Los Angeles DUI Attorney Blog

March 13, 2013

Driving Under the Influence in Los Angeles With Kids in the Car? Don’t Do It!

You’ve already been arrested for DUI in Los Angeles, so what’s done is done.

God willing, you didn’t hurt anyone or do serious damage to yourself. But whether you did or didn’t, your life is chaotic and scary right now — and it’s not just because you feel guilty about what happened but also because you’re nervous about jail time, punishments, and all the uncertainty.

Sometimes people under a lot of stress do very dumb things.

Consider, for instance, allegations against a Tennessee woman, Melissa Renee Karcher, who was arrested recently for driving DUI with her two young children in the back of her truck. The 26-year-old took her kids with her to a drive-thru restaurant on Fort Campbell Boulevard and acted very strange to the server. Here’s a quote from a local report “The server said Karcher appeared inebriated, confused and on the verge of falling asleep. She dropped her phone in her drink, then dropped her drink, and repeatedly tried to hand the server dirty paper towels.”

When police arrived, they found Karcher sitting in her truck (engine on) with the kids in the back seat. The reports said that she had “white spit” on one of her cheeks. Karcher said she was not on medication or alcohol — but rather that she had been up all night. As anyone who has ever tried to raise young kids knows, sometimes you have those nights where you really don’t sleep.

It’s also very difficult to pass a Los Angeles field sobriety test (or FST anywhere) if you’ve been running without sleep. Some research out of Australia, in fact, suggests that driving after being up for 24 hours or more is actually more dangerous than driving DUI, as strictly defined by California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) or 23152 (b). Your reaction time when you’re sleepless and exhausted is slower, etc.

Karcher apparently fell asleep at the police station — evidence that seems to be in line with her story. However, her history does not necessarily bode well for her. She had her license suspended in Kentucky for driving under the influence, and she got booked into jail on DUI charges as well as charges of “possession of drugs without a prescription, driving on a suspended license and two counts of child abuse and neglect.”

If you face similar charges — or more serious ones or less serious ones — of DUI in Los Angeles, what can you do? What are the best practices? What mistakes should you avoid?

For thorough, personalized answers to these questions, get in touch with attorney Michael Kraut of the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers today. Mr. Kraut is not just a widely respected Los Angeles DUI criminal defense attorney, but he is also an ex-prosecutor who leverages his nearly two decades of experience in the LA legal system, along with his Harvard Law School education, to get excellent results for his clients.

March 11, 2013

Parallels Between Your Long Beach DUI Arrest and the Meteorite That Blew Up Over Russia’s Ural Mountains

by Michael Kraut

Why on Earth would you want to waste time reading or thinking about a meteorite explosion, when you have a serious Long Beach DUI charge on your hands, and your freedom and future literally hang in the balance?

There’s a good reason why.

Many defendants, who face charges like driving under the influence in Long Beach, never take the time to process what they go through. As a result, they often make impetuous decisions that backfire, or they fail to “get into gear” early enough in the process. The end result is the same: driver’s license suspension, jail time, harsh probation terms, and worse.

Point is, you really need to take time to process what’s happened to you and come up with new ways to think resourcefully about your situation. Your DUI event was very disruptive and totally unexpected. No one starts off a day saying “I think I’m going go out and get into a Long Beach DUI accident tonight.” Accidents and DUI checkpoint arrests happen totally out of the blue.

Likewise, the meteorite that exploded over the city of Chelyabinsk, Russia in the Ural Mountains on February 15 was totally unexpected. The blast literally shocked the world. (Curiously, the event happened around the same time as a 130,000 ton asteroid zipped by the Earth — nipping our whiskers at just 17,000 miles distance). The fireball nevertheless created a mini-disaster, injuring 1,100 people or so (mostly due to glass blown out from the explosion) and damaging 3,000 area buildings.

Russia — and the rest of the world, actually — got lucky.

Had the meteorite gone slightly off course, it could have exploded over nearby nuclear weapons plants or chemical weapons facilities and thus either set off another Chernobyl-type disaster or caused toxic agents to be released en masse into the atmosphere.

Your Long Beach DUI event was very similar to a meteorite strike — it was unexpected and unwanted, and it’s left you dazed and feeling out of control.

To regain some control and perspective, get in touch with the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers today. Michael Kraut is a highly reputable, widely respected ex-prosecutor who now works as a Long Beach DUI defense lawyer. He and his associates can help you respond knowledgably to your crisis and build a sound and structured defense.

