year-old woman.

Our condolences to the family and friends of the victim; if you or someone you know has been in a DUI-related accident, contact our California DUI Defense Attorneys.    

This upcoming weekend will be full of get-togethers, tailgating and house parties all celebrating the annual Super Bowl. Officers in multiple cities throughout California will be conducting DUI checkpoints Friday, Saturday and Sunday, making sure that motorists are not driving under the influence.   For your safety and the safety of others, please make sure that you have a designated driver if you plan on drinking.

If you are arrested for a DUI at a checkpoint, contact our California DUI Defense Attorneys for more information.

Friday:

Oakland: 6pm-2am – undisclosed location

Oxnard: 6pm-2am – undisclosed location

Redlands: 10pm-3am – undisclosed location

Riverside: 6pm-12am – undisclosed location

San Bernardino: 6pm-2am – 200 block of E. 40 ^th Street

Vallejo: 6pm-11pm – undisclosed location

Saturday:

Encinitas:  Evening – undisclosed location

Modesto: 9pm-3am – undisclosed location

San Francisco:  8:30pm-1am – Geary Blvd. and Steiner Street

Santa Marina: 6pm-1am - undisclosed location

Sunday:

Modesto: 6:30pm-11:30pm – undisclosed location

Oxnard:  3pm - ongoing – undisclosed location

Porterville: evening – undisclosed location

Ridgecrest: 4:30pm-10:30pm – roving DUI, undisclosed location

Sacramento: after super bowl – undisclosed location

A La Habra neighborhood of about 20 homes was forced to evacuate when a man suspected of driving under the influence crashed into a natural gas line.

According to the Contra Costa Times, the crash occurred at 9:34pm Thursday. The driver crashed his SUV into a fence and ruptured a gas line which produced a loud hissing sound and had about 30 pounds per square inch of pressure. Crews were able to finally shut off the broken pipe at around 1:30am and the OC Register has confirmed that residents were able to go back to their homes early Friday morning.

If you have been in a DUI related accident, contact an experienced and knowledgeable Orange County DUI Defense Attorney for more information. 

A semi-truck driver has been arrested for driving under the influence when he crashed into a center divider of the 101 freeway in Studio City and then slammed into a minivan.

According to JusticeNewsFlash.com, the 18-wheeler was traveling eastbound on the Ventura Freeway, near Laurel Canyon when he caused the accident around 6:10am.   Both the trucker and the minivan driver were rushed to the local hospitals; the minivan driver sustained greater injuries than the truck driver.

If you have been involved in a DUI-related accident, contact our Los Angeles County DUI Defense Attorneys today. 

Huntington Beach’s Baja Sharkeez is under investigation for being the reason why motorist are driving under the influence in downtown Huntington Beach.

Based on DUI arrest data, 72 Sharkeez customers were arrested for DUIs within a 22 month period.  The HB Independent states that the Department of Alcohol Beverages Control is conducting the investigation as they believe that the bar is causing an excessive problem with alcohol-related issues.     Ron Newman, Sharkeez owner, believes that officials are targeting his Huntington Beach bar due to its popularity and even scout out customers to arrest once they leave the bar.  

Contact our Orange County DUI Lawyers if you have been arrested for driving under the influence. 

Elizabeth Ann Holmes, 51, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and prescription medication when she caused a roll over crash.  

ChicoER.com states that Holmes was driving on the Skyway in Chico when she leaned over to grab a bite of Chinese food, not realizing that there was an upcoming right turn.   Holmes’ car was heading off the shoulder when she over corrected, sending her car off the road and flipping it.   Holmes was wearing a seatbelt and only suffered moderate injuries; she was arrested on scene and released to the ambulance to be taken to the local medical center.

Have you been arrested for a DUI-related accident? If so, contact our California DUI Defense Attorneys for a free initial consultation and to find out more information regarding your case. 

Raymond Carter was driving a Porsche when he lost control and crashed the vehicle; Carter is suspected for driving under the influence and DUI blood tests have been performed to determine the driver’s blood-alcohol level and to

According to the Orange County Register, Carter, 29 years old, was driving over 100 mph when he hit a curb and went airborne before he hit a light pole and landed on the roof.   Local fire fighters had to cut through the wreck to remove Carter and his 32 year old passenger Brandon Whitaker.  Both men were taken to the local hospital, where Carter is in a coma and Whitaker is listed in stable condition.

Contact a qualified Orange County DUI Defense Lawyer if you have been recently involved in a DUI related accident. 

David DeRoo, singer and bassist for the band Adema, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence causing bodily injury.

According to Courant.com, DeRoo was charged with being a fugitive from justice and has been held on a $1 million bond.   Adema was just about to go on stage at the Webster Theater in Connecticut on Saturday night when DeRoo was arrested.   DeRoo had previously pleaded no contest after a traffic collision in 2008 in Bakersfield and a warrant for his arrest was issued in June 2010 for violation of probation.

If you or someone you know has been arrested for a DUI in Bakersfield or surrounding cities, contact our California DUI Defense Attorneys today.