DUI Crime and Punishment

April 8, 2011

Glendale DUI “Yikes” Situation – Two Women Zapped With DUI in the Same Car

Every once in a while, a case of driving under the influence in Glendale (or elsewhere) is so odd that you’re left scratching your head. Huh? Is that really possible?

Events that prove exceedingly rare – such as “hitting for the cycle” in baseball or a “blue” moon (two full moons in one month) — attract our attention because of their novelty and because, perhaps, of our innate capacity as human beings to get superstitious over eccentric events.

In any event, getting arrested for driving under the influence in Los Angeles, DUI in Glendale, Pasadena DUI, or Burbank DUI in and of itself is not a particularly unusual event. Thousands of drivers (including celebrities and sport stars) get stopped every year for said crimes.

But two women in Vermont got hit with DUI charges last week in a very, very rare situation. 22-year old Caryn Pletzer and 25-year old Ashley Griffin got snagged for DUI in Vermont on I-89 in the small town of Williston, the Saturday night before last. Pletzer had been driving, when she and her friend got into an argument. During the tussle, Griffin grabbed the steering wheel, causing the driver to lose control and roll the car over a number of times.

Both young women got taken to Fletcher Allen Healthcare to be treated for back injuries – fortunately; it appears they were not hurt beyond these minor injuries. Since both women had been under the influence of alcohol, they now BOTH face DUI charges. Even though Griffin wasn’t driving the vehicle, since she grabbed control of the steering vehicle, that’s enough for the DUI charge. Griffin also faces charges of gross negligent operation of a vehicle and aggravated assault.

Although there have been other instances of two people in the same car getting arrested for DUI during one stop – this blog actually covered one such instance a few weeks ago – a superficial scanning of news stories online has failed to show whether three people or more have been arrested in the same car for DUI. But it’s definitely possible.

The Glendale DUI process is essentially the same whether you’re stopped in some kind of exotic situation like Griffin and Pletzer were, or you were stopped in a more mundane situation:

• You get stopped at either a DUI checkpoint or a traffic stop and checked for symptoms of intoxication, such as bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.
• Officers will investigate you for DUI using preliminary alcohol screening devices and field sobriety tests.
• The officer will arrest you, generally pursuant to California Vehicle Code Sections 23152 (a) or 23152 (b).
• You find representation. You can represent yourself, work with a public defender, or retain an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney.
• You must deal with the automatic suspension of your license DMV hearings by wrangling with forms such as the suspension order and temporary license form.
• Your arraignment.
• Your pre-trial hearing – if you can’t resolve the situation during pre-trial, (only happens in one out of twenty cases) you move onto…
• Jury trial.
• Post trial. Perhaps your case will be dismissed or you will be found not guilty. Or perhaps you will face a sentence, and you’ll have to serve that.

Glendale DUI defendants can trust attorney Michael Kraut, located at:  121 W Lexington Dr, Glendale, CA 91203 Phone: (818) 507-9123 . Not only does Mr. Kraut have a fantastic record of jury trials and a terrific reputation within the Los Angeles DUI community, but he also has a Harvard Law School education and 14-plus years under his belt as a Deputy District Attorney.

April 6, 2011

Long Beach DUI Shenanigans – Reality Star Joe Giudice Could Face a Decade Behind Bars for Drivers License Fraud

by Michael Kraut

Discussions about Long Beach DUI and DUI elsewhere in the US inevitably pivot back to celebrity drama. It’s unfortunate, given that most cases of DUI in Glendale, DUI in Pasadena, Burbank DUI, and Los Angeles DUI involve ordinarily law abiding citizens who make miscalculations or errors of judgment.

But DUI tabloid stories inevitably pop-up – often more than once a week, as this blog has covered – and these stories tend to make all DUI defendants look like nincompoops.

Case in point: Joe Giudice, the husband of Bravo reality star Teresa Giudice (of Real Housewives of New Jersey) was busted the Friday before last for obtaining a phony driver’s license. As this blog covered few weeks ago, Giudice was arrested for driving under the influence in 2010. Anyway, he apparently secured a phony driver’s license using his brother’s ID. The 40-year old was held on bail of $50,000.00. His maximum penalty could be a decade (10 years) behind bars for this crime.

