Orange County DUI Blog

12 Things to Do If You've Been Arrested For DUI

2010-09-26T18:59:00.000-07:00

by Robert Louis Miller

Were you arrested for DUI, or was someone close to you arrested on a DUI offense?

First off, we need to talk about your feelings for a second.

If you have been arrested for DUI, you are probably embarrassed or ashamed, maybe a little mad, but most of all, you want to know what to do, what can be done, what you are facing, and if you even have a chance of fighting a DUI case. It is my hope to bust a few myths about DUI defense, and also let you know what can and cannot be done with a DUI case.

Can you fight a DUI?

DUI Defenses generally fall into categories of types of defenses. The best results follow when you leave no stone unturned in coming up with defenses for a DUI case. It is generally not a good idea to "pick one" defense, and aggressively go for that one defense. The better tactic in defending DUI cases comes when you carefully review all of the evidence, line by line, and come up with a strategy.

1. Forcing the DA to prove you were driving. Intoxication is not enough: the prosecution must also prove that you were driving. This may be difficult if, as in the case of some accidents, the police arrive after the scene, and there is no witnessing actual driving.

2. Forcing the DA to prove Probable Cause. Evidence can be, and will be suppressed, if the officer did not have legal cause to (a) stop, (b) detain and (c) arrest. DUI checkpoints and sobriety roadblocks in particular present many defenses to a DUI, but often the police will stop someone for a non-driving violation, and then use that as a pretext to *fill in the blanks* for probable cause. Case law could not be more clear in many cases -- this is not allowed and not proper.

3. Failure to give Miranda warnings. Incriminating statements may be suppressed if warnings were not given at the appropriate time.

4. Implied consent warning defenses. If the officer did not advise you of the consequences of refusing to take a chemical test, or gave it incorrectly, this may invalidate a DMV license suspension based upon a refusal to provide a breath/blood sample.

5. Forcing the DA to prove that you were *Under the influence*. The officers observations and opinions as to intoxication can be questioned ... the circumstances under which the field sobriety tests were given, for example, or the subjective (and predisposed) nature of what the officer considers as *failing*. Witnesses, including bartenders or waitresses, can also testify that you appeared to be sober.

6. Breath alcohol testing defenses. There exists a wide range of potential problems with breath testing. Most breath machines will register many chemical compounds found on the human breath as alcohol. Temperature and even the pattern of blowing can wildly cause the breath reading to fluctuate from normal. And breath machines assume a 2100-to-1 ratio in converting alcohol in the breath into alcohol in the blood; in fact, this ratio varies widely from person to person (and within a person from one moment to another). Radio frequency interference can result in inaccurate readings. These and other defects in analysis can be brought out by obtaining the maintenance and calibration records of the machine, or in cross-examination of the state's expert witness and/or the defense can hire its own forensic chemist.

7. Blood alcohol testing defenses. There exists a wide range of problems with blood testing, also, including the requirement in California that alcohol swabs not be used, that the person drawing blood be a licensed phlebotomist (not just a police officer), that the blood vial have a certain percentage of preservatives and anti-coagulants, that the blood be available for re-testing, that the blood not be exposed to bacteria (in the air or otherwise), that the blood testing machine be maintained and calibrated, that the blood be homogenized, that the vial follow a chain of custody, and that the blood be taken within three hours of driving.

8. Medical issues: Being a diabetic, on Atkins related diets, a person with acid reflux, with eye, knee, neurological or other physical defects, or on medication, can often create a false positive conclusion that someone was under the influence.

9. Testing during the absorptive phase. The blood, breath or urine test will be unreliable if done while you are still actively absorbing alcohol (it takes 30 minutes to three hours to complete absorption; this can be delayed if food is present in the stomach). Thus, drinking "one for the road" can cause wildly inaccurate test results.

10. Retrograde extrapolation. This refers to the requirement that the BAC be "related back" in time from the test to the driving. A number of complex physiological assumptions are made with retrograde extrapolation, and in general, it involves bad science.

