Recent Posts in DUI Category

This story should be filed under the category of strange but true. An Australian man is facing a driving under the influence charges after being caught driving a motorized cooler box through a beachside resort town, Fox News reports.

Christopher Ian Petrie, 23, faces charges of driving under the influence and driving without a license after police caught him on the makeshift vehicle, which was powered by a 50cc engine.

Petrie's lawyers won an adjournment from magistrate John Parker as they sought to establish "whether a motorized esky [cooler box] was in fact a motor vehicle."

The magistrate was apparently amused by device and inquired with Petrie about his cooler box's performance.

"How much beer can it hold?" he asked the defendant. Petrie told the court the cooler box could hold "at least a couple of cartons."

What if this DUI arrest took place in California?

Under California Vehicle Code §670, a vehicle is defined as: "A device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved exclusively by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks."

In light of the statute, the general rule is that any device with a motor that has been designed to be driven on highways is a vehicle. Therefore, it is possible that someone "driving" a motorized cooler on a California road could be arrested for driving under the influence.

While an experienced California DUI attorney could certainly challenge the arrest, it seems to make more sense to stick with a non-motorized cooler.  

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

Even though the following story does not involve a California DUI, it is a truly unbelievable drunk driving case. Luckily, this is something we rarely see in the United States.

According to The Telegraph, a nine-year-old boy has been arrested for drunk driving in Cumbria. The boy is believed to be the youngest driver held for DUI in the UK.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given a breathalyzer and taken into police custody. But when officers discovered his age they were forced to release him without charge because he was too young to be held legally accountable for his actions.

Safety campaigners alarmed by the child's arrest are demanding action over juvenile car crime, which apparently is a growing concern in the area.

While underage DUI is far too common in California and across the United States, the UK seems to have a much more serious problem.

If you or someone you know has been arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence in California, it is imperative to consult with an experienced DUI attorney. Contact our California DUI attorneys today. 

Oscar Pablo Ocegueda, of Vallejo, was arrested for driving under the influence after crashing his vehicle into an electrical pole.

According to the Napa Valley Register, 29-year-old Ocegueda was driving a 1998 Chevy Camaro northbound on Highway 29 when he veered and hit a power pole head on, just north of Highway 12.   The accident occurred at 5:30 am and there were no power outages reported.    After officers investigated the scene of the accident, they arrested Ocegueda on suspicion of DUI and he was booked at the Napa County jail.

If you are arrested for driving under the influence, contact our California DUI Attorneys as soon as possible. We will discuss the details of your case and will answer any questions that you may have. 

DUI checkpoints are designed to deter motorists from driving and driving.   Although today is April fool’s day, DUI checkpoints are no joke. If you find yourself arrested during a DUI sobriety checkpoint, call our California DUI Defense Lawyers as soon as possible so that we can discuss the details of your case.  Our attorneys are trained in administering DUI field sobriety tests so we will be able to check and make sure that your arrest was done in accordance to specific guidelines.

Friday:

Aliso Viejo: evening – Roving patrol

Coachella: evening – undisclosed location

Laguna Hills: evening – Roving patrol

Laguna Niguel: evening – Roving patrol

Laguna Woods: evening – Roving patrol

Loma Linda: 6pm-1am – undisclosed location

Los Angeles: 8pm-2am – Sunset Blvd. between Portia St & Sutherland St.

Moreno Valley: 6pm-11pm – undisclosed location

Rancho Cordova – evening – undisclosed location

Saturday:

Los Angeles: 6pm-1am – Eastbound Jefferson Blvd between Western Ave. & Denker St.

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

A California deputy is being recognized by the city council for her achievements, productivity and professionalism in making multiple arrests, including DUI. According to the OC Register, Deputy Christine Chang arrested three people after she found 50 heroin-filled balloons on top of other arrests throughout the year.

What most citizens do not realize, is that officers are often encouraged to be overzealous in making DUI arrests. Oftentimes, officers make up reasons for a stop, making it unlawful, and even conveniently have their patrol videos turned off until after the stop is initiated. Officers should be trained in administering DUI field sobriety tests; however, most times they do not give the proper instructions, causing the motorist to inadvertently fail the tests.

