Celebrity DUI Arrests

December 20, 2010

Burbank DUI Bombshell: Local Poker Players Shocked as World Series Runner Up Socked with Third DUI

Everyone in the world of poker knows that driving under the influence in Burbank (or, really, anywhere in the United States) is bad news. Unfortunately, John Racener, Runner Up in the 2010 World Series of Poker’s Main Event, may not have gotten the memo. According to a report out of St. Petersburg, Florida, Racener got arrested on December 11 for his third DUI, after police stopped him near South Westland Ave and West Azeele Street.

If someone or you care about has been recently pulled over under suspicion of a Burbank DUI, Pasadena DUI, Los Angeles DUI, or Glendale DUI, Racener’s story may sound uncomfortably familiar. Just last month, the 24-year old won $5.5 million in Las Vegas. But all his earnings may not be enough to prevent him from seriously harsh penalties. According to the St. Petersburg Times, “Racener has been arrested in Hillsborough County three times before – on charges of driving under the influence in 2005 and 2006 and on a misdemeanor battery charge in 2009.”

Racener allegedly refused a blood alcohol test and made a bail of $1000 to secure his release.

As we’re going to see in a moment, the more often you get arrested and convicted for DUI charges, the more uncomfortable the penalties become. For instance, a first time Burbank DUI offender might get a misdemeanor and be subjected to court penalties such as 48 hours in jail (max six months); court costs and a fine of a $1000; a full year license suspension; six weeks minimum DUI alcohol school; and formal or informal probation.

A second time misdemeanor DUI within 10 years results in an increase in your jail time and alcohol school minimums, doubles your license suspension, hikes up your court costs and fines, and leads to potentially other punishments.

If you get convicted of three DUIs within a decade – a la John Racener – a 3rd time misdemeanor offense will land you a minimum of 120 days in jail with a maximum of a full year. Your other penalties (e.g. alcohol school, license suspension, fines, etc) will also hike up.

Beyond this, extra DUI convictions within 10 years will lead not only to more penalties but also to potential felony convictions for what ordinarily would be considered a misdemeanor offense.

All of this is to say that a Burbank DUI defense attorney, like Michael Kraut of the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers, may be an essential person to call if you or someone you care about faces charges. Whether this is your first arrest in your life for anything or whether you have a criminal record already, connect with Attorney Kraut’s Burbank offices at 2600 West Olive Avenue, 5th Floor, Burbank, California 91505. Or dial 818-5639-810 for immediate help.

Attorney Kraut has a Harvard Law School education, and he has been featured as an expert on DUI law by CNN, ABC News, KTLA Channel 5, and the Burbank Ledger.

December 17, 2010

Los Angeles DUI Analysts Review Olympic Gold Medalist’s Visa Dilema

by Michael Kraut

Most people hit with charges of Los Angeles DUI want to clean their records as quickly as possible to avoid things like license suspension, jail time, significant court costs, and probation. But a 30-year-old Olympian has a very unique and compelling motivation to battle his 2009 DUI charge: bobsledding gold-medalist Steve Holcomb needs his DUI charge dropped so that he can get a visa to travel to Canada to compete in the World Cup.

If you or someone you care about has been recently slapped with a charge of DUI in Pasadena, DUI in Burbank, DUI in Glendale, or driving under the influence in Los Angeles elsewhere, odds are that your reasons for wanting to fight your charges are more mundane (but not necessarily less important!)

Here are the details on the strange case of the DUI gold medalist:

In October 2009, the Utah native made a U-turn on Route 224 but got stopped for making the turn illegally. The sheriff’s deputy tested him for DUI and found that he had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.19% – over twice the Utah (and Southern California) DUI limit. At first, Holcomb got the charge dismissed because the sheriff’s deputy did not sign his citation properly. But Summit County Attorney David Brickley refiled the case shortly thereafter.

Last Tuesday, Holcomb’s attorney appeared in court to fight the charge: “If the DUI charge remains, Holcomb can’t participate in this incredibly crucial event (the World Cup).” The lawyer told the judge: “If Canada turns down a request for a visa, we will have no choice but to litigate the case.”

Attorney Brickley, for his part, suggested that he would be willing to plea bargain the charge down to an impaired driving conviction. But this count would still be a misdemeanor – enough to prevent Canada from letting the Olympian get his visa.

A Southern California DUI conviction can radically throw your life and business out of whack. Although Holcomb still has not been convicted of his 2009 DUI, the charge alone has been enough to throw his athletic career offline.

