Los Angeles DUI Attorney Blog

March 11, 2011

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

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 9, 2011

Los Angeles DUI Bloggers Note Explosion of Baseball Related DUI Arrests

by Michael Kraut

Austin Kearns, a Cleveland Indians outfielder charged with DUI few weeks ago, will appear in Jessamine County District Court on March 10th: those who follow Los Angeles DUI news have noticed that major leaguers like Kearns, Miguel Cabrera, and Coco Crisp have all been snagged by DUI charges recently. Is this a wakeup call for the MLB?

Here’s the reality: celebrities and sport stars appear to be treated differently when they get arrested for DUI in Burbank, DUI in Pasadena, Glendale DUI, and DUI in Los Angeles. But the law — at least in theory! — affords the same exact legal resources to all defendants. Some MLB analysts have pointed to Kearns’ arrest — and his reaction to being pulled over – as indicative of a “holier-than-thou” attitude some celebrities take when they get caught doing illegal acts.

Irrespective of whether that’s true or not, here are the key details about Kearns’ stop:

• Police in Jessamine County pulled the 30-year-old outfielder over on February 12th at around 2:30 in the morning on Golf Club Drive.
• Kearns allegedly had been driving down an emergency road without his headlights on, and he was weaving all over.
• The Deputy Sheriff noted that Kearns “smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech” and “was very unsteady on his feet and leaned against the vehicle to steady himself.”
• Kearns refused to take field sobriety tests, and he refused to take a breathalyzer test.
• In addition to his DUI charge, Kearns faces a charge for failing to keep up his insurance.
• He paid $100 on a $1000 bond to get released from jail.
• The report alleges that Kearns admitted that he had drunk “a couple of bourbons and cokes” and that he asked the officer to “cut him a break.”
• The Cleveland Indians released an official statement last Tuesday saying that the team was aware of the arrest and that the club “take(s) these issues very seriously and is disappointed about the circumstances.”

One point we’d like to look at more: Kearns refused to take a breathalyzer test. What exactly ARE Los Angeles DUI breathalyzer tests? And are they as reliable as most people believe?

Breathalyzers are portable contractions that use chemical tests to gauge the concentration of ethanol alcohol on the breath. In theory, the technology is both simple and brilliant. A suspect simply blows into a tube, and the breathalyzer spits out a reading saying whether not you are DUI in Los Angeles or not (for a standard misdemeanor arrest, the cut off line is 0.08% BAC).

Unfortunately, breathalyzers are surprisingly unreliable. They don’t distinguish between men and women, for instance, and men and women process alcohol differently. The degree to which you blow into the machine can also have a profound effect on the reading. If you blow too much, you will register a BAC higher than you might actually have, for instance. Also, chemicals on your breath (such as ketone bodies that diabetics produce) can tilt the readings as well and can lead to false positives.

A Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, such as Michael Kraut of LA’s Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers (6255 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 1520, Los Angeles, California 90028) can help you address your DUI charges effectively. With a Harvard Law school education and a 99% success rate at jury trials, this ex-prosecutor will exceed your expectations.

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.

February 28, 2011

Pasadena DUI Gossip: Juicy DUI Stories from Last Week

by Michael Kraut

Let’s face it: Most Pasadena DUI stops involve work-a-day misdemeanors – generally well-meaning folks who make errors in judgment or take undue risks. But sometimes, stories about DUI in Burbank, DUI in Pasadena, DUI in Los Angeles, and Glendale DUI take turns for the bizarre, spectacular, or simply queer. In this blog post, we will take a look at two standout DUI stories from last week and explore resources to help defendants develop better road habits and equip themselves with a proper legal defense.

Story Number 1: Beware the Ice-Cream Man
We all know that kids love the ice cream truck and parents fear it because ice-cream contains gobs of sugar, which has long been associated with obesity, diabetes, and a host of other health problems. But a Tampa Bay ice-cream truck proved unusually dangerous last week for a totally different reason. On Monday afternoon, the police pulled over a Sub-Zero ice-cream truck in Tampa Bay driven by 49-year-old Ronald Purdy, after Purdy nearly plowed into a child awaiting his tasty treats. Deputies who arrived at the scene tested Purdy to have a blood alcohol constitution of 0.227% and found two open bottles of whisky in his truck. Yikes.