Teresa Giudice apparently was completely oblivious to the potential perils. Following the bust, she took to her twitter account: “Happy Friday! Going to Mount Airy in the Poconos tonight, cooking for my fans! What is everyone else doing?”

The DUI penalties for Long Beach DUI recidivist (repeat) offenders can be painful and life altering. Most regular readers of this blog – and any good Los Angeles criminal defense attorney – can now recite by rote the first time misdemeanor DUI penalties that the court can impose, which include DUI alcohol school; jail time of 48 hours minimum, six months maximum; court costs and fine of up to $1,000.00; formal probation; one year CA driver’s license suspension; and possibly you’ll have to install an interlock ignition device on your vehicle.

But multiple offences can lead to an escalation – or ratcheting up – of your penalties on practically every dimension. You could face more jail time, a longer license suspension, longer time in alcohol school, bigger fines, more court costs and stricter prohibition terms. Moreover, if you get arrested for multiple times within a 10-year period, prosecutors could try to charge you with a felony instead of just a standard misdemeanor. This again has life-altering consequences – a felony is a much more serious charge. Convicted felons can be haunted for years by their conviction and find it much more difficult to get loans, find work, and rebuild their professional reputations.

Long Beach DUI attorney Michael Kraut (444 West Ocean, Suite 800 Long Beach, California 90802 Phone: (562) 531-7454) can answer your questions about your DUI. Even if you’ve gotten into complicated legal trouble, this former prosecutor and Harvard Law School educated attorney has the wherewithal and intuition (as well as experience with the system) to deliver results.

April 4, 2011

Pasadena DUI “Century Club” – Texas Man Faces 99 Years behind Bars for 16th DUI

by Michael Kraut

Many recidivist Pasadena DUI drivers – people who’ve been arrested more than once for a crime like driving under the influence in Pasadena, Glendale DUI, Burbank DUI, Los Angeles DUI, etc — wrestle with deep and hard to crystallize psychological problems.

A DUI can happen to the best of people with the best of intentions. For instance, say a person goes to a cocktail party and leaves after only having two drinks. But she fails to recognize that drinking on an empty stomach has elevated her BAC to above the Southern California DUI legal limit of 0.08%. She then gets stopped at a checkpoint and arrested. Her life comes crashing down.

Even recidivist offenders often face only relatively innocuous demons. For instance, maybe a guy who gets arrested three times over the course of 15 years for DUI simply lacks intuition for how much alcohol his body can handle.

What about a 16 time DUI recidivist, like 52-year old James Steven Corley of Montgomery County, Texas? Hmm. He may have some serious issues to work out. Unfortunately for Corley, his 16th life-time conviction for DUI was the final straw, according to local prosecutors. Last August, an officer saw Corley weaving in his lane and driving with a broken tail light. The officer pulled him over and found him to have a BAC of 0.10%.

According to the Deputy District Attorney for Montgomery County: “This defendant is an extremely dangerous driver…practically every time he is getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, according to the testimony, he is driving drunk. He testified that whenever he does it, he doesn’t think about anybody who is on the street with him. It’s all about him. All about getting drunk.”

According to an analysis of the case, Corley might be able to get parole in 10-15 years, depending on his behavior and other factors. A 99-year jail sentence for DUI – even for an extreme case of Pasadena DUI – is relatively unusual. Do note, however, that you can easily get a lengthy jail sentence for Pasadena DUI murder or vehicular manslaughter. When you hurt another person – or kill somebody – obviously your potential penalties go way, way up, even if you’re a first time DUI driver, and even if you were just barely over the limit.

If you did hurt or kill someone, prosecutors and the judge will take into account a variety of other factors, including your level of intoxication, past criminal history (if any), your past DUI history, and the quality of your driving when you caused the injury accident.

