Orange County DUI Lawyer Blog

Last week, Costa Mesa Police set up a DUI checkpoint, stopping about 237 cars. One car that was pulled over had a driver that was driving under the influence. When another car was pulled over and officers told the driver, Patrick Dylan Riley, to roll down the window, officers said it smelled like marijuana. After searching the car, officers found a backpack full of 41 grams of marijuana. Also inside was a digital scale and a list of sales records. Additionally, inside the bag were 5 tabs of LSD or acid. Riley was immediately arrested. It was not clear if he was under the influence of any drugs at the time. Another DUI checkpoint will be set up in Costa Mesa again this week.

A person can be charged with a DUI if they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. These substances impair thinking, concentration and coordination. Driving is hard enough without mind altering substances. As previously mentioned in my last blog, drugged driving is on the rise. If you get charged with a DUI in Irvine, Huntington Beach or Garden Grove, call an experienced attorney to assist you.

Continue reading " LSD and Marijuana Found at Costa Mesa DUI Checkpoint " »

Billy Gillispie was charged with a DUI this week, after refusing sobriety tests. Police followed Gillispie's car as he was going 63 mph in a 45 mph zone. The officer pulled him over and smelled a sweet fruity smell from Gillispie. Gillispie got out of the car and looked unstable. The officer also noticed his slurred speech and red eyes. He was arrested, charged with a DUI and plead not guilty.

Gillispie was the former Kentucky basketball coach that was fired. Once fired, he sued the University for terminating him after just two years since he was in a seven year contract. This is the third time Gillispie has been charged with a DUI. In 2003, he was arrested for a DUI but the charges were dismissed for lack of evidence. In 1999, he was arrested and charged with a DUI but the charge was reduced to reckless driving.

Whether you live in Lake Forest, Anaheim or San Clemente, if you are charged with a DUI, call an experienced DUI defense attorney.

Continue reading " Former Kentucky Coach Billy Gillispie Charged With DUI " »

In July, Diane Schuler was driving a minivan with five children in the car when she drove the wrong way on the street and got into a head on collision with an SUV. Four out of the five children and Schuler were killed instantly and all three passengers of the SUV were killed. Schuler had a blood alcohol level of .19 and had marijuana in her system. Her husband claims that she had never been drunk before and she had so many medical problems that could have caused the crash instead. That morning when she left the camp where she was staying, all the witnesses said she appeared normal and did not look or smell intoxicated. The family of the passengers in the SUV said they would likely sue her estate.

Diane Schuler may have had medical problems but there is no denying that she drove while intoxicated and under the influence of marijuana. Clearly, this led to the terrible accident that killed eight people, including four children. The effects of alcohol and marijuana may not be felt right away so if you have ingested any substances that are known to affect behavior, do not drive! Whether you live in Irvine, Orange or Fullerton, please contact an experienced DUI attorney if you are charged with a DUI.

Continue reading " DUI Driver Killed 8 People in New York " »

A study done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted in 2007 revealed that less people in the U.S. are driving under the influence of alcohol. In a study of 11,000 drivers, only about 2.2% of the drivers had a blood alcohol level of above .08%. The disturbing finding, however, was that about 16.3% of those nighttime weekend drivers were under the influence of drugs at the time of the study. Marijuana, cocaine and prescription drugs were the main substances these drivers were under the influence of. The results of this study show that Americans are starting to understand the dangers of drunk driving but people have yet to learn about the dangers of drugged driving.

Alcohol and drug usage before driving can impair driving and lead to deadly results. Driving under the influence of either can be grounds for receiving a DUI. If you are impaired by any substance, do not drive! If you do drive, and you get a DUI, contact an experienced DUI attorney to help defend you.

Continue reading " Drunk Driving Down, Drugged Driving Up " »

Scooter Patrol, a nonprofit organization that picks up intoxicated people at bars and drives them home, has closed due to financial hardship. The founder of Scooter Patrol, Anthony Panzica, thinks that the company has kept about 12,000 drunk drivers off the road. He started the company after he saw drunk people getting in their cars to drive home. At its peak, the company had about 15 volunteers that drove around beach cities and picked up people that needed rides home. It operated mainly on donations from sponsors and riders. When business started slowing down because of people carpooling, sponsors left and Scooter Patrol had to close. Panzica tried to get local government support but the government said they could not help because of liability issues.