If you have been recently arrested for driving under the influence, contact our California DUI Defense Attorneys.   Our lawyers are certified by NHTSA and will be able to inform you whether your stop and arrest were done lawfully and how we will be able to help you. 

A Woodland police sergeant has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Sgt. Steven E. Sexton, 52, was driving a 2004 Triumph motorcycle around 4:30pm Monday when he was stopped by the California Highway Patrol.  According to the Daily Democrat, officers noticed signs of intoxication and determined that Sexton was riding his motorcycle while under the influence of alcohol.

If you or someone you know has been arrested for a driving under the influence of alcohol and or drugs, speak with our California DUI Defense Attorneys today. 

Nancy J. Sierra, 22, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence on State Route 299 early Tuesday morning.

According to Contra Costa Times, Sierra was driving in her 2000 Honda Accord when the vehicle went off the road, striking a power pole.  Sierra’s passenger, 26 year old Amanda L. Nikola suffered a broken clavicle while the driver suffered minor injuries.   Both women were taken to the local hospital where upon release Sierra was arrested for a felony DUI.

If you have been in a DUI-related accident, contact an experienced California DUI Attorney to find out what consequences you could be facing. 

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. 

• 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.  

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.

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. 

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. 

Motley Crue’s singer Vince Neil will be spending 15 days in jail for his June 2010 driving under the influence charge in Las Vegas.

According to OnTheRedCarpet.com, the 49 year old rocker was arrested while driving under the influence in his black Lamborghini.   Neil pleaded guilty to the DUI charge and was ordered to begin his sentencing on February 15 ^th.   On top of 15 days of jail time, Neil will also be placed on house arrest, will have to pay a $585 fine, will have to attend a drunken driving abatement school and watch a victim impact video.

If you have been arrested for a DUI, contact a qualified DUI Defense Attorney today to find out more information.

An Orange County low-security inmate escaped Monday night while attending a jail ordered Spanish alcohol-abuse meeting.

Francisco V. Santayo, a 22 year old landscaper from the Los Angeles area, went to an alcohol-abuse class with 13 other inmates but failed to return an hour later.    The Orange County Register states that a security guard noticed a man in an orange jumpsuit climbing into a red vehicle on Irvine Boulevard.  Once police officers arrived, the vehicle had fled the area.   Santayo is non-violate and a minor offense inmate that is not a danger to the community.

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence, contact our California DUI Defense Lawyers today for more information. 

A 40-year-old repeat DUI offender from Vallejo has been arrested and booked in a Sonoma County Jail for a DUI, violation of probation and driving without a license.

Hugo Alberto Reynoso was spotted weaving and driving 78 mph in a 55 mph zone on Lakeville Highway.  Officers stopped Reynoso and noticed signs that he was intoxicated.   According to the Petaluma 360, Reynoso’s records indicated that he had two previous DUI convictions and was currently on probation.  

If you or someone you know has been arrested for DUI in California, contact our knowledgeable DUI Defense Attorneys today. 

East Long Beach will be seeing a DUI check point on Saturday, January 22^nd. According to the Long Beach Post, the Long Beach Police Department will be conducting driver license and driving under the influence checkpoint from 6pm until 2am.

Officers will be making sure that the public is safe by identifying offenders and getting them off the streets.  These DUI checkpoints are designed to reduce the number of persons killed or injured in alcohol involved collision.  

During a DUI checkpoint, officers are trained to conduct field sobriety tests. If you were arrested during a DUI checkpoint, contact a California DUI Defense Attorney today to find out how your case can be reduced. 

Memorial Weekend typically brings in a large amount of drunk driving arrests, this year around 80 more people were arrested in the same 60 hour period as last year.  The California Highway Patrol reports that 302 people were arrested in Los Angeles County over the holiday weekend while last year only 220 were arrested during this same time period.  This statistic is on par with the state average.  The CHP is reporting that last year they arrested 1465 people on suspicion of drunk driving while from 6:01 pm Friday May 28 until 6:00 am Monday May 31 there were 1541 arrests. 