11. Regulation of blood-alcohol testing. The prosecution must prove that the blood, breath or urine test complied with state requirements as to calibration, maintenance, etc., and often, it is discovered that a machine had mechanical problems, or tests *off*, making the test excludable and sometimes dismissing the entire case.

12. License suspension hearings. A number of issues can be raised in the context of an administrative hearing before the states department of motor vehicles, including mistakes by the officer.

The thing is, most of your friends do not even know all about the scientific issues involved. They usually just urge you to plead guilty. Even most attorneys are unaware of the complex issues and defenses involved in a DUI case.

A qualified DUI attorney, however, can review the case for defects, suppress evidence, compel discovery of such things as calibration and maintenance records for the breath machine, have blood samples independently analyzed, negotiate for a lesser charge or reduced sentence, obtain expert witnesses for trial, contest the administrative license suspension, and handle a DUI trial with the greatest odds of success.

A good DUI attorney can also help you by handling the Department of Motor Vehicles hearing, which you must request within 10 days of your arrest, saving your license, and can minimize the impact on you from a DUI. In almost all cases, we can appear for you in court, without you ever having to take time off and experience the embarrassment of the court process. We can ask the court to minimize the fees and other punishment in your case, even if your case is not dismissed or reduced.

A DUI can stay on your driving record for life, and also leaves a criminal record (depending on how it was filed, a DUI is either a misdemeanor or a felony). It can expose you to jail time, hefty fines with the court, expensive and inconvenient alcohol schools, and a huge insurance increase that lasts for years, so in almost all cases it is worth it to fight the charges, to avoid a potential conviction (which stays on your record for life in California), and so that you never have to wonder *what if* years later.

Robert Miller is an Orange County DUI Lawyer at Robert Miller and Associates, A Law Corporation. You can reach him through his DUI information websites:

http://www.orangecountyduilawyer.com/

http://www.ocduiblog.com/

Is It Time to Change DUI Penalties?

2009-10-23T20:44:00.000-07:00

Society's way of punishing drunk drivers is to simply throw them in jail, but as we've witnessed over the years, this type of punishment doesn't stop people from drinking and driving...

People who have been repeatedly arrested for drunk driving are alcoholics who shouldn't just be thrown in jail. It should be mandatory that they get help. In California people arrested for drunk driving are required to attend DUI classes, but oftentimes that just isn't enough.

Repeat DUI offenders need one-on-one counseling to get to the root of their drinking problem. Of course, all of this counseling would require money and the government really isn't willing to fork over the money to back this type of initiative. Instead they keep throwing people in jail which ends up costing more money in the long run.

Is it time to change DUI penalties? As we can see, the current DUI laws aren't doing anything to deter people from drinking and driving. If you keep doing the same things, you're going to keep getting the same results, right?

If you are a repeat DUI offender, talk to your Orange County DUI defense attorney to help you find a good counselor or therapist.

What You Should Not Do After a DUI Arrest

2009-10-21T14:28:00.000-07:00

If you've been arrested for a DUI in Orange County, here is a list of things that you should not do:

Do not fail to request a DMV hearing. In the state of California you have 10 calender days to request a hearing.

Do not make assumptions. Just because you were registered at having a BAC over 0.08 doesn't mean you've lost your case. Let your Orange County DUI attorney investigate to make sure that the reading was accurate.

Do not fail to write down everything you can remember about the incident.

Do not fail to gather witnesses who can attest to your level of sobriety.

Do not hire an experienced DUI attorney based on the amount of the fee alone.

Do not fail to appear in Court.

Do not fail to educate yourself about the dangers of a DUI.

Failing to become educated and understanding the dangers of a DUI is probably the most important thing to think about. Most people don't understand the implications of their DUI arrest. I think one of the best ways to become educated is to simply read information on the internet, however, talking to an experienced Orange County DUI attorney will also definitely help.