Story Number 2: Real housewives get in real big trouble
Star Magazine reports that Marysol Patton, a 44-year-old star of the Real Housewives of Miami, was arrested in January 2010 for DUI in Miami Beach. Patton’s mother, Elsa, also got arrested in 2010 for DUI (October). The 76-year-old pled not guilty and got her charge dismissed, when the officer who pulled over failed to show up. Meanwhile, Marysol and her mom had even more company – Philippe Pautesta, Marysol’s boyfriend, also got charged with DUI last year and drove away from the scene of an accident.

The ice-cream truck story and the story about the Real Housewives’ DUI mess suggests that many people might still be confused about what exactly constitutes the crime of driving under the influence. If you have one drink, does that make you too intoxicated to drive? What about two? Three? Clearly, four would…right? The answer has less to do with the number of drinks you have than your degree of impairment and your blood alcohol concentration.

California Vehicle Code Sections 23152 (a) and 23152 (b) define the crime of driving under the influence in Pasadena (and elsewhere in California) and spell out the penalties that offenders will face. If you are too impaired by drugs or alcohol to drive, you violate 23152 (a). If your blood alcohol concentration is greater than 0.08%, you violate 23152 (b). Do note that ice-cream truck driver Ronald Purdy allegedly had a BAC of more than 0.22% – nearly three times the CA limit.

Discussing your DUI case with an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney is a smart and probably necessary first step for you, if you face charges. Get in touch with the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers (790 East Colorado Boulevard, 9th floor, Pasadena, California 91101 Phone: (626) 345-1899) to set up a free case evaluation to build your Pasadena DUI defense. Mr. Michael Kraut has a fantastic record at jury trails – a 99% success rate – and he is a former prosecutor who has a Harvard Law School education. In other words, he has both formidable credentials and proven “on the ground” results. Let him help you figure out your best next steps.

February 23, 2011

Beverly Hills DUI Stunner: Judge Says to Lindsay Lohan: “You’re Going to Jail”

by Michael Kraut

Lindsay Lohan’s post Los Angeles DUI saga took a scary new turn today, when Judge Schwartz warned the wayward actress “this case will involve jail time. Period.”

No, Judge Schwartz was not talking about another incident in which Lohan drove DUI in Pasadena, DUI in Burbank, DUI in Glendale, or DUI in Los Angeles. Rather, the stern admonition came in reference to Lohan’s alleged grand theft of a $2,500 necklace from a Venice Beach jewelry store.

Today, prosecutors in Lohan’s felony grand theft hearing offered her lawyer security footage of the “Mean Girls” actress allegedly stealing the necklace. Judge Schwartz had sobering words for the Lohan (quote courtesy Eonline): “This case does involve jail time… if this case is resolved in front of me, you’re going to jail… There may be an issue as to the amount of time you go, of course… but… I don’t want you under any apprehension. You will go to jail. Period.”

According to a Chicago Sun-Times report about the case: “the plea deal offered by Deputy District Attorney Danette Myers was for six months in jail, likely to be reduced significantly for good behavior behind bars.”

The actress is scheduled to return to court on March 10. If she loses her grand theft trial, it’s possible that she could spend a significant amount of time in a California State prison — a year or more for the felony. A “longtime Lohan intimate” told the Sun-Times that such a scenario would be “very dangerous… a true nightmare, no matter what… she’s been totally delusional about this… she’s got to get this behind her and get on with her life, especially if she wants a chance of saving her career.”

If you recall, Lohan is still on probation for her 2007 Los Angeles DUI. This issue complicates her already tenuous and fraught legal situation.

While Lohan’s felony grand theft case has been getting a lot of media play, there are literally thousands of CA defendants every year who face similarly fraught and emotionally difficult choices about how to plead in Los Angeles DUI cases.

A Beverly Hills DUI with injury, for instance, can be punished as a felony pursuant to California Vehicle Code Sections 23513(a) and 23153(b). In other words, the very act of hurting someone while DUI can bump up a misdemeanor (still quite a serious charge) to a felony, thus leading to a potentially massive sentence increase.

