The Whitney Houston Tragedy: Lessons for Los Angeles DUI Defendants?

The death of pop icon Whitney Houston has vast cultural implication; whether you are a Los Angeles DUI defendant, recovering narcotics addict, or merely a fan of the great late star’s music. So it’s worth it to spend a bit of time reflecting on her legacy and discussing the implications of her tragic death at age 48.

Pundits and bloggers have been quick to speculate about Houston’s death, based on her public battles with drug and pill addiction. As anyone who has been pulled over for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in Los Angeles can tell you, once you’ve developed a “reputation” as an addict – or simply as someone who has trouble controlling behavior – that reputation then colors people’s future judgments of you. Often unfairly.

It’s not that such speculation is necessarily groundless. It’s just… we often rush to conclusions. For instance, consider statements made by CNN anchor Nancy Grace on Monday. Although Grace admitted on air that the cause of pop singer’s death was not yet figured out, she began to speculate wildly, comparing her death to the deaths of Michael Jackson and Anna Nicole Smith. Grace wondered aloud on TV: “I’d like to know who was around her… who, if anyone, gave her drugs following alcohol and drugs. And who let her slip, or pushed her, underneath that water?”

As an LA Times blog article noted, CNN’s other anchors quickly did damage control and tried to reel Grace back from the speculation.

The moral here is: when we allow our speculation to get the best of us, we often overlook crucial information. When you idly chat about what happened to such and such celebrity, the consequences are negligible.

But as any Los Angeles DUI attorney will tell you, when you plan your defense against serious charges (such as charges of violating California Vehicle Code section 23152 (a) or 23152 (b)), your “rush to judgment” can have massively negative consequences.

For instance, you might assume that, since you had not been drinking or driving under the influence of medication, that you will be ultimately exonerated. But that’s not necessarily the case! The “truth” will not necessarily set you free, by itself. You might have blown a “false positive” on a breathalyzer – or the police may have arrested you just on the basis of your erratic driving and failed field sobriety test.

Although you experienced the arrest first hand, you may not be clear about the objective reality of what happened that day (or night). And you certainly likely do not understand the Los Angeles DUI process well enough to rest easy.

It’s okay to be confused. It’s okay to be scared.

But you have a critical next step: find a Los Angeles DUI lawyer who can take a clear headed, calculated look at the circumstances of your stop and arrest and construct a thorough and smart defense for you.

Attorney Michael Kraut of the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers (6255 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 1520, Los Angeles, California 90028) can provide a free consultation. Attorney Kraut is a very experienced Los Angeles DUI criminal defense attorney who spent years working as a prosecutor (racking up a very successful jury trial record) before switching to represent criminal defendants.

If you have been arrested for a DUI in Los Angeles or you are under investigation for driving under the influence in Southern California, please contact Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Michael Kraut for 24/7 assistance by phone at (323) 464-6453 or toll free at (888) 334-6344 or online.