Illegal Aliens and Drunk Driving

2009-10-19T12:40:00.000-07:00

I read an article recently that talked about how North Carolina has a high percentage of drunk drivers that are Hispanic. William Gheen, the president of Americans for Legal Immigration said this in a statement:

“It’s clear across the country – there’s a direct connection between drinking and driving deaths and the illegal alien community. (We need to) crack down on illegal aliens in this state and do everything we can to prevent these preventable deaths.”

Southern California is a big melting pot that consists of people from many countries - a large portion being of Hispanic origin. No doubt that many of these people are illegal aliens. I have yet to come across any evidence citing a "direct connection" between DUIs and the illegal alien community. The news articles I read about drunk driving hardly ever mention a DUI offender being an illegal alien.

What's interesting to note, though, is that illegal immigrants who are caught drinking and driving will not get deported.

Regardless of who's driving drunk, the bottom line is that there is a big issue here. Pointing fingers is not going to solve the problem. I think that even if the U.S. were to get rid of all the illegal aliens, drunk driving would still be an issue.

Get help with your DUI case. Contact an experienced Orange County DUI attorney.

DUI Classes Are Not Enough

2009-10-08T21:46:00.000-07:00

Being convicted of DUI in Orange County means that you'll most likely have to attend DUI classes as part of your punishment. Drunk driving offenders in California must attend these DUI programs and classes in order to protect their future driving privileges or driver's licenses. The programs have been developed to support positive lifestyle changes.

However, going to these DUI classes may not be enough if you've already had multiple DUI arrests.

It's time to get help with the drinking problem. If you've gotten to the point where you feel that a change needs to be made, it's time to connect with people who are dedicated to helping you. With the right attitude and determination, alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs can increase the chances for success.

If you do a Google search for "Orange County alcohol rehabilitation program", you'll find that there are many programs in the area that available to help.

If you know someone who you believe has a drinking problem, make it your mission to encourage them to get help!

Teaching Young People About Drunk Driving

2009-10-05T22:23:00.000-07:00

One of the issues we currently face about drunk driving is the overall attitude that people have about the seriousness of a DUI. This is especially true for young people who have just turned 21 and are able to legally drink for the first time. People who drink and drive on a regular basis for some reason believe that they are fully capable of driving at any given moment even when it's obvious that they are not. Many people are fully aware of the consequences of drunk driving, however, it doesn't seem to be enough to stop people from doing it.

Many people think that in order to resolve this issue, lawmakers need to create harsher penalties for drunk driving. They believe that this will be enough to prevent drunk driving. However, this is not necessarily the end-all solution.

Even before kids turn 21, parents should take the opportunity to sit down with their teenagers and drill into their heads about the dangers of drunk driving. Some kids will learn the lesson the hard way by being involved in an alochol-related accident, but hopefully it doesn't have to go that far. We can prevent these accidents - and it starts with every parent.

If you happen to be arrested for your first DUI in Orange County, make sure to get help from an experienced Orange County DUI defense lawyer.

"Real Housewives of Orange County" Star Arrested For DUI

2009-10-01T12:10:00.000-07:00

To lighten things up a bit, I thought I should share this little news tidbit about Matt Keough from "The Real Housewives of Orange County". Matt was recently charged with two DUI felonies: One felony count DUI with a prior felony DUI conviction within 10 years, and one felony count driving with a BAC of .08 or higher.

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2009/09/19/real-husband-charged-with-felony-dui/#ixzz0Si3HVBQ7

I find it interesting that people wish they could live like people they see on TV, but isn't this proof enough that living the OC lifestyle and having all that money doesn't necessarily mean "happily ever after"? If you've ever watched The Real Housewives of Orange County, you know that white people with money do have drama and issues too. Granted, some of the drama can be petty, but it's drama nonetheless.

Anyhow, nobody is immune from getting a DUI. Reality TV star or not, you're still responsible for your actions. In Matt Keough's case, he's facing three years in prison if convicted.

