For obvious reasons, driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) is a serious charge anywhere in the world. In the state of California, it is no different. For individuals who are not yet U.S. citizens, a DUI charge could prevent you from becoming a citizen or lead to deportation, especially if you don’t have an experienced Orange County DUI attorney to fight for you. Continue reading
Being arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) leads to a complicated and intimidating process that can be too much for some to handle. We’ve compiled some tips to make sure this doesn’t happen to you.
In California, there are specific sets of laws that make it illegal to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or any chemicals/inhalants.
In many states you can even be arrested for DUI if you are behind the wheel of a vehicle with the keys in the ignition, even if not not driving, if your BAC (blood alcohol concentration) is above the legal limit. In California, driving with an open container of alcohol can also get you into serious trouble even if your BAC is below the legal limit of .08%.
A DUI is a serious offense in the state of California, where driving laws are very prescriptive and strongly enforced. These laws outline a number of additional factors that can compound a DUI offense in the event that your DUI might impose an increased risk to others. One of the factors that can increase the severity of a DUI sentence is having a child under the age of 14 in the vehicle while the defendant is driving under the influence.
California is one of the few states that allows those accused of DUI to plead Nolo Contendere, or “no contest” in addition to guilty and not guilty. Because the plea is not heard often, most people are unsure about what it means.
If you ever find yourself pulled over on suspicion of drinking and driving, you will need to be your own advocate until you have the opportunity to get an Orange County DUI attorney involved. Below, we include some necessary information on the difference between the PAS test—the Breathalyzer test applied before an arrest—, and a chemical test—the breath or blood test applied after an arrest. Ingrain this information in your long-term memory, as it can make a huge difference in terms of potential penalties for a DUI-related accusation.
Yes, you can generally can get your DUI expunged and no, it will not be on your record forever.
It is usually possible to get your DUI records expunged in the state of California. Expungement means that your criminal record for that specific conviction will be sealed. A DUI conviction results in both a criminal and a DMV record; while the conviction is erased from your driving record after ten years, the criminal conviction remains on your criminal record unless it is expunged. Working with an Orange County DUI attorney who specializes in DUI and DUI-related convictions will help simplify this process.
Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious offense with significant consequences. A DUI charge can result in a person having their license suspended for an extended period, paying hefty fines, or even spending some time in jail. Receiving a DUI under the age of 21 in California can lead to severe penalties because of the state’s zero tolerance laws for people under the legal drinking age.
In Orange County, 2015 saw less DUI arrests, but slightly more crashes for the entirety of the year. The drop in Orange County DUI arrests is likely correlated to police running less DUI patrols and checkpoints, as well as the development/popularity of ride sharing smartphone applications.
If you have been arrested for DUI or DWI your charges will result in either a misdemeanor DUI charge or a felony DUI charge. Every year, countless California drivers are arrested for DUI or driving under the influence of alcohol. Unfortunately, a DUI arrest is an extremely serious charge levying a number severe criminal penalties on California citizens if they find themselves convicted of the offense. In fact, California DUI penalties are some of the most serious in the entire country. Continue reading