Articles Posted in DUI

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After rolling through a stop sign in Coto de Caza on Saturday, police tried to stop Matt Keough. Keough did not stop however, and drove all the way to his house before police stopped him. Once there, police thought he was drunk so they tested his blood alcohol level. His blood alcohol level turned out to be 3 times the legal limit. He was arrested and taken to jail. In 2008, he was arrested for a probation violation of a DUI arrest in 2005.

Matt Keough is a former professional baseball player and reality star in the show “Real Housewives of Orange County.” Although the show is more about his ex-wife Jeana Keough, he was seen on the show a few times in the first few seasons. After suffering head injuries from baseball, Keough suffered from memory and mood problems which drove him to alcohol.

With his blood alcohol level being three times over the legal limit, Keough will need an experienced Orange County DUI defense attorney on his side.

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Matt Thomas was in the passenger side of a car driven by his drunk friend about 15 years ago. The car fell off a 30 foot bridge and nearly killed Thomas. The crash caused severe brain damage and paralysis on his left side. Thomas had to learn to walk, talk and read all over again. During therapy, a friend of his gave him some hydro bikes. Because of those bikes, he was able to make a speedier recovery and can now walk, drive, go back to school and use his own man power to go on hydro bikes, paddle boats, and kayaks. He has started a charity event in Newport Beach called Paddle Pedal to raise money to support the charity of your choice. Since his accident, he has been speaking in classrooms all around Orange County about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Driving under the influence can have serious impacts on not only the driver, but also passengers. Amazingly, Thomas has turned the tragedy he faced into triumph by organizing charity events and spreading the message of the dangers of drinking and driving throughout the community.

Although the article did not mention the fate of his friend who drove drunk, it is assumed that he is probably still in jail because of the DUI. Whether you live in Huntington Beach, Garden Grove or Anaheim, if you get a DUI, you will need an experienced defense attorney to help you.

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Last month the California Supreme Court unanimously held that breath test results used in driving under the influence cases, can be inaccurate. Breathalyzer results may be inaccurate because they do not take into account a person’s body temperature, atmospheric pressure, medical conditions or calibration of the machine, all of which can cause varying results. This is a huge step for defense attorneys who can now argue that breathalyzer results may not be accurate or may not be a true indication of someone’s intoxication level. This decision came after many complaints by defense attorneys and people falsely accused of driving under the influence.

Alcohol has different effects on different people and may result in slurred speech and blurred vision for some at a .08 level. For others, these effects are not felt until the blood alcohol level is much higher. Regardless whether you are stopped for a DUI in Irvine, Fullerton or Santa Ana, an experienced DUI attorney may be able to argue that the results of your breathalyzer tests are inaccurate.

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Last week I blogged about Westminster Councilman Andy Quach being suspected of driving under the influence. More details emerged that affirmed that Quach was in fact driving drunk. Officers claimed that when they arrived at the scene of the accident, Quach’s car had hit a power pole that knocked out power to over 300 homes and he looked intoxicated. He had blood shot eyes, slow and slurred speech and smelled like alcohol. His blood alcohol content was at a .26%, three times over the legal limit. His friend, Assemblyman Van Tran came to the scene of the crime after being called by Quach. Tran says Quach looked shook up, but was not injured. Quach says he will not step down from his position and instead will educate Orange County citizens about drinking and driving.

It is disappointing when a person that is considered a model citizen and a role model does something like this, however, we are all human. This was clearly a case of bad judgment and likely taught him an important lesson. Besides just being charged with a DUI, he will receive an enhancement since his blood alcohol level was about a .20%.

Whether you live in Newport Beach, Yorba Linda or Aliso Viejo, if you are charged with a DUI, you will need an experienced Orange County DUI defense attorney.

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In Huntington Beach on Friday, two police officers pulled over a Volvo for a traffic violation. A Chrysler driven by Christopher Seymour pulled up behind the officer’s car and crashed into it. The police car that was hit then crashed into the other police car. To avoid being hit, the driver of the Volvo jumped out of the way and hit the officer, causing injuries. Seymour sustained moderate injuries so he was treated and then taken to jail on suspicion of drunk driving.

A good DUI attorney would check the defendant’s blood alcohol level to see if the driver was actually intoxicated. It may have been that Seymour just accidentally hit the officer’s car. The drunk driver will likely have to pay for the damage of both police cars and his own car and will face thousands of dollars in court and attorney fees.

