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A new law is coming out because of all of the street racing and dangerous driving in Los Angeles County that says that if you drive recklessly and kill somebody, not only can you be charged with a felony, but you can also be charged with California Penal Code 187 PC murder.  It makes sense when you think...

This question is interesting.  First, if you get arrested for driving under the influence of DUI, you go to jail immediately. They usually keep you for several hours.  But I’m talking about when you go to court, and now you have to deal with your DUI case, and part of your punishment involves jail time... 

We are often asked how much jail time someone faces if involved in a hit and run. If you leave the scene of an accident, you could be charged with hit and run and face huge fines and jail time. In California, there are two primary types of hit-and-run charges. Vehicle Code 20002 VC defines a misdemeanor...

Many people will come into my office saying that they refused to take the DUI test when the police pulled them over, and they somehow think they can now win the case. Somebody gave them bad advice and thought they made a good move.  The bottom line, I rarely see cases where refusing to take...

You're probably scared when you’ve been arrested for a California Vehicle Code 23152 VC DUI.  You’ve lost control, you’re worried about going to jail, and you can’t decide how to handle a case.  Most people don’t want the case and start thinking of ways to escape it.  One way to get out of a DUI is to...

I’ve handled thousands of California DUI cases over the years, and your blood alcohol level is crucial.  The reason it’s vital is that it tells the prosecutors and judges how dangerous you are to the public. Most people familiar with driving under the influence in California recognize a blood alcohol...

I get many questions like this where people ask, do I need an attorney?  What can an attorney do for me? Each California Vehicle Code 23152 VC DUI case is different, and you must look at the facts of the case. Such as what happened; how the arrest was made; what the blood alcohol level was, and a host...

After you were arrested for driving under the influence in Los Angeles, the arraignment hearing is the next legal step to deal with in the California Vehicle Code 23152 VC DUI court process. You should hire a lawyer before your arraignment. Many people will go to their arraignment believing they can...

he California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) hearings and getting arrested for driving under the influence under Vehicle Code 23152 VC are closely related because they have the authority to suspend someone’s driver’s license. Once you are arrested for DUI and have your license taken, you...

This is a big question for many people because they feel like the police pull them over for no reason.  When somebody is driving their car on the street in California and not doing anything unlawful, the police can’t legally pull them over during a traffic stop. Police are required to have “probable cause”...

I've been doing DUI for almost 30 years, defending people all over Los Angeles county -- thousands of cases, so I think I have a pretty good idea of what you should look for. Prosecutors use two main California DUI statutes to charge someone with driving under the influence.  Vehicle Code 23152(a) VC...

These cases are more and more prevalent, especially in busy areas where individuals are not seeing people on the road, are intoxicated, they’re hitting them and killing them, and then they either leave the scene of the accident with their car, or if their vehicle is damaged too severely, they end up just...

There are a lot of death-related accidents throughout many counties in California, especially those with more populations like Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino, and people are being arrested at record numbers for killing bicyclists and pedestrians. So, if you or a loved one is charged with a...

California Vehicle Code 23152 VC driving under the influence is typically charged as a misdemeanor offense. However, some could be filed as a felony if certain conditions are met. If convicted of a felony DUI, the legal penalties are harsh. They could impact your future opportunities for many years as you...

This has been a long-standing question for the 30 years I’ve been defending people charged with DUIs that cause death and who are charged with second-degree murder. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office, for many years that I’ve been practicing, used only to charge second-degree murder...

These felony DUI cases are very problematic because they come with so many dire consequences, especially in Los Angeles county, which I would say is the capital of DUIs regarding punishment and dealing with them harshly.  You add in an injured person, making it more challenging to deal with and avoid...

Many people who are charged with driving under the influence or DUI are worried about getting a California Vehicle Code 23152 VC DUI on their record, and they should be because it’s a misdemeanor. It will affect your driving privileges and a whole host of other things that a criminal court can do...

This is one of the primary requests I receive. Someone wants a wet reckless instead of a first-time DUI. The difference between the two is not overly significant. A wet reckless means driving recklessly on the road with alcohol in your system. Whereas in a DUI, you are driving in an unsafe manner and...

One thing you have to realize right off the top if you have a DUI and you’re looking for answers is that every defense and idea will not apply to your case.  Each case is different, and you have to look at the facts of the case – what happened; how the arrest was made; what the blood alcohol level was...

I see now more and more, with the legalization of marijuana, that police are pulling people over for marijuana-related DUIs at a record number. The way they prove a marijuana DUI is first, obviously, by getting your blood so they can measure your THC level, and they can do that now, depending on what...

The California Department of Motor Vehicles has been blocked from suspending driver’s licenses for DUIs in some circumstances. A California judge has ruled that the DMV’s administrative practice of suspending licenses in DUI cases violates people’s civil rights. They’re not given the right... 

If you’ve been arrested anywhere in the San Fernando Valley, you’re typically going to get an appearance slip to appear in the Van Nuys criminal court.  If you’re charged with a misdemeanor DUI, they’ll have you appearing in Division 103. You want to get an attorney before you go in there.  Let the attorney...

Prosecutors in California use two primary DUI laws to file charges against somebody for driving under the Influence.  Vehicle Code 23152(a) VC makes it a crime to drive under the influence of alcohol. Vehicle Code 23152(b) VC makes it a crime to drive with a BAC of .08% or higher. Most people are...

I’ve been doing this for 30 years, defending people for California Vehicle Code 23152 VC DUI cases in Los Angeles and surrounding cities. I thought it would be nice to give you a breakdown of what is supposed to happen if you were pulled over for a DUI. I do this knowing that most people will be coming...

Many people are worried about their reputation if they get arrested for a California Vehicle Code 23152 VC DUI and ultimately get a conviction. This is certainly a legitimate concern. I can tell you right now that if you get arrested, there’s no reason your employer will find out right away. There’s no...