The law takes driving under the influence charges very seriously. First time convicts — for even misdemeanor DUI offenses — can face 48 hours in jail with a maximum of six months; mandatory DUI alcohol school; informal or formal probation; a one year CA license suspension without restrictive license possibilities; interlock device installation (which you have to pay for); and much more. This doesn’t even count the incalculable secondary problems that you will face, including loss of respect among your family, peers, and business associates and all the time that you will have to spend battling back against the charges.

The penalties actually can be ratcheted up significantly if you commit more than one Los Angeles DUI within 10 years; if you hurt someone or destroy property while DUI; or if you flee the scene of an accident (hit and run).

To build the stiffest, most resilient defense, you need a lawyer who has strong trial experience and a deep familiarity with the law. Look to Los Angeles criminal defense Michael Kraut to get timely and battle-proven advice about what steps to take to fight your charges. Michael Kraut is an ex-District Attorney for the county – as a former prosecutor, he knows how prosecutors think and plan; and he will use his relationships and personal experience to battle for your rights.

December 13, 2010

Pasadena DUI and Other Southern California Cities See Trouble for Gary Collins

by Michael Kraut

Gary Collins, the former host of Hour Magazine and emcee of Circus of the Stars, is facing some serious Los Angeles DUI problems. Last week, a judge in L.A. slapped him with a $100,000 arrest warrant after the ex-actor did not show up to a November 14 progress report regarding his 2007 DUI arrest.

If you only face a simple misdemeanor charge for Los Angeles DUI, Burbank DUI, DUI in Pasadena, or driving under the influence in Glendale, you should be thankful that your legal situation is not as complicated as Collins’ is. The 72-year old has been arrested multiple times since 2002 on charges of driving under the influence. His 2007 Los Angeles DUI charge netted him four days in jail. And, as this blog reported earlier a few weeks ago, Collins now stands accused of a misdemeanor hit and run DUI in Mississippi. The actor allegedly drove his jeep into a car carrying a family of three, leading to a multicar pile up. Collins also fled the scene of the accident, according to the family.

Had Collins shown up for his November 4th progress report, he likely would have lost his probation pursuant to his 2007 case, according to media analysts. Now, he will likely have to serve jail time.

Collins’ difficulties with the law have been well documented (and blogged about) for years. But many people (and many new DUI defendants… and friends and relatives of defendants) are still unclear about what a DUI actually is and how officers judge whether someone stopped at a traffic stop is under the influence of alcohol.

To review, here is a quick list of “symptoms” of Los Angeles DUI:

• Failed breathalyzer test (a BAC reading of 0.08%+).
• Failed blood or urine test.
• Failed horizontal gaze nystagmus test.
• Failed balance tests, such as finger to the nose, Rhomberg, and walk the line.
• Failed test of mental coordination, such as counting backwards and reciting alphabet backwards.
• Odor of alcohol on the person.
• Admission to drinking.
• Slurring words, making incoherent or inappropriate remarks to police officers.
• Bloodshot, teary eyes.
• General fumbling behavior.
• Alcohol on the breath.
• Open container of alcohol in the car.

Although a person who exhibits all of these “symptoms” might expect to be arrested, you’d be surprised at how difficult it can be to clearly identify someone as under the influence of alcohol or drugs – even using seemingly scientific tests like the breath, blood, and urine tests. The reality is that all of the major tests are subject to calibration and interpretation errors. They can be compromised by bad police work and by chemical factors. Independent studies show that they generally are less reliable than most people believe them to be.

Furthermore, the signs of DUI may not necessarily indicate DUI. For instance, say you get pulled over and an officer notices that you have bloodshot eyes and you can’t answer questions coherently. It could just be that you are tired and nervous from studying all night… or staying up to counsel a friend who has had an emotional problem. This would explain the bloodshot eyes and the lack of continuity in your thoughts.

To develop a powerful defense, look to Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Michael Kraut, a former prosecutor who boasts excellent trial experience, good relationships with local prosecutors and judges, a terrific track record for his clients, and a Harvard Law School education.