If you're arrested for a DUI in Orange County, make sure to hire a professional and experienced attorney who specializes in drunk driving cases.

Who Is To Blame in This DUI Accident?

2009-07-29T22:41:00.000-07:00

There are some interesting comments in response to this story published at the Los Angeles Times website about Danny Calvin Ruiz of Laguna Hills. Ruiz was convicted last week of murdering his girlfriend (Andrea Gerdon) and their unborn child by crashing his car while driving under the influence. Ruiz's sentencing is scheduled for October and he faces up to 100 years in prison.

Put yourself in Andrea Gerdon's shoes. If you were at a wedding reception with your boyfriend and noticed that he had too much to drink, what would you have done? Would you have gotten in the car with him? Should Andrea be partly to blame for her own death?

It is unfortunate that things like this happen, but hopefully by sharing this story we can all learn the lesson. By sharing these stories with people - especially people who are prone to drunk driving - perhaps these stories will be ingrained in people's minds and they'll be more conscious of their actions.

DUI Prevention Tip: If you are planning an event where alcohol is being served, be a responsible host and make sure your guests get home safely.

Get help with your DUI in Orange County...

More People Arrested For Being Under the Influence of Drugs

2009-07-26T16:39:00.000-07:00

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sites that each year thousands of people are arrested for drunk driving, and 10 to 22 percent of those drivers are involved in crashes, often in combination with alcohol. However, that statistic may change in the future. An article at TransWorld News says that there is a new trend with DUIs. It seems as if more people are being arrested for being under the influence of drugs versus being under the influence of alcohol.

Sure, we could continue to focus on what's wrong with this picture, but what I like to focus on is solving the problem.

What is it exactly that will prevent this from becoming a bigger issue?

If you really think about it, the root of the drunk driving problem is that people have personal and development issues that cause these irrational behaviors such as driving under the influence. By providing some kind of support system for people who have been arrested for a DUI could be one step that we could take to help. We currently have mandated DUI classes for people, but I think most people need help beyond 30 days or even 6 months. People need one-on-one help.

If you do have a drug or alcohol problem, get the help you need. There are plenty of alcohol and drug rehab facilities in the Orange County area! Your DUI attorney in Orange County can also help you with resources and community programs.

DUI Incidences Have Decreased in Orange County

2009-07-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

According to this article published at OCRegister.com, alcohol-related deaths have declined from 2007 to 2008. Also, all across the state DUI deaths fell 9 percent to 1,029, according to federal data.

Christopher J. Murphy, director of the state's Office of Traffic Safety, gave credit to "law enforcement, state and local agencies, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other safety advocates." He further stated, "The people of California have come together to address this deadly problem and are now seeing results. As positive as these figures are, though, we can never let up until we achieve our goal of zero deaths."

Although we saw a decrease in alcohol-related deaths last year, it will be interesting to see what the numbers will be for this year. The California state budget crisis has caused cut-backs in funding for state-approved alcohol and drug rehab programs. This means that repeat DUI offenders may not get the help they need which could lead to more drunk driving accidents. People throughout the state are beginning to feel the pressure due to this budget crisis and using alcohol as their "get away".

Hopefully in the near future we'll have more privately-funded/non-profit organizations emerge who will have the passion to help people with their drug and alcohol addictions. Programs like this are a necessity.

If you've been arrested for drunk driving, ask your Orange County DUI defense lawyer for resources to help you stop drinking and driving.

Penalties: Second DUI Offense in Orange County

2009-07-10T14:45:00.000-07:00

We only hope that if you've already been arrested for your first DUI arrest in Orange County, you have learned your lesson and tried to make a change so that it happens again. However, we know that most people with a drinking problem face the challenge of quitting their bad habit.