This increase in Los Angeles DUI arrests only goes to show the heightened presence of police and arresting agencies on the lookout for suspected drunk drivers.  If you are arrested for driving under the influence in Los Angeles County the most important thing you can do is contact a Los Angeles DUI Defense Attorney who can assist you with all aspects of your case. Call today for a free case consultation.

Jake Harris 24, a reality co-star, on the Discovery channel show ‘Deadliest Catch’ was arrested for driving under the influence. Harris who is the son of the late Captain Phil Harris was stopped by police officers after reports of a hit-and-run accident that matched the description of Harris’s vehicle.  The officers pulled over Harris in his BMW 3 series to investigate the hit-and-run and detected the odor of alcohol.  Harris performed field sobriety tests which he failed and refused to take a breathalyzer or blood test at the station.  Harris was arrested and placed in jail.

If you or someone you know has been charged with a DUI it is very important that you contact a qualified DUI Defense Attorney that knows the criminal court system.  Call us today at 888-444-7210 or fill out our free case evaluation so we can assist you or your DUI. 

For more information on this arrest go to People.com.

According to  Men’s Health magazine the drunkest U.S. city is Fresno, California.  The magazine in March will publish the list of the 100 drunkest major cities in America.  The magazine did a case study and compared data to determine the drunkest and least drunk city.  The data consist of deaths from liver disease, fatal car accidents involving drunk driving, number of DUI arrests, binge-drinking in the past month and harshness of DUI laws.  Below is a list of the drunkest and least drunk city.

"Drunkest" cities:

1.  Fresno, CA
2.  Reno, NV
3.  Billings, MT
4.  Riverside, CA
5.  Austin, TX 
6.  St. Louis, MO
7.  San Antonio, TX 
8.  Lubbock, TX
9.  Tucson, AZ
10.  Bakersfield, CA

      “Least drunk" cities:

1. Boston, MA
2. Yonkers, NY
3. Rochester, NY
4. Salt Lake City, UT
5. Miami, FL
6. Newark, NJ
7. Durham, NC
8. New York City, NY
9. Fort Wayne, ID
10. Manchester, NH

If you're arrested for a Southern California DUI, or under investigation for driving under the influence in California it is important to discuss your matter with a qualified and proven lawyer that practices DUI defense.   Fill out our free case evaluation online and we will call you back for a consultation. 

Daryl Fleck admits to consuming a twelve pack of beer and then stumbling out of the house to sleep it off. With his keys in the center counsel and the driver’s side car door wide open a neighbor alerted police when he found Fleck passed out.  When police arrived they found Fleck sleeping, the hood of the car was cold and to top it off the car wouldn’t even start.  Fleck was charged with a  DUI and had a BAC of .18%.  He is facing probation of 5 years and 4 years in custody for sleeping in his legally parked car in front of his house. 

If you are charged with a DUI you are in violation of 2 counts: Vehicle section code 23152 (a) and (b).  The first one is driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and the 2 ^nd count (b) is driving under the influence of a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.   

If you or someone you know has been charged with a DUI it is important for an experienced California DUI Lawyer to review your case.    Please contact our office for a free consultation at 888-444-7210 to speak to a qualified Drunk Driving Lawyer. 

Rey Maualuga entered a plea this week to driving under the influence.  He played as a linebacker for USC prior to going pro with the Cincinnati Bengals.  In the plea agreement Maualuga received a 7-day suspended jail sentence.  He was placed on informal probation for two years and had his license suspended for 90 days.  Maualuga was arrested after he hit two parked cars and a parking meter. 

Between pro-athletes and celebrities, the news is littered with stories of drunk driving – the fact of the matter is that drunk driving arrests occur every day and not only to celebrities and pro-athletes.  A charge for driving under the influence can be very serious.  It is important that if you or someone you love has been arrested for driving under the influence that you contact a lawyer.  An experienced California DUI defense attorney can assist you with all aspects of your case including contacting the   DMV and your criminal court proceedings.