March 8, 2013

What Beverly Hills DUI Arrest Is This for You? First? Second? This Guy Just Got His 14th!

by Michael Kraut

Whether you got pulled over for your first-ever Beverly Hills DUI on Wilshire & Rodeo after a tony film industry soirée; or you just racked up your second or third DUI within 10 years, consider yourself fortunate that you are not 55-year-old William Grussing.

The Montana man was just sentenced to two decades behind bars for driving under the influence.

Why the harsh sentence?

Because this was his 14th time facing DUI charges!

In order to even become eligible for parole, Grussing must go through a very long and intense alcohol education program. He admitted to the judge that he was just 14, when he had his first alcohol beverage — with his father, no less.

Even though you are a DUI defendant yourself, you’re probably nodding to yourself that the judge probably did the right thing in this case. It’s one thing to make a misjudgment after a party… or even to make multiple bad decisions within a few years. But when you get into the double-digits with your DUI charges, something is just not working, and more drastic measures might be needed.

In your case, you want to figure out not only how to beat your Beverly Hills DUI charges, but also how to manage the core problems causing you to make less than optimal decisions.

Sorting out those root problems is no easy feat, even for someone who is dedicated, open, and persistent.

Fortunately, the team here at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers can help you with your Beverly Hills DUI charges. Attorney Kraut and his team are experienced, compassionate, and aggressive. They can help you understand what you might be able to do, immediately, to get control over your life and over your legal situation. Get in touch with the Harvard Law School educated attorney Kraut now for assistance.

March 6, 2013

How Playing Tetris Too Much is (Kinda Sorta) Like Getting into a DUI Crash in Los Angeles

by Michael Kraut

If you’ve recently been in a DUI crash in Los Angeles, the memories of the disaster have likely seared their way into your brain.

When you close your eyes at night, you may re-imagine your DUI arrest in L.A. in vivid detail, particularly if you got seriously hurt or hurt someone else.

Those unpleasant memories can be almost impossible to dislodge by conscious effort.

Not to trivialize your experience in any way, but at least to an extent, what’s happening in your brain is similar to what happens in the brains of people who play video games, like Tetris, too long.

If you’ve ever played Tetris, you probably know how addictive it can be. As you learn intuitively how the shapes go together and how to make lines, you incrementally develop your skills and go faster and get more creative with your strategies.

The game is simple and intuitive, and it leads to a very satisfying “learning curve.”

When you engage in the repetitive behavior, your brain begins to focus on tetris, even when you are not consciously playing. This is why, long after you finish, you continue “playing” in your mind.

This phenomenon occurs not just after repetitive activities but also after INTENSE activities. The intensity of the Los Angeles DUI cemented a memory in your mind, much as the repetition of playing Tetris cements that memory of game-playing in the mind.

Of course, this is a dramatic oversimplification. The processes by which we make memories, retain and recall memories, and have emotional reactions that flow from them are incredibly complex and not even fully understood by the world’s top neurologists.

This isn’t to say that you will be forever haunted by images of your Los Angeles DUI accident.

Your first step towards making some sense of the chaos is to reach out and get reputable help.

The team here at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers is well known for helping DUI defendants like you develop strategic and workable defense strategies. Attorney Kraut understands the system on a very deep level — not just intellectually but also pragmatically. He served as a prosecutor for the City of Los Angeles for nearly 14 years. He has many great relationships, not only with defense attorneys and clients but also with prosecutors and police and judges.

March 4, 2013

Your Second Pasadena DUI: Bad Luck or Warning Sign?

by Michael Kraut

When you got arrested the first time for driving under the influence in Pasadena, you wrote if off as a fluke.

Perhaps you had one too many drinks while chilling with old college friends at the Cheesecake Factory in Old Pasadena. Or maybe you had a few glasses of wine with some college professors at Caltech… and the rest is history. You got behind the wheel when you shouldn’t have driven, and you got caught and punished.

But this time is different.

Now that you’ve been arrested twice for DUI in Pasadena (or elsewhere in the Southland), you’re getting more concerned. Maybe the problem really IS you. Maybe it wasn’t a one-time thing. This scares you. After all, as much as you want to avoid penalties for recidivist DUI in Pasadena–such as jail time, forced fines and fees, mandatory interlock ignition device installation, compulsory probation, and on and on–you know that your situation could have been a lot worse.