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On Monday morning at 2am in Fountain Valley, a green minivan sped past police officers, nearly hitting a patrol car. Once police stated chasing the van, the driver headed south on northbound lanes. The driver was speeding at 100mph and passing red lights. At one point, officers lost the van and decided to call off the chase. Three minutes later, officers saw that the minivan had hit another car. The drunk driver, David Ortigoza, was taken to the hospital and then to jail.

At such high speeds, it is amazing that no one else was injured.

It is likely that Ortigoza will be charged with a DUI and evading arrest. He will have to pay thousands of dollars in fines for the DUI and the damages he caused to the other car. He will also have to spend time in jail for the DUI and evading arrest. He will need an experienced Orange County criminal defense attorney to help him lower his fines and fight his charges. Whether you live in Fullerton, Westminster or San Clemente, drinking and driving will come with serious consequences.

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As silly as it sounds to get pulled over for riding your bicycle while drunk, it can really happen. According to California Vehicle Code section 21200.5, it is unlawful for any person to ride a bike while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If the officer requests a chemical test to test the driver’s blood alcohol level, they may have to take a blood, breath, or urine test. If they are found to be intoxicated, they can be fined up to $250. If the person is under 21 but over 13, their license privileges can be suspended or delayed for one year.

I have met a few people who thought it was a great idea to ride their bicycle to the bar, get drunk and then bicycle back home. It is not a great idea because alcohol affects your vision and your coordination, two things needed to ride a bike. Additionally, you can be pulled over and fined $250.

Although you wont technically be charged with a DUI for bicycling drunk, it is a Vehicle Code violation and can stay on your criminal record. Whether you live in Newport Beach, Fountain Valley or Mission Viejo, do not drive a car, ride a bicycle or operate a boat if you are drunk! If you do, get an experienced DUI defense attorney to help fight your case.

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On Saturday night, after dinner with his friends, Westminster City Councilman Andy Tuan Ngoc Quach accidentally slammed his car into a power pole and knocked out power for about 300 homes in the area. Police arrested him because they believed he was driving under the influence. Quach claims that he just fell asleep for a few seconds and the next thing he knew, his black S550 Mercedez Benz had crashed into a power pole on McFadden Avenue. Quach said he was remorseful for what he did and wants to take full responsibility. He hopes that this event does not affect his position at the city.

As people know, DUI’s have major consequences. Besides possibly killing or injuring yourself or others, a DUI is reported on your criminal record which employers are constantly checking. Employees may often lose their jobs for getting a DUI. Losing a job in these tough economic times can mean being unemployed for a very long time. After a while, bills cannot be paid on time and your house and cars can be subject to foreclosure. It is hard to see that far ahead when you are drinking though. The most sound advice is whether you are living in Irvine, Fullerton or San Clemente, do not drink and drive! If you get a DUI, please call a trusted Orange County DUI defense attorney to help you through the legal process. A good attorney may be able to keep that DUI off your criminal record.

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Driving up or down a windy and narrow parking structure is hard enough. Being drunk and driving through a parking structure proved impossible for a drunk Downey man last week. Alexander Diaz, a non college student, crashed into 24 cars as he was trying to navigate through the narrow parking structure in the residential area of UC Irvine. He nor anyone else was injured. He was arrested and charged with a DUI, taken to the hospital and then released.

Again, the message is clear, do not drink and drive. Regardless if you are in Fountain Valley, Lake Forest or Anaheim, there are steep legal ramifications for drinking and driving. Diaz will likely have to pay for all the damage he caused to the cars, deal with a DUI on his record, pay steep court fees and even possibly go to jail.

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Did you know that you can get a DUI for operating a boat while intoxicated? According to the California Department of Boating and Waterways, the same rules that apply to driving a car also apply to operating a boat. A person who is operating a boat cannot have a blood alcohol level of .08% or higher, or else they will be charged with a DUI. If a person under 21 is operating a boat with a blood alcohol level of .01% or higher, they will get their license suspended.

The California Department of Boating and Waterways also reminds you that drinking while on a boat gives you a false sense of warmth because you actually lose body heat when you drink. Additionally, drinking and operating a boat leads to poor judgment and slow response time which can ultimately lead to more boating accidents.

Since it is summer and many Californians own boats, I guess its a good reminder to the residents living in Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach not to drink and operate boats.

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