December 6, 2010

Los Angeles DUI by Faith Evans Results in a Plea of “No Contest” to her Misdemeanor; Singer gets Probation

by Michael Kraut

Last Monday, singer Faith Evans plead “no contest” to her charge of misdemeanor Los Angeles DUI, pursuant to her August arrest in Marina del Rey. The Grammy award winner and widow of the Notorious B.I.G. (a.k.a. Christopher Wallace) heard Superior Court Judge Edward Moreton lay out her sentence. If you have recently likewise been arrested and charged with misdemeanor DUI in Los Angeles, DUI in Glendale, DUI in Pasadena, DUI in Burbank, or DUI elsewhere in the County, you might be fascinated to hear the celebrity’s ultimate verdict:

• Three months of alcohol education
• Three years of probation
• $300 fine on top of other penalties
• Prohibited from driving with any alcohol in her system during her probation
As you may remember, the drama happened at 10:40 p.m. on August 21, when Ms. Evans got pulled over at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard at a Los Angeles DUI checkpoint.

The “I’ll Be Missing You” singer experienced a brush with the law six years earlier in Atlanta, when she and her boyfriend at the time, Todd Russaw, got pulled over at an Atlanta suburb and charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana. Following her August 2010 arrest, Evans reassured her fans via Twitter that she was doing well and stoked enthusiasm for the upcoming release of a new music video.

Although the punishments doled out to Ms. Evans may seem somewhat harsh – who wants to pay a $300 fine and be prohibited from driving with any alcohol in your system whatsoever for three whole years? – in reality, things could have been a lot worse for her. The court can impose harsh penalties, even for a minor misdemeanor Marina del Rey DUI involving no property damage, injuries, or other traffic violations. For instance, at maximum, you could get six full months behind bars, fines of $1,000 on top of court costs, a full year license suspension, nine months of DUI alcohol school, a court-imposed requirement to install an interlock device in your vehicle, and seriously strict terms of probation.

Of course, these Los Angeles DUI punishments can be ratcheted up even further, depending on the circumstances. For instance, if this is your second or third DUI conviction within 10 years; if you hurt somebody or destroyed property while DUI; or if you violated other laws or traffic rules while DUI, the court can hammer you with a longer jail sentence, steeper fines, and many other penalties.

To protect your rights, your ability to drive, and your professional reputation, it behooves you to retain an experienced attorney to draw up a plan of action for your defense. Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Michael Kraut spent nearly a decade-and-a-half as a prosecutor for the city (Deputy DA for Los Angeles) before opening The Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers and representing criminal defendants.

Attorney Kraut is regarded as an expert in Los Angeles DUI law by both his legal peers and by the mainstream media (e.g. The New York Times, Fox KTLA News, Los Angeles Times, etc.) and he boasts a Harvard Law School education and an exceptional track record at jury trials.

November 30, 2010

Los Angeles DUI Results in Football Fans and Bloggers Alike Analyze Fallout of Buccaneers Wide Receiver’s Arrest

by Michael Kraut

NFL fans and professionals who follow celebrity Southern California DUI news have been heatedly debating the fallout of Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams’s DUI arrest. The 23-year old rookie got pulled over two weeks ago in his black Escalade and arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. Police reports revealed that Williams’s BAC tested below the 0.08% Florida (and California) legal limit.

Anyone who has recently been arrested for driving under the influence in Los Angeles, DUI in Burbank, DUI in Glendale, DUI in Pasadena, or DUI elsewhere in the Southland may find the repercussions of Williams’ arrest instructive, in that they illustrate how many complications can spring from even a simple DUI arrest — one not involving accidents, injuries or property damage.

Upon learning of Williams’s arrest, the Buccaneers management decided to allow him to play in a game against the San Francisco Forty Niners. Williams is the team’s leading receiver. Prior to Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens (which the Buccaneers lost 10 to 17), Williams had garnered 6 touchdowns and 689 yards.

The Buccaneers head coach authorized his team to conduct an independent analysis to determine whether or not Williams had controlled substances in his system in addition to alcohol. Williams dutifully submitted to this request, and Coach Morris announced: “we gave Mike our own independent test and we are completely confident that he is completely clean.”

But the NFL is not necessarily happy with the Buccaneers conduct, and some sports analysts believe that the team violated the league’s policy for drug testing confidentiality.

The takeaway here is that, if you or someone you care about has been arrested for DUI in Southern California, even if you are not a major NFL star or a celebrity or politician, you could face serious consequences in addition to the consequences stipulated in the California Vehicle Code Sections relevant to DUI arrests.

For instance, a first time misdemeanor DUI arrest could land you in jail for a minimum of 48 hours, net you serious fines ($1,000 on top of court costs), lead to intense probation terms, and much more. On top of that, you will likely have to deal with unexpected secondary and tertiary (third degree) consequences – just like Williams and the Buccaneers have had to do – such as complications with your personal and business relationships.