You could have seriously hurt or even killed someone while DUI. Then you would have been charged with a much more serious crime, such as vehicular homicide or even DUI murder because of your past criminal history.

It’s easy to beat yourself up.

And the very fact that you’re taking time to read this article and reflect on what you did (and why you did it)…that’s a very positive sign. But you now need to translate this concern into effective, positive action, not only so that you avoid punishment–or at least minimize it–but also so that you better fulfill your responsibilities as a driver and as a citizen of Southern California.

Often, the root cause of why we behave in certain ways is difficult to identify.

For instance, you might blame your DUI problems on your impetuous nature–your natural devil-may-care attitude. But other psychological “stuff’ could be going on below the surface, breeding problems and stirring up trouble. For instance, maybe you were recently fired or divorced. The stress is driving you to self-medicate through drugs or alcohol. Unless and until you deal with that underlying emotional hurt in a constructive fashion, you might continue to feel helpless and use an element, like alcohol, to manage your pain.

Don’t expect to solve your psychological puzzle in a single day. But do put some awareness on the problem. Strive to be compassionate with yourself–to treat yourself as a human being with legitimate needs. At the same time, do everything you can to avoid getting into a similar situation in the future. Recidivist Pasadena DUI offenders face extended jail time, fees, fines, and dire consequences for your license, insurance, and reputation.

You should also consider getting in touch with an experienced Pasadena DUI criminal defense attorney at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers. Attorney Kraut is a highly respected, well connected DUI lawyer who worked well over a decade as a prosecutor before turning his attention to criminal cases. He and his team can help you unpack what’s gone wrong and figure out effective solutions.

February 27, 2013

Reduce Your Risk of Burbank DUI by Reducing Your Commuting Time!

by Michael Kraut

Ever since you got arrested for driving under the influence in Burbank, you’ve been racking your brain. How should you handle your case? How can avoid ever again experiencing the humiliation of getting arrested? Here’s an intriguing and potentially hugely useful (over the long term) strategy for shielding yourself from further trouble:

Slice down your commuting time.

Whether you live in the Valley and commute to Sony to work on a production lot, or vice versa; you probably spend far too much time in your car stuck in traffic jams on the 101 or 134. You already hate driving, the entertaining DJs on KROQ notwithstanding. Statistically speaking, the more time you spend on the roads, the more likely it is that you will be involved in a Burbank DUI accident, either as a victim or as a wrongdoer.

It’s just simple math.

Especially if you drive late at night, when you chop down your commuting time, you reduce your overall exposure tremendously–not to mention add time “back” to your life.

The side benefits also include: you will burn less gas (save money), expose yourself to less pollution (better for your lungs and long-term health); and commit a not-insubstantial act of kindness towards the environment.

So how can you reduce your commuting time?

(Don’t worry, we’re going to get to Burbank DUI defense strategies in a second)

Here are some ideas:

1. Move a little closer to work.

You may only be five miles or so from work, but your morning and afternoon commutes can still take you upwards of an hour, depending on when you go and what horrifically clogged surface streets or freeways you choose.

2. Change up your work hours to make the commute less brutal.

3. Explore alternative routes to work.

Odds are slim that you’ve found the “ideal” routes to places around your neighborhood just by random chance. By finding shortcuts, you might shave off a few minutes every day on your driving time.

4. Shop more on the internet.

5. Do more grocery shopping in bulk (fewer trips to the store)

6. Carpool with friends.

7. Take public transportation from time-to-time.

Get creative to shortcut your route. Meanwhile, while you’re working on that, you obviously need to work on your Burbank DUI defense. The team here at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers is extremely experienced, compassionate, and well connected. Attorney Kraut is a Harvard Law School educated ex prosecutor. He really cares about educating defendants–not only about their rights but also about their resources. You want to get out of trouble and stay out of trouble for good. Find out more about attorney Kraut and his team here on this website, or connect with them today for a free consultation.

February 25, 2013

Miscellaneous Los Angeles DUI News–Crazy DUI Induced Explosion on the 10 and Other Astonishing Stories…

by Michael Kraut

If you thought your Los Angeles DUI arrest was hair-raising, think again.