A variety of factors can impact Beverly Hills DUI sentencing. For instance, say you’re on probation for some other criminal offense; if so, the court may treat you more harshly. Or say this is your second, third, or fourth offense for Southern California DUI within a 10 year period — if so, penalties will be ratcheted up significantly.

To construct a powerful defense, look to a skilled Los Angeles criminal defense attorney. In Beverly Hills, count on attorney Michael Kraut of the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers (located at: 9107 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 450, Beverly Hills, California 90210 Phone: (310) 550-6935)) to provide outstanding service, compassionate listening, and strategically grounded thinking. Attorney Kraut is an ex-prosecutor (14+ years) and a Harvard Law School educated lawyer who has an exceptional track record helping Los Angeles DUI defendants, even in tricky and complicated situations.

February 23, 2011

Los Angeles DUI Sports News: Ex-Dolphin Rams Driver on I-95, Says Florida Police

by Michael Kraut

Last week, the Florida Highway Patrol arrested Bob Kuechenberg, a 6 time Pro Bowler for the Miami Dolphins, after he allegedly slammed into another car on I-95 and tested to have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.12%.

Sports related stories about driving under the influence in Los Angeles (and elsewhere) seem to be popping up everywhere: last week, not only did Kuechenberg get busted for DUI, but Michael Bush of the Oakland Raiders also got tagged for DUI near Louisville. (More on that in a separate blog post.)

If you or someone close to you got stopped and charged recently with Burbank DUI, DUI in Pasadena, DUI in Los Angeles or DUI in Glendale, you may feel more than a little bit of empathy for the 63-year-old Kuechenberg. According to an AP report, the former Dolphin drove his 2002 Volvo into another car during a lane change on I-95. Although Kuechenberg now faces DUI charges as well as charges of making an improper lane change and damaging property, no one was apparently injured in the crash, fortunately. The Broward Sheriff’s office reported Sunday that Kuechenberg posted his bond of $2,000.

No one suffered serious injuries during Kuechenberg’s crash. But what happens when someone does get arrested for DUI with injury in Los Angeles?

Typically, misdemeanor DUI drivers face charges pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 23152. This section is split-up into two parts:

23152(a) outlines what it means to be driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs and sets out a cascade of punishments.

23152(b) defines the crime in a slightly different way – more quantitative. According to this measure, anyone who drives a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration higher than the state’s limit of 0.08% can be arrested and charged with a serious crime.

When injuries occur during a DUI situation, prosecutors may try to elevate your charges and convict you under California Vehicle Code Section 23153.

Going from 23152 to 23153 means that what might ordinarily be a misdemeanor can be charged as a felony. A felony, as you probably know, is a much more serious crime than a misdemeanor; if convicted of hurting someone while DUI, you could face extended jail time, a loss of your right to vote, and a whole panoply of additional restrictions, fines, and other long-term encumbrances.

A skilled Los Angeles criminal defense attorney can fight back against a Los Angeles DUI with injury charge. For instance, upon deeply probing the evidence, your attorney may realize that, while you did hurt another driver or a pedestrian during an accident, the other driver actually caused the problem by veering into your lane or ignoring traffic rules.

In this case, even though you were DUI, since the other person caused the problem, the prosecutors will likely have a very hard time pinning a felony charge on you.

All that said, time is of the essence. Connect with a Harvard Law School educated ex-city prosecutor, Michael Kraut, of the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers, for a confidential and comprehensive evaluation of your case. Attorney Kraut’s Los Angeles offices are located at 6255 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 1520, Los Angeles, California 90028.

February 21, 2011

Pasadena DUI Sports Spotlight – Raiders Runningback’s DUI Charge Tops Off a Bad Weekend for the NFL

by Michael Kraut

Scan the weekly headlines for Pasadena DUI, celebrity DUI, and other related posts, and chances are that you will see a surprisingly large number of sports related arrests, injuries, and other bad news — particularly related to NFL players.