To make a sensible defense, look to a quality and well regarded Los Angeles criminal defense attorney. The law allows you to defend yourself in a complicated Pasadena DUI injury case. But in general, you’d be advised to retain professional counsel.

Mr. Michael Kraut (of the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers — 790 East Colorado Boulevard, 9th floor, Pasadena, California 91101 Phone: (626) 345-1899) has deep experience helping clients just like you in complicated and unfortunate DUI circumstances. For years, Mr. Kraut served as a Deputy District Attorney for the city – during which he actively worked to put DUI offenders behind bars. As a result of his stint (14 plus years) as a prosecutor, Mr. Kraut has developed a profound understanding of how prosecutors think, and he also developed a veritable arsenal of tools and strategies to help his clients battle their charges effectively.

March 30, 2011

Long Beach DUI Sexual Battery: San Diego Officer Slapped with 10 Felony Counts for Harassing Women

by Michael Kraut

Most salacious stories involving Southern California DUI involve drivers doing or saying queer things that illicit eye-rolling, head-shaking, or other condemnation. But last week, the tables turned: Instead of a DUI defendant getting charged with a crime like DUI in Burbank, DUI in Glendale, Pasadena DUI, or Los Angeles DUI, a San Diego police officer was charged with harassing up to nine different women during a string of DUI stops.

As the San Diego Union-Tribune reported on March 21, Officer Anthony Arevalos pled not guilty to 10 different felony counts pursuant to charges that he sexually assaulted, restrained, and falsely imprisoned several women over the course of months. Officer Arevalos allegedly pulled over women in the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego on October 22, December 29, March 8, and several other times for DUI and then proceeded to “ask them all what they could offer him to get out of their compromising situations. The women ranged in age from 20 to 31.”

According to Deputy DA Sherry Thompson, Arevalos scared the women by pointing out how costly Southern California DUI defense can be. In one of the most salacious examples of the alleged abuse, “he asked a woman leaving Mardi Gras celebrations what it was worth to her to get out of an arrest… Arevalos responded by directing her to drive to a nearby 7-Eleven and then allegedly asked for her panties and bra in a locked restroom… The woman claims that he then put his arm around her and fondled her crotch before letting her go.” According to the Union-Tribune, authorities have surveillance video of this act occurring.

Obviously Arevalos’ alleged misbehavior was not only illegal but also a violation of the rights of DUI suspects. Long Beach DUI process must be upheld. If a police officer fails to follow proper protocol by setting up a checkpoint station incorrectly or by violating the Constitutional rights of suspected DUI drivers, then the charges can be dismissed, and the officers who violated your rights can even get in trouble.

The challenge that many Long beach DUI defendants face is how to demonstrate that they are actually telling the truth. Often, a defense seems like it must devolve into a game of “he said, she said” – your word versus the word of one or several police officers.

Fortunately, a competent and experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney can prepare you effectively to meet challenges and build a compelling, evidence-based argument to either get your charges dismissed or get them pleaded down. Michael Kraut of Long Beach’s Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers (444 West Ocean, Suite 800 Long Beach, California 90802 Phone: (562) 531-7454 ) is a Harvard Law School educated ex-prosecutor for the city (14+ years as a Deputy DA) who boasts a terrific record at jury trials and a history of getting excellent results for clients even in difficult, legally complicated situations.

March 21, 2011

Glendale DUI Setups: Divorced Dads Targeted in Nefarious “Dirty DUI” Scam

by Michael Kraut

Here is how the scam typically happened. A divorced dad in the midst of a bitter custody battle finds himself approached by two gorgeous women at a local watering hole, gets seduced into driving to a “hot tub party” and then suddenly, out of nowhere, finds himself pulled over and arrested for driving under the influence in Glendale.

Turns out, the dad was set up. His wife had hired Christopher Butler, an ex-cop, to arrange the “dirty DUI” operation by hiring the women to seduce him and then alerting law enforcement agents as the man took the road. The result? A DUI in Los Angeles, DUI in Pasadena, DUI in Burbank, DUI in Glendale, or DUI anywhere else in Southern California.

Sounds like fiction? Think again.