On February 7th, a DUI suspect fled police on the 10 and crashed into the sidewall after losing control of his red Mustang. The car literally exploded and burst into flames. The suspect had been fleeing police. Officers thought he was trying to hop onto the 60 East Bound or try I-5. The man would have almost certainly perished in the fire, but police bravely pulled him from the wreckage–saving his life after they risked their own to get him to stop driving recklessly.

Hopefully your Los Angeles DUI arrest was less fraught and drama filled.

Meanwhile out in Connecticut, 46-year-old Jeffrey Cull got arrested following a string of strange events, involving dumped shingles, laser engraving thievery, and tree hitting. According to local news reports from the town of Monroe, a woman saw a 2009 BMW smash into a tree near her house on a local route, 111. She called police, who found the driver and owner, Mr. Cull. He had a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on him.” Officers said that Mr. Cull did not cooperate and refused to answer questions. Local police put him through the paces of field sobriety tests, which he failed. He refused the breathalyzer test. In addition to the DUI charge, Cull faces charges for evading responsively in an accident, failure to hold his lane, and driving without auto insurance.

Hopefully, your Los Angeles DUI arrest involved neither your car bursting into flame nor your hitting a tree and then getting aggressive with police after the fact.

But no matter what happened, you are entitled by law to a sturdy defense. The team here at the Law Offices of Michael Kraut can help you understand what you might be facing and develop a strategic Los Angeles DUI defense based on deep knowledge of the law and practical experience.

Attorney Kraut knows how to help drivers like you. As an ex-prosecutor, he maintains excellent relationships with local judges, police officers, and prosecutors–all while providing his Los Angeles DUI defense clients with the highest service. Trust attorney Kraut and his team to guide you appropriately–to make informed decisions–and to avoid getting into further trouble or accidentally complicating your case.

February 22, 2013

Arrest of Top Illinois Government Watchdog Proves No One’s Above Getting a DUI in Beverly Hills (Or Anywhere Else)

by Michael Kraut

If you were recently busted for DUI in Beverly Hills, you’re probably hugely embarrassed as well as frightened about serving time in prison, seeing your license suspended, and so forth.

Whether you’re a film producer, celebrity, entertainment executive, or even somebody who works outside of the industry (believe it or not, people like that do exist here in Beverly Hills), you’re vexed. You are not the “type of person” who gets into trouble with the police.

Perhaps your arrest was a fluke. Maybe you had one too many cocktails at an advertiser’s fundraiser on Wilshire and then got behind the wheel when you really shouldn’t have. Then the police stopped you, and the drama began. Or maybe you only had one or two drinks but, for whatever reason, the police pulled you over and you blew a 0.09 BAC on the breathalyzer test–above the limit for Beverly Hills DUI. So now you’re in this awful situation.

Understand this: What happened to you can happen to anybody.

Consider the case of 61-year-old William Holland, the Auditor General for the State of Illinois, who was cited several weeks ago for driving under the influence in the town of Springfield. The arresting officers noted that the Auditor General “had a very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath,” as well as “red bloodshot glassy eyes.” As regular readers of this blog know, these are classic symptoms of Beverly Hills DUI, as well.

Other common signifiers of potential alcohol use and DUI include:

• Slurred speech;
• Inability to answer officer questions;
• Failure to perform mentally or physically on field sobriety tests (like the finger to the nose test or the count backwards by 3 test;)
• Strange behavior–such as overly aggressive behavior towards officers.

Of course, as we’ve discussed before on this blog, alternative explanations for the “DUI symptoms” can exist.

For instance, if you’re exhausted from a hard day of negotiating with potential ad buyers, you might exhibit signs of fatigue, non-responsiveness, and bloodshot eyes. If you get really nervous in front of police, you might be unable to answer certain questions.

The point is not to suggest that your Beverly Hills DUI arrest wasn’t cut and dry–perhaps it was.

Rather, it’s that you should understand that anyone can make substantial errors behind the wheel. Holland was a powerful and widely respected (by both sides) watchdog–someone the government trusted to ensure and fair behavior. He helped prosecutors impeach and ultimately convict former state governor Rod Blagojevich, who began a 14 year prison sentence last year for a slew of corruption charges.

Connect with a Beverly Hills DUI defense attorney at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers for an insightful, thorough, and creditable defense help. Mr. Kraut and his team can help you get your life back on track and put the unfortunate and humiliating event behind you for good.