So, what happens if you've been arrested for a second DUI offense in Orange County or the Southern California area? According to California Vehicle Code §23542, a person may be subject to these penalties:

At least 96 hours of county jail time, but not more than one year. A sentence of 96 hours of confinement shall be served in two increments consisting of a continuous 48 hours each. The two 48-hour increments may be served nonconsecutively.

Pay a fine of at least three hundred ninety dollars ($390), but not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

Department of Motor Vehicles may suspend or revoke your driver's license pursuant to Section 13352.5.

Enroll and participate, for at least 18 months subsequent to the date of the underlying violation and in a manner satisfactory to the court, in a driving-under-the-influence program licensed pursuant to Section 11836 of the Health and Safety Code.

Mandatory ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle

If you've been arrested for a DUI, keep in mind that you only have 10 days to schedule a hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Also, it's highly recommended that you contact one of the many professional and experienced Orange County DUI attorneys.

Photo Credit: Mike Kline

Drunk Driver Who Killed Nick Adenhart Pleads Not Guilty

2009-06-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

The driver who killed Anaheim Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others in an April drunk driving car crash has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder, drunk driving and fleeing the scene of an accident.

Andrew Thomas Gallo from San Gabriel has been charged with having a blood-alcohol content three times the legal limit at the time his car crashed into the other vehicle. Gallo's license had already been suspended for a prior drunk driving conviction.

If Gallo is convicted, he faces 55 years to life in prison. Gallo's lawyer, Randall Longwith, is requesting that the trial be held outside of Orange County because of the immense emotion surrounding the case. The lawyer believes that it would be difficult to find a jury that is unbiased.

"Generally the emotion here, it's so heated," Longwith told reporters. "The threats are coming to (Gallo) and a whole lot to me as well."

My thoughts on this incident echo Nate Tharp's:

...So Gallo family, do your son a favor. Start taking responsibility for your actions. Encourage him to do the same. Like it or not he’s facing a lot of years in prison. So he needs to start accepting that he did this to himself. He didn’t learn anything the last time he was suspected of DUI. He chose to drink, he chose to get behind the wheel of that car. He killed those people, allegedly. And if his family had done the right thing, stopped making excuses for him, given him some tough love and made him turn his life around this could’ve all been avoided...

Source: Reuters

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Drunk Driving Stories: A Higher Purpose

2009-06-04T22:17:00.000-07:00

Reading bad drunk driving stories in the news is depressing, to say the least. Who really wants to read news about a drunk driver who killed someone?

However, talking about these drunk driving stories serves a higher purpose. Perhaps sharing these stories could help someone. Who knows - it could be a wake-up call for some. Maybe a repeat drunk driving offender could read the story and decide that maybe it's time to make a change. Maybe that story prompted them to really think about their destructive habits.

I think it is so important to share these stories and spread the message about the dangers of drunk driving. It may be even more important to get these stories to repeat offenders in the hopes that maybe it will make them think twice about getting behind the wheel when they're drunk. Even if we got just one person to think about the consequence of their actions...perhaps that could save one or two lives.

Do you have a problem with alcohol and often drink and drive? Get help by visiting Orange County Alcoholics Anonymous.

If you've been arrested for drunk driving, seek the help of an Orange County DUI attorney.

The Root of the Drunk Driving Issue

2009-06-01T14:13:00.000-07:00

For many years people have come up with different ways to prevent drunk driving. With the economy the way it is and more people turning to alcohol to cope with their money problems, now more than ever we need to offer support and help people.

Setting up sobriety checkpoints and having an age limit on drinking doesn't really seem to be working. The statistics show that people are still continuing to drink and drive regardless.

David J. Hanson Ph.D. of Alcohol Problems & Solutions offers some great ideas on the steps we can take to prevent drunk driving. He says:

"For their own safety and that of others, it's important to identify such drivers, remove them from the road, provide effective treatment, and bring about behavior change before permitting them to drive again."

The key thing to remember is this idea of "effective treatment" because as we all know, most hard core drunk drivers could care less if their driver's license is suspended or revoked. They will still continue to drive.