The San Francisco Chronicle and Daily Mail Reporter detailed this “dirty DUI” scam in a recent story. Among the divorcees caught up in the trouble:

* 46-year-old David Dutcher — he was stopped in 2008 for DUI after a woman he met on match.com invited him back to hot tub with one of her friends. The police pulled him over and found him to have a BAC of 0.12% (Southern California DUI limit is 0.08%).

* 46-year-old Declan Woods — This contractor was busted in July 2007, after a younger woman got him drunk at Ed’s Mudville Grill and the Clayton Club Saloon. Woods hopped in a car to follow the woman to more partying at Walnut Creek, when he got pulled over by the police – a 0.21% BAC breathalyzer reading and a devastating arrest quickly followed.

Although these divorced dads got “seduced” into breaking the law (by driving under the influence), they clearly should have known better.

On the other hand, their wives and Mr. Butler (the ex-police officer who set things up) should also be ashamed. Inspiring people to drive under the influence in Southern California is reprehensible, whatever the reason.

But if you’ve been caught for driving under the influence in Glendale or elsewhere, you may not need to prove that you were “set up” in order to build a good defense. Indeed, simply questioning the methodology and accuracy of the breath test can be enough to break down the prosecution’s case against you. You might think that a Glendale DUI blood test or breathalyzer test that shows a positive for DUI would be essentially incontrovertible evidence that you did something wrong and broke the law. But, surprisingly, such tests can often be compromised and misleading.

An experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney can take a look at the test results and help you develop a smart way to minimize your penalties and maximize your chances of the best possible outcomes. Connect with Michael Kraut’s Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers (offices in Glendale at : 121 W Lexington Dr, Glendale, CA 91203 Phone: (818) 507-9123) to get your critical questions about your Glendale DUI answered right now.

March 16, 2011

Long Beach DUI Madness — Miguel Cabrera Tells Officers: “Shoot Me, Kill Me”

by Michael Kraut

When a police officer pulls over a driver for suspicion of driving under the influence in Long Beach (or elsewhere throughout the Los Angeles/Southland region), tempers can flare and the situation can even become violent. It’s all too easy to compound a Burbank DUI, Pasadena DUI, DUI in Glendale or Los Angeles DUI situation by fleeing the scene of a crash, confronting an officer, or otherwise acting in a way that will make it more difficult to defend yourself in court later on.

Case in point: Detroit Tigers’ slugger Miguel Cabrera’s recent DUI arrest in Florida.

According to police video from the MLB player’s arrest (as well as 911 calls and 42 pages of arrest affidavits), Cabrera made multiple mistakes, which will likely compound his DUI trouble and may lead to significant legal problems.

First of all, prior to his DUI arrest, Cabrera allegedly made a series of threats at a nearby restaurant, Cowboy’s Bar-B-Q & Steak Company. The manager on duty told him that the bar and dining sections were closing – news that Cabrera did not like. He allegedly threatened to attack the manager and his staff with a gun and “blow up the restaurant.” The threats were serious enough that the bartender called 911.

Cabrera left the restaurant and headed towards the Tigers’ spring training camp in Lakeland in central Florida. His SUV broke down. Police officers soon showed up on the scene. Cabrera allegedly threatened the police, drank a bottle of Scotch whisky in front of them, and gave one of the officers the bird. When the patrol trooper tried to arrest him, Cabrera “pushed off the vehicle” — a defensive/aggressive move that earned retaliation from the trooper in the form of “3 to 4 knee spikes” into Cabrera’s leg.

Misbehavior, violent actions and threats to the police can vastly complicate your Long Beach DUI situation. You also might experience escalated penalties if you hurt someone while operating a vehicle while DUI.

Here’s the scoop:

Typical misdemeanor charges are dealt with under California Vehicle Code Sections 23152(a) and 23152(b). Injury Long Beach DUI matters are charged under slightly different vehicle code sections – 23153(a) and 23153(b). From the labeling, that might not sound like a big difference – you go from 23152 to 23153. So what? But the consequences for your potential punishments are profound. 23153 allows prosecutors to elevate misdemeanor charges to felony charges.