Fortunately, Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Michael Kraut can provide a confidential and strategic assessment of your defensive possibilities. Attorney Kraut is a Harvard Law School educated lawyer who has represented clients in some very difficult and complicated Los Angeles DUI matters. As a former prosecutor, Attorney Kraut has the clout, connections, wherewithal, and intuition for the law you need to craft your most appropriate response.

November 19, 2010

Broncos Linebacker Busted: Celebrity Los Angeles DUI Blogs Look at Implications

by Michael Kraut

Last Friday, D.J. Williams, a top linebacker for the Denver Broncos, got pulled over for driving under the influence in his Hummer, prompting many in the celebrity Los Angeles DUI community (and others in the media) to examine what appears to be a rash of sports figures – specifically NFL players – nabbed for misbehavior on the roads recently.

If, like Williams, you’ve been recently stopped and charged with DUI in Los Angeles, DUI in Pasadena, DUI in Burbank, or DUI in Glendale, the travails that the linebacker faced may seem familiar. According to a Friday report in the Denver Post, a Denver police officer pulled Williams over at around 2:40 in the morning. A Department spokesman said “(Williams) was contacted and ultimately taken in for a DUI.” Documents show that Williams also got a ticket for driving without his headlights on. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 13.

This arrest is not Williams’ first for DUI. On September 23, 2005, Williams got pulled over for DUI, after he attended a birthday party. He later revealed to the Denver Post: “Yeah, it is embarrassing…I know now you’ve got to have a driver or somebody driving you around when you plan on going out like that.” Williams’ plight may make things difficult for the Broncos. The NFL star is the team’s leading tackler, and the NFL’s personal conduct policy could require his suspension for 2 to 4 crucial upcoming games. Other NFLers recently hit with DUIs include Jared Allen, Vincent Jackson, and Braylon Edwards.

For Williams’ first DUI, he paid $740 in fines and served 24 hours of community service, according to the Post. If he is convicted a second time, he could face fines ranging up to $1500, 5 times as much community service, and a two year probation.

If you are convicted for Southern California DUI multiple times, you could face significantly greater penalties. Even first time offenders can have it rough. A court can impose 48 hours of jail time with a maximum of six months behind bars – just for your first misdemeanor DUI. You could also face a $1,000 fine as well as court costs. On top of that, you might face a one year driver’s license suspension, mandatory alcohol school, strict probation imposed by the court, and a forced installation of an IID device in your vehicle, which will prevent you from driving unless you blow a non-alcoholic breath into the device.

For your second Los Angeles DUI conviction (misdemeanor) within a ten year period, almost all of your possible penalties will be elevated. Instead of serving 48 hours behind bars, you will have to serve a minimum of 4 or maybe even 10 days behind bars. Instead of a one year driver’s license suspension, you will get a two year suspension. Instead of spending six weeks in alcohol school, you could face 18-30 months. And the penalties ratchet up from there with each successive Los Angeles DUI conviction you get within a 10 year period.

Whether you’ve been pulled over for your first DUI in Pasadena for blowing a breathalyzer result just slightly above the state’s legal limit of 0.08%, or you’ve been involved in a complicated injury crash on the 405, connect today with a responsible, resourceful Los Angeles DUI attorney, like Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Kraut.

November 15, 2010

Southern California DUI Experts Pay Close Attention as Prosecution Rests in New York Yankees Catcher’s Manslaughter Trial

by Michael Kraut

On November 10, former Yankee superstar Jim Leyritz watched on as prosecutors in his DUI manslaughter case finished their case against him. As those of you who follow Southern California DUI celebrity news likely already know, Leyritz faces 4 to 15 years in jail for killing 30-year old Fredia Ann Veitch on December 28, 2007.

If you’ve been recently pulled over for driving under the influence in Burbank, DUI in Pasadena, Los Angeles DUI, or DUI in Glendale, hopefully it was under less tragic circumstances. Known best for slamming home a key homerun in the 1996 World Series, Leyritz retired from baseball in 2000. Unfortunately, 7 years into his retirement, he hopped into his red Ford Expedition while significantly over the Florida (and Southern California) legal limit of 0.08% BAC. A later blood test showed that he had a BAC of 0.14% hours after the crash.

Earlier this year, Leyritz paid Veitch’s family for the wrongful death: $250,000 in insurance payments as well as payments from his own pocket: $1,000 per month for 100 months.

Prosecutors called numerous expert witnesses, including Donald Felicella, who told the jury that evidence suggests that “there was not anything to indicate that speed was a factor.” Veitch had also been driving under the influence. Evidence showed that she had a BAC of 0.18% at the time of the crash. She was actually thrown out of her vehicle because she hadn’t been wearing a seat belt.