While national DUI-related news, like Lindsay Lohan’s recent grand theft felony charge, captures the public’s imagination, in terms of sheer numbers, it seems like the sport stars have the celebrities beat, hands down.

NFL players, in particular, seem to have a passion for getting arrested for DUI in Burbank, DUI in Pasadena, DUI in Glendale, DUI in Los Angeles, and DUI just about anywhere else. Case in point: 26-year-old Michael Bush, a runningback for the Oakland Raiders, got nabbed for DUI in Indiana last Saturday morning in Jeffersonville (just outside of Louisville). Drafted by the Raiders in 2007, Bush came into his own last season, netting 8 touchdowns and 655 yards rushed. (Sports journalists believe Bush will become a free agent during offseason.)

According to reports, Bush spent the night in Clark County Jail and got out at 1 pm the next day on his own recognizance.

As this blog has reported elsewhere, Bush’s DUI was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of NFL-related troubles last week:

• Brandon Banks, a kick returner for the Redskins, got stabbed that same evening in a nightclub in downtown, Washington D.C.
• Meanwhile, Bank’s teammate, Albert Haynesworth, got officially charged with misdemeanor assault for a road rage incident that occurred on February 2nd in nearby Reston, Virginia.
• Bob Kuechenberg, a 63-year-old former Dolphin, also got arrested last Saturday night for DUI after sideswiping a car on I-95 in Florida.

All of these arrests raise an interesting question: what are DUI penalties for multiple Pasadena DUI convictions?

In California, convicted DUI drivers face escalating punishments whenever they violate the law and/or the terms of their probation. For instance, a standard misdemeanor DUI charge might net you a court imposed probation, a minimum alcohol school time, suspension of your license, a fine, and two full days of jail custody (six months maximum).

Does this sound scary? Note that it is just a starting point! If you injure someone during just DUI, prosecutors can hit you with a felony instead of just a misdemeanor, and your punishments will go way up, accordingly. Alternatively, if you get pulled over for a second, third, or fourth time for a Pasadena DUI within a 10-year period, the court will get increasingly harsh with you.

For instance, as we just discussed, a first misdemeanor Pasadena DUI will net you 48 hours behind bars – certainly an unpleasant development. But a THIRD time DUI misdemeanor within 10 years will give you a mandatory minimum of 120 days behind bars. That’s approximately four months!

Given the urgent legal crisis in your life, it behooves you to retain a high caliber Los Angeles criminal defense attorney as quickly as possible. The Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers (located in Pasadena at 790 East Colorado Boulevard, 9th floor, Pasadena, California 91101 Phone: (626) 345-1899) is an excellent, proven resource. Head attorney Michael Kraut served as a former prosecutor for the city for a long time (over 14 years), during which he successfully prosecuted many DUI cases. He now uses his experience working for the other side to help his defense clients.

Mr. Kraut is a Harvard Law School educated attorney with an excellent reputation among his peers and a track record for success, even in highly complex cases.

February 18, 2011

Long Beach DUI Sports News – Bobsledding Champion Pleads Guilty to DUI, Narrowly Avoids Half Year Jail Sentence

by Michael Kraut

30-year-old Olympic gold medalist Steve Holcomb, the pilot for the US bobsledding team in the 2010 Winter Olympics, pled guilty last Wednesday to DUI charges, prompting analysts who cover sports news about driving under the influence in Southern California (and elsewhere) to ponder the effects of the sentencing.

For anyone out there who has been stopped and charged recently with DUI in Glendale, DUI in Burbank, Los Angeles DUI, or driving under the influence in Pasadena, Holcomb’s travails may be particularly instructive.

As this blog reported a few months ago, the bobsledder got pulled over in October 2009 on Route 224 in Utah for making an illegal U-turn. Testing later revealed that he had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.19% – more than double the Long Beach DUI limit of 0.08%.

Things clearly weren’t looking good for Holcomb. But then his citation got abruptly tossed out because a deputy in the Sheriff’s department didn’t sign the citation properly. Summit County Attorney David Brickey refiled the case, however. According to a USA Today news story, “(he) denied any leniency because Holcomb was a decorated athlete.” Holcomb ultimately pled guilty to a Class B misdemeanor of impaired driving (as opposed to driving under the influence), and a Summit County Judge ordered him to pay a fine of $1,430, “undergo substance abuse screening and assessment” and serve 48 hours of community service in lieu of 180-day jail sentence.