Scooter Patrol is a great idea and it is extremely unfortunate that services like this cannot survive the deteriorating economy. Keeping 12,000 drunk drivers off the road is a tremendous achievement and probably saved so many lives. Hopefully, other programs like this can be implemented throughout California, thereby reducing the number of DUIs and drunk driving accidents that occur. If you are charged with a DUI, call an experienced Orange County DUI defense attorney to assist you.

Continue reading " Scooter Service that Deters Drunk Driving Closes " »

Heather Elizabeth Azkoul was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the death of Virginia Cordier, a mother of 5 children. In January of 2007, Azkoul got drunk with a friend at Alcatraz Brewing Co. at the Block in Orange and then drove home. On the way home, she hit a bicyclist and sped away. She was found later crying in her car with a blood alcohol level of .18. She was convicted of DUI manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated with prior convictions, including two past DUI charges. She was also found guilty of hit and run resulting in permanent injury or death.

At trial, one of the children of Cordier discussed that her father killed himself soon after her mother was killed. Azkoul did not intend to kill anyone that night and just wanted to get home. Unfortunately, she did kill someone and she will likely have to spend the rest of her life in prison thinking about her terrible decision to drive that night.

Whether you live in Fullerton, Laguna Niguel or Westminster, if you are charged with a DUI, you will need an experienced Orange County DUI defense attorney to assist you in fighting your charges and lowering your sentence.

Continue reading " Three Time Anaheim Drunk Driver Gets 20 Years to Life " »

In 2008, more than 11,700 people died in crashes involving a driver that had a .08 blood alcohol level or higher. In California, there were 1,029 deaths which was a 9% reduction from the year before. Orange County is making a special effort to crack down on drunk drivers by planning DUI checkpoints and police saturation until Labor Day. All 38 Orange County law enforcement agencies will participate in the crackdown. In the OC Register, the Anaheim Police Department listed a schedule of where and when the DUI checkpoints will be held.

Whether you live in Irvine, Santa Ana or Fullerton, if you get stopped at a DUI checkpoint and you are intoxicated, you will get arrested and charged with a DUI. An experienced DUI defense attorney will look at your blood alcohol level and determine if you were over the legal limit or not. Depending on you blood alcohol level, the attorney may be able to drop you charges, lower your charges, or lower you sentence.

Continue reading " Crackdown on Orange County Drunk Drivers " »

After consuming about 15 beers, Kyle Wygle was seriously intoxicated. Nevertheless, he got onto his motorized barstool and drove home. He was going about 20 miles per hour near his home, when he tried to make a U-turn and suddenly crashed. Officers responded to the scene of the crime to see an injured man on a barstool. The motorized barstool was made with a lawnmower engine and steering wheel. Wygle was charged with a DUI and pled not guilty.

Although it seems strange to think that a motorized barstool could be considered a vehicle, any object that needs to be driven and that requires concentration and coordination is considered a vehicle. A good attorney may be able to reduce Wygle's DUI charge to a reckless driving charge instead.

Whether you live in Aliso Viejo, Westminster or Yorba Linda, if you are charged with a DUI, you will need an experienced DUI defense attorney to assist you.

Continue reading " Man Gets DUI on Motorized Barstool " »

In the U.S., the rate of DUI arrests for women has rose 28.8% from 1998 to 2007. The Transportation Department also reports that during the same period, the rate of DUI arrests for men has dropped 7.5%. Even though DUI arrests for women have increased, men still get the majority of the DUI's. In 2007, 626,371 men got a DUI compared to 162,493 women.

One explanation for the rise in women getting caught driving under the influence is that more women are working and need the stress release that alcohol provides. Another explanation is that police are cracking down on driving under the influence and not letting women get off with just a warning anymore.

Nevertheless, whether you live in Irvine, Santa Ana or Westminster, if you get charged with a DUI, you will need an experienced DUI defense attorney to assist you with your legal matters.

Continue reading " DUI Arrests On The Rise For Women " »

Last week, Olympic gold medal winner Michael Phelps was pulled over in Baltimore, Maryland for running a stop sign. After an investigation, officers realized he was driving under the influence. He was charged with a DUI, driving while impaired by alcohol, violation of a license restriction and failure to obey a traffic control device. If he gets convicted of these charges, he could face up to 1 year in jail, have to pay a steep fee and have his license suspended.

Phelps is a role model to so many children. It is disappointing that an amazing athlete like Phelps is letting down his fans. Besides affecting his fans, Phelps may lose endorsements and his wholesome image. Knowing this, Phelps made a public apology and said he regretting drinking and driving. Luckily, no one was hurt.