According to California law, if you get convicted of vehicular manslaughter while DUI, you can face extremely serious penalties – particularly if you committed vehicular manslaughter with “gross negligence.” In rare cases, prosecutors may charge defendants with a crime called DUI murder. This is actually an even more serious crime than DUI vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. Also known as a “Watson Murder,” DUI murder carries penalties of 15 years to life in jail. It is essentially equivalent to second degree murder.

Whether you were arrested at a Los Angeles DUI checkpoint after you blew a breathalyzer result of 0.09%; or you got involved in a serious injury collision while allegedly under the influence, you may need good legal advice immediately from a Los Angeles DUI lawyer, like Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Kraut.

November 10, 2010

Celebrity Los Angeles DUI Bloggers Buzz about David Cassidy’s DUI Arrest

by Michael Kraut

Websites like TMZ.com and other gossip blogs that follow celebrity Los Angeles DUI arrests have been chatting non-stop about the arrest last week of David Cassidy. The actor and singer, who is best known for his role as Keith Partridge in “The Partridge Family,” got arrested in St. Lucie County Florida for driving under the influence.

If you or someone you care about has been arrested for DUI in Burbank, DUI in Glendale, DUI in Los Angeles, or DUI in Pasadena, you probably can relate to the nervousness and confusion that Cassidy felt. As one of his representatives told the gossip website, TMZ.com: “He would never jeopardize anyone on the road… he has never been arrested in his life before for anything.”

According to reports, the 60-year-old was cruising in a 2008 Mercedes, when an officer saw him weaving in and out of lanes and pulled him over. The trooper noted that the ex-heartthrob smelled like alcohol and acted “nervous and confused.” After seeing a half empty bottle of bourbon in the back seat, the trooper asked Cassidy to take some field sobriety tests (FSTs), which the actor allegedly failed. Cassidy also took two breathalyzer tests and tested positive for DUI both times. On the first test, he blew a 0.13%. On the second test, he blew a 0.14%. Both numbers are significantly over the legal limit for Southern California DUI of 0.08%.

The Partridge Family singer was charged with failing to maintain his lane, driving with an open container of alcohol, and driving under the influence in Florida. After posting a bail of $350, he was released on his own recognizance.

What exactly are “field sobriety tests” that DUI suspects like David Cassidy have to take?

In Southern California, officers usually administer these roadside tests in a specific order. Usually, the first test is something called the horizontal gaze nystagmus test. This measures your pupil reaction time. An officer will likely also subject you to balance tests to measure your physical coordination. These exams could include asking you to stand on one leg, asking you to pace along the painted line on the road, asking you to tilt your head back and count to 30, and having you close your eyes and extend your arms and then try to touch the tip of your nose with your fingers. An officer may also subject you to mental tests. For instance, you may be asked to recite the alphabet backwards or do a counting test.

Key point: if you fail a field sobriety test, that doesn’t mean that you will be found guilty of DUI!

Indeed, the validity of FSTs can be challenged on a number of grounds. For instance, maybe the road was sloped or potholed, and this titled grade caused you to lose your balance. Or maybe you were simply fatigued from a long night or a bad conversation, and thus you couldn’t concentrate on the tasks being asked of you. Being pulled over for any reason can be extremely stressful and can cause certain people to behave in odd ways. The act of subjecting someone to a field sobriety test can actually change his or her behavior and make it difficult to understand the root cause of the behavior.

If you need help with constructing a Los Angeles DUI defense, you likely want to retain a top-caliber attorney who has the experience, wherewithal, and resources to help you.

November 8, 2010

Breaking Southern California DUI News: Former Miss America Host Gary Collins Arrested for Hit and Run DUI in Mississippi

by Michael Kraut

Gary Collins, the ex-host of “Hour Magazine” and the Miss America Pageant (1980 to 1988) may soon be arrested for a hit and run DUI in Mississippi, according to celebrity Los Angeles DUI blogs.

Although the 72-year old has not yet been arrested for DUI in Los Angeles, DUI in Burbank, DUI in Glendale, or DUI in Pasadena; he does have multiple DUI arrests on his record. In fact, in 2007, Collins got involved in a fatal accident while driving under the influence of alcohol. The police later determined that he did not cause the accident. Thus, he only faced a punishment of 4 days in prison and 4 years probation, after he pled no contest to charges against him. However, over the past 10 years, he has been arrested 3 times for DUI. During one incident, Collins allegedly had been driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.29% — more than 3 times the legal limit for Southern California DUI of 0.08%.