Do you know the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony? The difference is enormous. If convicted of a felony, you may get significantly longer than one-year in jail, permanently lose the right to hold public office and vote, and suffer incalculable damage to your professional reputation, credit, ability to get loans, and ability to negotiate favorable probation conditions.

A qualified and reputable Los Angeles criminal defense attorney can help you build a sound and sensible strategy to combat the charges against you. Michael Kraut of Long Beach’s Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers (located at 444 West Ocean, Suite 800 Long Beach, California 90802 Phone: (562) 531-7454) has a long and decorated history of helping defendants. With a 99% success rate at jury trials, 14 plus years as a former prosecutor, and a Harvard law school education, Mr. Kraut can give you the guidance and legal help you need to get best results.

March 14, 2011

Burbank DUI Celebrity Arrest Alert: ESPN Commentator Harry Teinowitz Slapped with DUI in Illinois

by Michael Kraut

When sports stars and celebrities get pulled over for driving under the influence in Burbank, Southern California, or elsewhere in the nation, the national news media and the blogosphere react with shock, awe, and dismay. In many situations, defendants are deemed “guilty” in the eyes of the public, even before counter evidence or counter arguments can be heard.

If someone you love – or yourself – recently got arrested for violating the law against driving DUI in Glendale, DUI in Los Angeles, DUI in Burbank, or DUI in Pasadena, chances are you’ve already experienced some of this unfair “prejudgment” — even among friends and associates.

Consider the case of Harry Teinowitz, a famous radio talk show host for ESPN’s WMVP-AM radio. The 50-year old announcer got stopped for DUI in Illinois the Friday before last and tested to have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.131% (nearly twice the legal limit for Los Angeles DUI – 0.08% BAC). After getting released from jail through via a $1,000 bail bond, Teinowitz returned to his radio show last Monday (“The Afternoon Saloon”) and addressed his listeners about what happened.

Teinowitz said: “some of you may have heard about the incident that occurred last Friday night. I made a horrible mistake in judgment… and I take full responsibility for my actions. I let my family down. I let you guys, the listeners who I love, down and I let the company I work for down. And I’m deeply sorry… this doesn’t define me: what happens from now defines me.”

Note Teinowitz’ extremely defensive tone. Like many people arrested for driving under the influence in Burbank (a misdemeanor as defined by California Vehicle Code Sections 23152(a) or 23152(b)), Teinowitz understands the instant stigma that attaches to defendants in DUI cases. It’s easy to find yourself attached to the label of “DUI defendant” and to feel judged – not only by friends, peers, and outsiders but also by yourself.

The key to remember is that labels and moralistic judgments don’t necessarily define the essence of who you are. In many ways, it’s the lessons we learn, the actions we take, and the motion we take towards helping others and helping ourselves that defines our humanity. As important as it is to respond alertly and fairly to your DUI charges – and that doesn’t necessarily mean avoiding all punishments, by the way — it’s equally important to give yourself a certain degree of forgiveness and to move away from labeling yourself as “good, bad, unfairly targeted, et cetera.” Instead, focus on identifying the most resourceful path to getting what you want and to ensuring the safety and well being of others in your family and other drivers in the road.

Obviously, you have some practical issues that you are facing right now, if you are a Burbank DUI defendant. 23152(a) and (b) convictions can lead to plenty of uncomfortable penalties, ranging from community service to jail time to probation to the mandatory putting in of a device called an interlock ignition device, which makes it impossible for you to drive unless you blow a sober breath into a machine.

A quality Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, such as Michael Kraut of the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers (located in Burbank at: 2600 West Olive Avenue, 5th Floor, Burbank, California 91505 Phone: (818) 563-9810) can deliver the much needed strategic guidance and compassionate support you need during this tumultuous time. Trust a Harvard Law School educated former prosecutor to build your defense today.