Whether you live in Irvine, Fullerton or Santa Ana, if you are charged with a DUI, a DUI defense attorney can help you fight your charges and help lower your sentence.

Continue reading " Michael Phelps Charged with DUI " »

In March of 2009, Donte Stallworth got into his car after a night of drinking. He struck and killed a man and was charged with DUI manslaughter. He was only sentenced to 30 days in jail and served just 24 of them. This short sentence sparked a lot of controversy and anger. The NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell decided to further punish Stallworth because of his violation of the league substance abuse rules by suspending him for the full 2009 season, without pay.

Besides killing someone and having a DUI manslaughter on his criminal record, Stallworth's career is also affected. It is hard to think so far in advance when you are drinking, but a DUI affects all parts of your life. If you get a DUI, an experienced DUI defense attorney can help you get through the legal system.

Continue reading " Donte Stallworth of Cleaveland Browns Suspended for DUI " »

About three weeks, three armed bounty hunters went to find a man who had skipped bail for a misdemeanor DUI arrest. The bounty hunters arrived at the suspect's house in Sun Valley and there was a scuffle. The suspect apparently tried to grab one of the bounty hunter's guns so another bounty hunter pulled out his gun and shot the suspect in the leg.

Anytime a person is contacted by law enforcement, they should comply with the requests and be as cooperative as possible. Resisting arrest or fighting will just make it harder on you once you get to court.

Once you are arrested and charged with a DUI, it is important that you pay all necessary court fees and attend all court appointments. If not, you will face repercussions. Once you get a DUI, an experienced California DUI defense attorney may be able to assist you in lowering court fees or your sentence.

Continue reading " Bounty Hunter Shoots California DUI Suspect " »

On Friday night, Costa Mesa police set up a DUI checkpoint at Newport Boulevard and 22nd Street. Police screened about 212 of the 647 cars that drove through and investigated about 25 possible DUI incidents. Police arrested 3 people for driving under the influence and 1 person for suspicion of possessing marijuana for sale. Police also cited nine drivers for not having their license and 10 for vehicle violations. The next checkpoint in the area will be on August 26.

DUI checkpoints are effective because police stop all people in one busy area to see if someone has been drinking. Once you get close to the checkpoint, any turning around is prohibited. Checkpoints have many standards they have to follow. For example, the pattern of stopping cars must be neutral and mathematical (ex- every other car, every fourth car...etc). Additionally, the stop can not be overly burdensome or intrusive. Lastly, there must be a sign in the area warning drivers about the check and the area must be well lit and safely done to minimize fear for drivers.

Whether you get a DUI in Anaheim, Fullerton or Irvine, you will need an experienced DUI defense attorney to assist you in the legal process.

Continue reading " Costa Mesa DUI Checkpoint Results " »

After rolling through a stop sign in Coto de Caza on Saturday, police tried to stop Matt Keough. Keough did not stop however, and drove all the way to his house before police stopped him. Once there, police thought he was drunk so they tested his blood alcohol level. His blood alcohol level turned out to be 3 times the legal limit. He was arrested and taken to jail. In 2008, he was arrested for a probation violation of a DUI arrest in 2005.

Matt Keough is a former professional baseball player and reality star in the show "Real Housewives of Orange County." Although the show is more about his ex-wife Jeana Keough, he was seen on the show a few times in the first few seasons. After suffering head injuries from baseball, Keough suffered from memory and mood problems which drove him to alcohol.

With his blood alcohol level being three times over the legal limit, Keough will need an experienced Orange County DUI defense attorney on his side.

Continue reading " Orange County Reality Star Busted for DUI " »

Before even getting pulled over for a DUI, the police officer is already observing your driving. If you are swerving in and out of lanes, speeding or driving too slow, those are obvious signs of intoxication. The officer will then pull you over and observe you and your behaviors. If you smell like alcohol, have bloodshot eyes or slur your speech, those are signs of intoxication as well. If the officer believes you may be intoxicated, he will ask you to get out of the car and participate in field sobriety tests.

Field Sobriety tests are tests given to alleged drunk drivers by officers to test driver sobriety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has standardized three tests that should be given to all drivers suspected of being drunk. First, there is the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN). The officer puts a pen or something in front of your face and asks you to follow the object with just your eyes. Intoxicated people have a hard time doing this. Instead of smooth tracing of the eyes, the eyes will jerk and have a difficulty following the object.