In this latest incident, Collins allegedly slammed his white jeep into the back of a car driven by a local woman named Cheryl Hales. After initially exchanging words with Hales and her husband, he fled the scene. According to reports, the former Miss America host “wasn’t concerned for my wife’s wellbeing… he wasn’t concerned for my child’s wellbeing. He simply walked over, got in his vehicle, and left.”

The latest news reports suggest that the Mississippi police are preparing an arrest warrant for the celebrity, who once appeared on shows like Charlie’s Angels and The Love Boat. Collins is married to Mary Ann Mobley, who once won the Miss America crown.

What lessons can we extract from this story?

One important point is that California law seeks to punish recidivist (repeat) DUI drivers by ratcheting up penalties for multiple offenses. For instance, a first misdemeanor DUI offender may be hit with serious penalties – such as 48 hours in jail, fines of $1000 on top of court costs, a full year of CA driver’s license suspension, mandatory alcohol school, serious probation, and mandatory interlock ignition device installation. But these admittedly strict penalties can really only constitute the beginning of what the court can throw at you.

If you are convicted a second time for Los Angeles DUI within a 10 year period, you face more jail time, more alcohol school, a license suspension that’s twice as long, bumps in your court costs and fines, and more.

If you get convicted three times within 10 years, your jail time leaps up to 120 days minimum… with a maximum of a full year behind bars. Your alcohol school time goes up, as does your license suspension, fines, and other penalties.

If you get convicted four times or more within 10 years, a standard misdemeanor might be bumped up to a felony. A felony is a much more serious charge than a misdemeanor. If you are convicted of a felony, you can permanently lose many rights you now have as a citizen.

In the case of Collins, the fact that he fled the scene of the accident (allegedly) might elevate his charge from a misdemeanor to a felony, even if it were his first offense.

Whether you face a simple charge of non-injury DUI in Los Angeles; or you face a much more complicated and multi-layered charge of hit and run injury DUI in Pasadena, you could benefit significantly from consulting with a reputable and credentialed attorney.

November 3, 2010

Los Angeles DUI Analysts Ponder Oklahoma State Wide Receiver’s Big Texas Bust

by Michael Kraut

Many major Southern California DUI stories pertain to celebrity arrests, politician mishaps and “news of the weird” items like lawnmower DUI. But the DUI blogging community has been tracking a surprisingly high number of athlete DUIs lately – particularly in the Midwest. The latest celeb-athlete DUI arrest occurred in Texas last Monday, when Justin Blackmon, an Oklahoma State wide receiver — who, incidentally, boasts an astounding 1,112 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns this year — got pulled over and arrested, after an officer caught him zipping along Interstate 35 at 92 miles per hours in a 60 mile per hour zone.

If you have been caught and booked on charges of DUI in Pasadena, DUI in Glendale, DUI in Burbank, or DUI in Los Angeles, you might be able to relate to what happened to Mr. Blackmon. Apparently, the 20 year-old had been cruising on the highway after attending a Dallas Cowboys’ game. A spokesperson for the Carrollton Police Department reported that Blackmon failed a field sobriety test after he got pulled over for speeding.

In Texas, even trace amounts of alcohol in the system can lead to serious penalties for minors under the age of 21. While slightly different rules apply to California drivers, field sobriety tests across the nation have remarkably similar features. If you have been pulled over for driving under the influence in Los Angeles, you may have had to take field sobriety tests — exams which theoretically help officers determine your mental and physical state.

A typical first test is the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, during which an officer measures pupil reaction time to a stimulus (such as a flashlight). A slow reaction might indicate Los Angeles DUI. Subsequent tests will examine your balance. These could include the “walk the line test,” “one leg stand test,” “Rhomberg test” (tilting your head backwards and counting to 30), and the “finger to the nose test.” An officer may deploy some or all of these tests, and he or she may also test your mental facilities by asking you to do things like recite the alphabet backwards. Officers will also search for so-called “symptoms” of Southern California DUI, such as odor of alcohol on your breath, lack of physical or mental coordination, bloodshot eyes, inappropriate behavior, and admission to having consumed alcohol recently.

So what can you do if you or a loved one has recently been tagged with a charge of Los Angeles DUI? Whether you are a big sports star like Justin Blackmon or a “non celebrity,” the punishments for a conviction – even for a misdemeanor conviction – could be quite painful and severe. A qualified and experienced Los Angeles DUI lawyer can help you develop your case.