February 20, 2013

Pasadena DUI Celebrity News Blotter: David Hasselhoff’s Daughter and Alanzo Mourning’s Wife Both Whacked with DUI Charges

by Michael Kraut

When celebrities (or their spouses or children) get arrested for driving under the influence in Pasadena, people notice. There’s a reason why sites like TMZ.com generate boatloads of internet traffic. For whatever reason, people find themselves intuitively fascinated by the lives, lifestyles, and flaws of famous people.

To that end, perhaps you can learn a few lessons regarding Pasadena DUI defense while analyzing the news.

In that context, let’s consider two recent celebrity DUI arrests.

The first concerns basketball superstar Alanzo Mourning’s wife, Tracy Morning. Police pulled her over in Miami, near San Servano Avenue and Old Cutler Road, after she failed to stop completely at a red light. The officer told her that he had seen her speed through the light. Allegedly, she winked but did not deny the charges. He then gave her a field sobriety test after smelling alcohol on her breadth and arrested her.

Alanzo and Tracy have been charitable givers over the years: a local high school is even named for the couple. Her arrest came as an unwelcome 42nd birthday present for Alanzo.

Meanwhile, Hayley Hasselhoff, daughter of international TV star, David Hasselhoff, got arrested for driving under the influence and speeding over the Christmas holiday. Worst part is, Hayley is only 20 years old. That means prosecutors could really go after her. If convicted, she could be forced to spend up to half a year behind bars. Hayley’s mother, Pamela Bach, was also arrested for DUI--twice, actually–once in 2009 and once in 2010.

These celebrity cases may seem somewhat entertaining to casual readers. But if you personally face Pasadena DUI charges, and your life is in shambles–you’re probably a lot more empathetic.

Truth be told, no one is ever prepared for a DUI charge. It wasn’t like your life was on “pause” before your arrest (or accident). Ever since the arrest, you’ve been scrambling to pick up the pieces, pay your bills, deal with important logistics in life, and so forth.

The team here at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers can help you, no matter how complex, dynamic, or confusing your case seems right now. Attorney Kraut is an extremely experienced former prosecutor, who maintains exceptional relationships with local law enforcement, judges, and other attorneys who are on “the other side.”

As a Pasadena DUI defense lawyer, Mr. Kraut can help you investigate your charges, challenge breath test results, and strategically fight back against whatever the prosecution throws your way. Connect with Mr. Kraut and his team today for effective counsel to meet your Pasadena DUI defense challenges.

February 18, 2013

Long Beach DUI News Update: Country Singer Randy Travis Pleads Guilty to DUI, Won’t Get Jail Time

by Michael Kraut

If you’ve recently been arrested for driving under the influence in Long Beach, odds are that you’ve been too busy to read the celebrity gossip news.

To fill you in… last summer, country singer Randy drove his Trans Am off the road in Tioga, Texas, smashed into barricades, and then emerged and fell asleep on the ground… naked! When police found him, they tested him for DUI. Not shockingly, he had a 0.21% BAC — nearly three times the legal limit for driving under the influence in Long Beach (and Texas, for that matter).

Travis also allegedly threatened police officers, netting him a retaliation charge.

Last week, a judge in Sherman, Texas handed down a sentence based on the singer’s guilty plea. Travis will face two years of probation on top of a $2000 fine and a suspended jail sentence of 180 days. In addition, he will need to spend 30 days in an alcohol facility and do 100 hours of community service. During the probation, he must install an interlock ignition device (IID).

If he violates terms, he will go to jail.

These punishments are above and beyond what the typical DUI defendant might get in Texas. According to a local district attorney, Joe Brown, Travis “will be unable to leave the [alcohol treatment] facility for 30 days. His fine and community service requirements are more than double what is usually received, and his probation term is the maximum available, and longer than the usual 18 months. All of that is appropriate in light of his behavior with the officers.”

Travis also made headlines when he placed himself in the middle of an argument between a woman and her estranged husband. Also, back in February 2012, police arrested him for public intoxication near Dallas.

Travis recently split from his wife and ex-manager of many years; undoubtedly he’s going through some super emotionally turbulent times.

And that brings us to a key issue that Long Beach DUI defendants need to know!

If you’re going through an emotional struggle, you are not alone. You may need help not only with your Long Beach DUI defense but also with the core problems causing the helplessness in your life that’s driving you to make bad decisions and self-medicate with alcohol or drugs.

Begin the journey towards healing and rehabilitation by connecting with a Long Beach DUI defense attorney at The Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers for a sensible, effective and free case consultation.