Brickey seemed satisfied but offered the following rejoinder: “I told the judge, of the community service: ‘it better not be giving free rides down the ice tracks.'”

It remains unclear whether the guilty plea will impact Holcomb’s ability to travel to Canada for the world bobsledding competition.

Long Beach DUI breathalyzer tests – similar to the ones used in Park City Utah – analyze the suspect’s so-called “blood alcohol concentration” (BAC) to help officers determine whether or not an arrest should be made. According to California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (b), driving with a BAC of greater than just 0.08% constitutes a criminal offense and can result in severe penalties, such as jail time, license suspension, hiked up insurance rates (because of your conviction), mandatory alcohol school, tough probation terms, and serious fines and fees.

A Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, such as Attorney Michael Kraut (The Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers can be contacted in Long Beach at 444 West Ocean, Suite 800 Long Beach, California 90802 Phone: (562) 531-7454) can be a crucial ally as you plan your strategy to combat your DUI charges.

Mr. Kraut will utilize his knowledge and experience as a former prosecutor (for 14+ years, he prosecuted Los Angeles DUI cases) to help you. Mr. Kraut is often called upon by major media, such as CNN, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times, to provide analysis of breaking DUI news. He can design and execute a tailored, streamlined defense for you.

February 16, 2011

Glendale DUI Ridiculousness – Woman Gets DUI after Pulling Herself over for No Reason

by Michael Kraut

Most major news stories concerning driving under the influence in Glendale have a sober and even tragic tone about them. This blog has certainly covered tales of celebrities ruining their careers while driving DUI in Burbank, DUI in Pasadena, DUI in Glendale, or DUI in Los Angeles. It’s also discussed the implications of vehicular manslaughter and even DUI murders (also called Watson Murders). But in addition to the tragic stories that unfold every day across the nation, unintentionally hilarious situations also emerge.

A case in point: A small Ohio paper called the Sandusky Register is reporting on a totally bizarre DUI case in Perkins Township.

Apparently, 27-year-old Nicole Scott had been driving home when she saw what she believed to be flashing police lights. She dutifully pulled herself over. But she then quickly realized that the “police lights” were just lights to a nearby sign for Skate World. Unfortunately, by this point, her Dodge Avenger had become mired in a snow bank.

By the by, police officers arrived at the scene and found Ms. Scott sitting alone in her car, still intoxicated. We will quote the Sandusky Register to give you the blow by blow from here:

“She denied being the driver of the vehicle and said her friend Ray had been driving, but he ran off. Scott refused a sobriety test because she insisted she was not the driver. She proceeded to tell police that her friend Samantha had been driving, and later that her friend Courtney had been driving. Finally, she said her friend Brittany had been driving, according to police.”

Unsurprisingly, the cops did not buy her multiple conflicting stories – and they also took notice of the empty bottle of Michelob Ultra in her car – and that there were only a single set of footprints around her vehicle – and arrested her.

When police pull you over – for a suspected Glendale DUI or DUI anywhere else in the state – they will typically look for signs that you are under the influence of a narcotic or alcohol. One of those signs might be telling the police five different stories about where you have been. Another might be that you have an open container of alcohol (like Michelob Ultra). If you smell like alcohol, mumble, stumble, or fumble, demonstrate poor motor skills or driving skills, or look disheveled, bloodshot eyed, or otherwise bizarre, chances are these Glendale DUI symptoms may get you arrested.

Fortunately, you do have legal recourse. A qualified Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, such as former prosecutor Michael Kraut of Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers (offices in Glendale at 121 W Lexington Dr, Glendale, CA 91203 Phone: (818) 507-9123) can deliver crucial services.

As a recognized thought leader in the Los Angeles DUI community, this Harvard Law School educated former prosecutor (14+ years working for the city) has a peerless reputation for delivering great service, compassionate advice, and strategic guidance.