Another field sobriety test is the walk and turn test which tests divided attention. In this test, the officer asks you to walk in a straight line with one foot following close behind the other. After taking about nine steps, you are asked to turn around using just one foot and walk the other way. Intoxicated people do not have balance and cannot follow these instructions.

The last standardized field sobriety test is the one leg stand that also tests divided attention. The suspect is asked to stand and one foot and count. An intoxicated person will not have good balance or will not count properly.

Officers may give other tests to test sobriety, most likely if the suspect cannot take the standardized field sobriety tests. Whether you live in Fullerton, Santa Ana or Mission Viejo, if you are pulled over for a DUI, you need an experienced DUI attorney to assist you.

Continue reading " What is a Field Sobriety Test? " »

From 1,132 DUI deaths in 2007 to 1,029 in 2008, the DUI death rate since its high point in 2005, has dropped 21%. Alcohol impaired deaths make up the biggest category of total traffic fatalities, but even total fatalities have been down. The decrease in DUI deaths are thought to be the result of education from MADD and other safety advocates as well as enforcement through DUI checkpoints. Children are being taught from a young age about the dangers of drinking and driving and are remembering the message.

In the study, motorcycle deaths were found to be increasing, however. Now local governments are trying to target motorcycle drivers and teach them road safety.

Even though DUI deaths have gone down, the government says it will stop education and enforcement programs only when the number has gone down to 0.

I think it is great that the rate of DUI deaths has gone down in California. I feel that the government and safety advocates have been properly spreading the message of safe driving and driver responsibility. Whether you live in Orange County, Los Angeles County or Riverside County, if you have been charged with a DUI, an experienced California defense attorney will help you get through the legal process.

Continue reading " DUI Deaths Down 9% in California " »

A Caltrans program that started in 2002, allowed families of DUI victims to purchase a billboard in California and write the name of the victim and a message. Most people would write something along the lines of "Don't Drink and Drive." An assemblywoman now wants to expand this program to include victims of traffic accidents not involving drugs and alcohol. Critics of the bill say that there are already too many billboards that are very distracting for drivers. They worry that since so many people are killed on California freeways due to traffic accidents, there would be hundreds of billboards which means more work for Caltrans and more distractions for drivers.

The DUI victim's program has been said to be successful in reducing the number of DUI fatalities. A study found that in the 16 counties where memorial signs were erected, alcohol related deaths decreased in the three years after the sign, by about 79 people.

I think billboards memorializing DUI victims are a great idea that can reduce DUI fatalities. On the other hand though, I do think that billboards are distracting to drivers. I think billboards should just be limited to DUI victims (not traffic victims) and the billboards should have an informative message or statistic to inform drivers of the dangers of drinking and driving.

Whether you live in Santa Ana, Newport Beach or Garden Grove, if you are charged with a DUI, you will need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side.

Continue reading " Signs Memorializing California DUI Victims Opposed " »

On July 25, after 10 hours of drinking, Jose Maria Olmos was very drunk. Nevertheless, he decided to drive Juan Garcia and Jose Guadalupe Vilchis home. Olmos was driving between 60-70 mph in a 30 mile zone when suddenly, his car flipped over. All three men were injured but Garcia had severe head trauma and died at the hospital a few hours later. When police arrived, Olmos has bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and smelled like alcohol. He was charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. If he is convicted of the crime, he will face a possible prison sentence of 11 years.

Olmos will need an experienced DUI defense attorney to look at his blood alcohol results to see if he was actually intoxicated. The attorney will also have to see if there were any other causes for the car accident (ie- bad road conditions, negligence of another driver). Lastly, the defense attorney will work to lower the charges and the sentence.

Regardless whether you live in Orange County, Los Angeles County or Riverside County, vehicular manslaughter caused by intoxication is a serious crime.

Continue reading " Santa Ana Drunk Driver Kills Friend " »

Matt Thomas was in the passenger side of a car driven by his drunk friend about 15 years ago. The car fell off a 30 foot bridge and nearly killed Thomas. The crash caused severe brain damage and paralysis on his left side. Thomas had to learn to walk, talk and read all over again. During therapy, a friend of his gave him some hydro bikes. Because of those bikes, he was able to make a speedier recovery and can now walk, drive, go back to school and use his own man power to go on hydro bikes, paddle boats, and kayaks. He has started a charity event in Newport Beach called Paddle Pedal to raise money to support the charity of your choice. Since his accident, he has been speaking in classrooms all around Orange County about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Driving under the influence can have serious impacts on not only the driver, but also passengers. Amazingly, Thomas has turned the tragedy he faced into triumph by organizing charity events and spreading the message of the dangers of drinking and driving throughout the community.

