Rehab as a DUI Defense

If you were arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in California, you may be facing severe penalties if convicted. Oftentimes, a person who was charged with DUI feels as if there is no possibility or hope of reducing or eliminating the impending sentence against them. However, some options, like drug or alcohol…

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Consequences of Refusing a Breathalyzer Test

If you arrive at a DUI checkpoint or you have been stopped for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, a police officer will typically request that you submit to a portable breath test (PAS test). These breathalyzer tests determine the blood alcohol concentration level of alcohol in your system. The legal blood alcohol…

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How to Expunge Your DUI in California

Receiving a DUI (driving while under the influence) can be an embarrassing and stressful time. The State of California allows misdemeanor DUIs to be expunged from your criminal record completely, and a felony DUI to be reduced to a misdemeanor, as long as you are able to complete some very specific requirements. What is Expungement?…

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The 7 Types of California DUIs

Most people in California who are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are arrested and charged with violations of Vehicle Codes 23152(a) and 23152(b). However, an intoxicated driver can also be charged with violations of Vehicle Codes 23152(c) through (e). There are seven types of DUIs that can be charged in the state…

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Who Benefits from the Mental Health Diversion Program

California Senate Bill 215 (SB 215) allowed for the passage of Penal Code 1001.82 which allows some people with mental disorders to receive mental health treatment when charged with a criminal offense. This California program, which went into effect on June 27, 2018, is known as “mental health diversion.” How Does the Mental Health Diversion…

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How a Field Sobriety Test Can be Used Against You in a DUI Case

When a motorist is pulled over by a police officer under the suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a series of field sobriety tests may be given to the driver. The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) established these field sobriety tests as a standard to determine if motorists…

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When can a DUI be Charged and Prosecuted as a Felony?

Many people view DUIs are traffic offenses that, while serious, do not rise to the level of felony conduct. This is not necessarily true. You can be charged with a felony DUI in California under a number of circumstances. The penalties for a felony DUI can be extraordinarily serious, and it would likely be in…

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All You Need to Know About Ignition Interlock Devices (IID)

Following a robust and extensive pilot program in parts of California, new legislation that came into effect at the beginning of this year has significantly changed penalties for DUI offenses by requiring or providing the option to install an ignition interlock device in many more cases.  Governor Edmund Brown signed into law SB 1046, which…

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Understanding SR22 Requirements

A number of circumstances may lead you to seek an SR22, which is becoming an increasingly popular requirement in California in conjunction with IIDs (ignition interlock devices). Knowing what an SR22 is and what the process is for obtaining one is important so that you can take the right steps to reinstate or maintain your…

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