Orange County law enforcement agencies have been aggressively tackling the DUI problem for several years now, pushing for more saturation and grants for DUI checkpoints. Officers on foot patrol have also been put in place in an effort to, according to officials, help intoxicated individuals get rides home. According to…
Most individuals arrested for driving under the influence are employed and have families that depend on them. If convicted, the consequences can be an enormous burden on one’s life and can jeopardize the job that provides the income for the family. For this reason, alternative sentencing is something that should…
DUI, or driving under the influence, charges are typically charged as misdemeanors. However, some DUI’s can be charged as felonies. The circumstances under which an arrest for DUI may result in a felony filing, may include the following: 1. DUI Manslaughter – This is also referred to as vehicular manslaughter…
Driving Under the Influence or DUI is considered a serious offense in California and the Prosecution pursues the penalties and punishments seriously. Orange County specifically is extremely strict when it comes to prosecuting those charged with this offense. Recent statistics have shown that there are approximately 13,000 DUI arrests per…
As the summer approaches, students head home from college and that California fun in the sun state of mind sets in, Orange County law enforcement agencies are gearing up for one of the busiest DUI seasons. In an effort to crackdown on impaired drivers, the Santa Ana Police Department will…
Up until last week, the law allowed police officers to forcibly draw blood from any person suspected of driving under the influence, if that person refused to voluntarily submit to a chemical test of their blood, breath or urine. The U.S. Supreme Court has now determined that “forced blood draw”…
Do prior convictions for DUIs in other states qualify as priors in California? The answer is yes, but, according to California law, it must be a “qualifying offense”, meaning that the prior must have the same elements as a conviction for DUI in California. What this means is that in…
If you have been arrested for driving under the influence in Orange County, there are two separate proceedings that are triggered by the arrest. One is the court proceeding and the other is the Department of Motor Vehicles suspension hearing. These proceedings and hearings are independent of each other and…
When someone has been arrested for driving under the influence, the arresting agency submits a report to the Orange County District Attorney for their review and ultimate filing of charges. It may seem pretty straight forward in that someone has been pulled over, given a test and then determined to…
In California, if you are charged with driving under the influence, whether it is alcohol or drug related, the prosecution could add to the charges what is known as sentence enhancements. These enhancements can substantially increase the severity of the punishments imposed by the Court. Here are some of the…