Most alcohol-related car accidents and fatalities are caused by repeat drunk driving offenders, so it's these people that we should be paying attention to. These are the people who seem to be at the root of the drunk driving issue. We have to offer treatment that changes their behavior and be committed to helping them. Sure, the courts could implement harsher sentences to get drunk drivers off the streets, but if they're unwilling to make any changes, then harsher sentences really won't work. They're just going to get out of jail and continue their alcohol abuse.

What are your thoughts on preventing drunk driving?

Get more Orange County DUI information...

Photo Credit: Jennifer Feuchter

Teen Drunk Driving in Orange County Leads to Tragedy

2009-05-15T01:58:00.000-07:00

This week an Orange County teen was arraigned in the death of two other teens in a drunk driving accident. Jared Nobel Berggren of Fullerton has been charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter.

According to authorities, Berggren's two friends Jacquelyn A. Ardalan of La Habra and Miles A. Christensen of Fullerton were ejected from the 2006 Toyota Tacoma that Berggren was driving.

Teen drunk driving is a growing issue. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that twenty-three percent of teenage drivers in fatal car wrecks possessed a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of .08.

We have laws that prevent teenagers from legally possessing, consuming, or driving under the influence of alcohol. However, as we've seen time and time again, teen drunk driving still does occur. What can be done to prevent teens from drunk driving?

The Charity Guide website offers some tips on how to prevent teenage drunk driving. We agree that having conversations with teens and encouraging them to be responsible is probably the best way to stop this reoccurring nightmare. Communicating the importance of safe driving on an ongoing basis will ingrain the message into their minds.

Get help if you've been charged with a DUI in Orange County...

Source: OCRegister

Are IIDs Really Effective?

2009-04-21T11:13:00.000-07:00

The debate on whether IIDs or Ignition Interlock Devices can really do the job of reducing DUI-related fatalities heats up as the state passed a bill requiring all repeat-offenders to install it.

Proponents of the project like MADD argue that it can be a great way to shape the behavior of drunk drivers. They say that if this law has been put into effect years before, the recent accident involving pitcher Nick Adenhart wouldn’t have happened. Drivers who own the device would form the habit of sobering up before driving.

Some lawmakers and those involved in the alcohol industry, on the other hand, believe that this device is flawed on so many levels. For instance, the fact that the IID cannot determine the alcohol level difference between two people, they would be punished in the same terms although one may just be a percent above the limit while the other is heavily intoxicated.

Mike Feuer, the author of the bill, defended it saying that DUI offenders pose harm to the public even with restrictions on their licenses. He said that the interlock can constantly remind these drivers to sober up before taking the wheel which is a far greater good than the challenges IIDs impose.
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There are many DUI lawyers in Orange County. Make sure to hire one that is committed to helping you!

Road Accidents in Orange County Drop By 38%

2009-04-16T18:01:00.000-07:00

According to raw data from the California Highway Patrol, the number of street fatalities in Orange County is 38 percent lower in 2008 than in 2007. The main causes of these accidents were driving under the influence, collisions, and pedestrian-related. The 38-percent drop can be highly attributed to the massive campaigns and programs conducted by the authorities.

Based on the preliminary data shown, the 128 deaths caused by street collisions in 2007 dropped to 79 deaths in 2008. The cities with noticeable improvement are Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, and Anaheim.

Drunk Driving remains a high concern for Santa Ana and Anaheim. In 2007, Santa Ana ranked No. 5 while Anaheim No. 8 in DUI-related fatalities. That year, 230 people were either injured or killed in Santa Ana.

Anaheim’s state traffic agency has taken the initiative to address this problem by using the state grant money for public-awareness programs and random DUI operations and checkpoints. This money which is worth $1 million will be spread between 2008 and 2010 for all alcohol-related campaigns. A huge chunk of it amounting to $711,207 comes from Avoid the 28 DUI campaign and the police is planning to distribute it on all local departments.