March 11, 2011

Long Beach DUI Sports Update: Coco Crisp Popped for DUI at Spring Training

by Michael Kraut

Last Wednesday, Oakland A’s outfielder (and former Red Sox icon) Coco Crisp got pulled over in Scottsdale, Arizona on suspicion of DUI – blogs that follow sports and Long Beach DUI news jumped on the story, possibly because the outspoken outfielder had been driving a 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom (valued at $400,000+) when he got pulled over.

Most arrests for DUI in Burbank, DUI in Glendale, Los Angeles DUI, and Pasadena DUI, involve vehicles worth well less than $400,000. They also usually involve non-celebrities. So let’s get the full story behind Coco Crisp’s “beyond the run of the mill” DUI bust.

According to a report from TMZ.com, the police officer who pulled over Coco “observed signs of intoxication… after Mr. Crisp agreed to and performed field sobriety tests, he was arrested without further incident.” The AP report states that Crisp made his bail and actually made it to Phoenix Municipal State Event in time to play an exhibition game against the Indians. The Oakland A’s released a statement saying that the team was “taking Crisp’s situation seriously,” but team officials withheld additional comments “until further details are available.”

According to the AP, Crisp was the third major leaguer to be nabbed for DUI during this year’s spring training season – other arrests include Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers), who got nabbed for Florida DUI in February, and Austin Kearns (Cleveland Indians), who got nabbed for DUI in Kentucky on February 12th.

Mr. Crisp allegedly failed his field sobriety tests (FSTs), but what exactly constitute Long Beach DUI field sobriety tests?

Here is a quick primer (or reminder, if you’re a regular reader of this blog) of standard Southern California DUI FSTs:

• Horizontal gaze tests – An officer checks the reaction time of your pupils for an indication of a delay, which might indicate DUI.
• Finger to nose test – Suspect is asked to close his (or her) eyes and to try to touch his (or her) nose.
• Other balancing tests, such as the “stand on one leg” test, Rhomberg test (tilt the head backwards and count to 30), and walk the line test (walk several paces back and forth along a line, such as the white line on the side of the road).
• Mental coordination tests – (e.g. counting the alphabet backwards or counting numbers backwards by threes).

If you or someone close to you has been arrested for the crime of driving under the influence in Long Beach, a reputable Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, such as the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers’ Michael Kraut, can give you much needed guidance and strategic assistance.

Mr. Kraut’s Long Beach offices are located at 444 West Ocean, Suite 800 Long Beach, California 90802 Phone: (562) 531-7454. In addition to having served for 14+ years as a city prosecutor and having attended Harvard Law School, Mr. Kraut has a 99% success rate at jury trials and an excellent reputation in his industry. Prosecutors and judges respect him, and major media outlets, such as the New York Times, LA Times, BBC, and KTLA News, have had Mr. Kraut on as a guest commentator to discuss Los Angeles DUI news.

March 7, 2011

West Hollywood DUI Shocker: Christina Aguilera and Her Boyfriend Busted

by Michael Kraut

Last Tuesday, Matthew Rutler, the 25-year old boyfriend of pop princess Christina Aguilera, got arrested for driving under the influence in West Hollywood. Christina herself was booked for public intoxication.

When celebrities get pulled over for driving under the influence in Pasadena, DUI in Glendale, DUI in Los Angeles, and Burbank DUI, the tabloids and blogosphere scramble to shine light on the story. For instance, within hours of the news break, hundreds of websites had information about how Rutler blew a 0.09% on his breathalyzer test (Southern California DUI limit is 0.08%, as this blog has often emphasized).

The tabloids have been buzzing about Christina’s recently “erratic” behavior, noting that the 30-year old pop star was visibly intoxicated at a colleague’s birthday party in January. Christina also famously forgot some of the words to The Star-Spangled Banner when she sang the anthem at the Super Bowl. A recent People Magazine story quoted a friend: “there is a real concern about this guy (Rutler), and a lot of her friends feel she needs to get away from him…hopefully, what happened (last Tuesday’s DUI in West Hollywood) is a real wakeup call.”

The media ignores non-celebrities arrested for Beverly Hills DUI. These defendants often lack good guidance, and they feel confused, scared, and overwhelmed about how to construct their defense.