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The Consequences of a DUI Arrest in Orange County

2009-04-08T22:30:00.000-07:00

Have you been arrested for a DUI in Orange County?

According to California law, driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 percent is illegal.

If this is your first DUI offense, it can seem a little nerve-wracking. If you are first time offender, you are looking at possible jail time, fines, license suspension or even all of the above. Two or more drunk driving arrests could result in more severe penalties including mandatory DUI classes.

The consequences of a DUI in Orange County will depend upon specific factors such as blood-alcohol content (BAC), whether or not you hit another vehicle, your driving history, or whether or not there were any serious injuries or deaths. If you were driving with a child in the car, there's a chance that child neglect/abuse charges could be filed against you as well.

It's highly advisable that you hire an attorney who specializes in DUI cases to help you. There are certain procedures that need to be followed if you've been arrested for a DUI and a DUI attorney can help make the process go a little smoother. Your attorney will be the one to investigate all the details of your case including the police report. The more you remember what happened before, during, and after your arrest, the better. Having witnesses to testify to your state of mind will help the case even more.

Drunk driving is a mistake that many people make, but if you can learn from that mistake, the better off you'll be in the future.

OC Police Committed To Keeping the Roads Safe

2009-04-02T00:19:00.000-07:00

Could it be that the streets of Orange County are much safer nowadays? According to this article over at OCRegister.com, traffic fatalities declined in 2008 compared to the previous year. The California Highway Patrol reports that 79 people were killed in collisions in 2008. In 2007 the were 128 fatalities. The report didn't state how many of those fatalities were alcohol-related.

We couldn't find current Orange County DUI statistics except for outdated statistics posted on the OC Chapter's MADD website. However, we do know that the state of California has funded programs in order to reduce drunk driving incidents. For example, a couple weeks ago the Orange County Sheriff’s Department conducted DUI roving patrols in the Cities of San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point and San Clemente. These Multi-City DUI teams targeted areas that have a high incidence of DUI related arrests and collisions. The goal of the program is to reduce the rate at which the citizens of Orange County are killed or injured in DUI related collisions.

The Costa Mesa Police Department will be conducting a sobriety/driver license checkpoint on Saturday evening, April 4th, 2009, from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. The checkpoint will be located on northbound Harbor Boulevard, at Peterson Place.

“We have been committed to saving lives by aggressively seeking out and removing impaired drivers from the roadways of Costa Mesa for nearly three decades,” said Traffic Safety Bureau Sergeant Rob Sharpnack. “For those who don’t make the intelligent and safe decision to avoid driving after they drink, CMPD will diligently continue to remove them from our roadways.”

Stay tuned as we will talk about whether or not these sobriety checkpoints are indeed helping to reduce DUIs...

Welcome to the Orange County DUI Blog

2009-03-26T16:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Orange County DUI blog! This blog is dedicated to providing news, information, and commentary about drunk driving and DUI laws in Orange County.

It is our hope that we can be a source of valuable information regarding drunk driving. We won't be just covering DUI accidents; we want to make a difference in reducing the amount of DUI incidences, so we will be sharing resources and tips as well.

We will also be investigating DUI laws and policies because we know that even though these government policies serve to protect the safety of citizens, they sometimes do more harm than good.

Here are just some of the topics we'll cover on this blog:

Orange County DUI accidents and the lessons to be learned from them
Occasional DUI/DWI news from around the country and the lessons learned
DUI laws in California and how they affect DUI offenders
Resources for DUI offenders
Ideas to help prevent drunk driving

If you have a DUI story, tip, or idea to share, feel free to contact us at duicontent [at] gmail [dot] com.

About

2009-03-24T23:20:00.000-07:00

This blog is made available for educational purposes and to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this blog you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and the blog publisher. This blog should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.

Contact

2009-03-24T23:18:00.000-07:00

For questions, comments, or advertising inquiries, feel free to email:

info [at] orangecountyduiblog [dot] com