Before we talk about potential resources to help you (or a friend or family member), let’s return to the legal definition of driving under the influence in Beverly Hills. California Vehicle Code Sections 23152(a) and 23152(b) define the crime of misdemeanor DUI in California. Section 23152(a) talks about the definition of driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs and stipulates the potential penalties the court may enforce. Section 23152(b) offers a subtle difference – it defines Beverly Hills DUI as driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or greater.

For injury DUIs, two other California Vehicle Code Sections – 23153(a) and 23153(b) – may come into play. These take what might ordinarily be a misdemeanor charge and elevate it to a felony charge.

Whether you have been pulled over for a simple misdemeanor DUI, or you face a complicated court battle, a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney can answer your questions, work with you to develop a clear and effective strategy, and give you ongoing guidance to ensure that you obey the law, please the court, and minimize your potential hassle and punishments.

Connect with attorney Michael Kraut of the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers (offices in Beverly Hills at: 9107 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 450, Beverly Hills, California 90210 Phone: (310) 550-6935). Mr. Kraut spent nearly decade and a half as a Los Angeles prosecutor, during which time he developed a deep understanding of how prosecutors work. He now leverages that knowledge on the behalf of criminal defendants, and he has a reputation for getting terrific results.

March 2, 2011

Glendale DUI News Alert: Bad News Comes in Fours

by Michael Kraut

Getting arrested for driving under the influence in Glendale or elsewhere in Southern California is no picnic. But often, offenders compound their legal woes both during and after arrest. We’re going to take a look at two unfortunate stories from the past week – both involving the number four. One involves a North Dakota man who got arrested twice in four hours for DUI; the other involves a Pennsylvanian man who racked up his fourth DUI in a McDonald’s parking lot.

If someone you care about has gotten arrested for Glendale DUI, Burbank DUI, DUI in Los Angeles, or DUI in Pasadena, these two cautionary tales may be quite useful to you.

Turmoil in West Fargo
The AP reports that, last Thursday, a 40-year-old man got pulled over at 2:20 A.M for suspicion of DUI in West Fargo, ND. The man made his bail and then immediately got behind the wheel again. Some passerby saw him “slumped over the wheel of a running vehicle with its lights on” at 5:40 A.M. Surprise, surprise, the police promptly busted the man again for DUI – not even four hours had elapsed between arrests.

Big Woes in Ridley Township
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 miles away in Ridley Township, Pennsylvania, Christian M Sweeney smashed his red Oldsmobile into a woman waiting in a McDonald’s drive-through. Just two months ago, Sweeney had passed out in front of a Wawa. Police tested him for DUI, and he blew an astounding 0.62% BAC on a breathalyzer. For some perspective on this number, consider that the legal limit for a Glendale DUI (as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (b)) is just 0.08%. This means that Sweeney blew a BAC of nearly eight times the California legal limit! If you consult alcohol experts, many will tell you that 0.50% BAC is often fatal. If Sweeney’s December BAC reading was correct, it’s actually a miracle he survived.

In any event, officers reportedly found not only a bottle of vodka in Sweeney’s pants but also an empty hydrocodone bottle in his car. On top of that, Sweeney exhibited signs associated with Glendale DUI, such as “odor of alcohol coming from his breath and person,” red and glassy eyes, and slurred speech.

Does DUI bad news always come in fours?

Not necessarily. Each DUI defense offers unique nuances and defensive resources. If you or someone you care about was pulled over in the Valley or elsewhere in the Southland for the crime of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs – or some variation of that crime – trust your defense to a competent Los Angeles criminal defense attorney.

Mr. Michael Kraut of Glendale’s Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers (located at: 121 W Lexington Dr, Glendale, CA 91203 Phone: (818) 507-9123) can provide a stiff, strategic, and sophisticated defense for you. As a regular commentator for the BBC, Fox News, the Los Angeles Times, and other widely respected publications – and as a Harvard Law School educated former prosecutor – Mr. Kraut can provide peerless legal assistance.