Although the article did not mention the fate of his friend who drove drunk, it is assumed that he is probably still in jail because of the DUI. Whether you live in Huntington Beach, Garden Grove or Anaheim, if you get a DUI, you will need an experienced defense attorney to help you.

Continue reading " California DUI Victim Overcame Many Obstacles " »

Last month the California Supreme Court unanimously held that breath test results used in driving under the influence cases, can be inaccurate. Breathalyzer results may be inaccurate because they do not take into account a person's body temperature, atmospheric pressure, medical conditions or calibration of the machine, all of which can cause varying results. This is a huge step for defense attorneys who can now argue that breathalyzer results may not be accurate or may not be a true indication of someone's intoxication level. This decision came after many complaints by defense attorneys and people falsely accused of driving under the influence.

Alcohol has different effects on different people and may result in slurred speech and blurred vision for some at a .08 level. For others, these effects are not felt until the blood alcohol level is much higher. Regardless whether you are stopped for a DUI in Irvine, Fullerton or Santa Ana, an experienced DUI attorney may be able to argue that the results of your breathalyzer tests are inaccurate.

Continue reading " California Defense Lawyers Can Now Argue That Breathalyzer Tests May Be Inaccurate " »

Last week I blogged about Westminster Councilman Andy Quach being suspected of driving under the influence. More details emerged that affirmed that Quach was in fact driving drunk. Officers claimed that when they arrived at the scene of the accident, Quach's car had hit a power pole that knocked out power to over 300 homes and he looked intoxicated. He had blood shot eyes, slow and slurred speech and smelled like alcohol. His blood alcohol content was at a .26%, three times over the legal limit. His friend, Assemblyman Van Tran came to the scene of the crime after being called by Quach. Tran says Quach looked shook up, but was not injured. Quach says he will not step down from his position and instead will educate Orange County citizens about drinking and driving.

It is disappointing when a person that is considered a model citizen and a role model does something like this, however, we are all human. This was clearly a case of bad judgment and likely taught him an important lesson. Besides just being charged with a DUI, he will receive an enhancement since his blood alcohol level was about a .20%.

Whether you live in Newport Beach, Yorba Linda or Aliso Viejo, if you are charged with a DUI, you will need an experienced Orange County DUI defense attorney.

Continue reading " Update on Westminster, California Councilman Suspected of DUI " »

In Huntington Beach on Friday, two police officers pulled over a Volvo for a traffic violation. A Chrysler driven by Christopher Seymour pulled up behind the officer's car and crashed into it. The police car that was hit then crashed into the other police car. To avoid being hit, the driver of the Volvo jumped out of the way and hit the officer, causing injuries. Seymour sustained moderate injuries so he was treated and then taken to jail on suspicion of drunk driving.

A good DUI attorney would check the defendant's blood alcohol level to see if the driver was actually intoxicated. It may have been that Seymour just accidentally hit the officer's car. The drunk driver will likely have to pay for the damage of both police cars and his own car and will face thousands of dollars in court and attorney fees.

Continue reading " Drunk Huntington Beach Driver Crashes into Police Car " »

On Monday morning at 2am in Fountain Valley, a green minivan sped past police officers, nearly hitting a patrol car. Once police stated chasing the van, the driver headed south on northbound lanes. The driver was speeding at 100mph and passing red lights. At one point, officers lost the van and decided to call off the chase. Three minutes later, officers saw that the minivan had hit another car. The drunk driver, David Ortigoza, was taken to the hospital and then to jail.

At such high speeds, it is amazing that no one else was injured.

It is likely that Ortigoza will be charged with a DUI and evading arrest. He will have to pay thousands of dollars in fines for the DUI and the damages he caused to the other car. He will also have to spend time in jail for the DUI and evading arrest. He will need an experienced Orange County criminal defense attorney to help him lower his fines and fight his charges. Whether you live in Fullerton, Westminster or San Clemente, drinking and driving will come with serious consequences.

Continue reading " Drunk Driver Speeds at 100mph Going Wrong Way " »

As silly as it sounds to get pulled over for riding your bicycle while drunk, it can really happen. According to California Vehicle Code section 21200.5, it is unlawful for any person to ride a bike while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If the officer requests a chemical test to test the driver's blood alcohol level, they may have to take a blood, breath, or urine test. If they are found to be intoxicated, they can be fined up to $250. If the person is under 21 but over 13, their license privileges can be suspended or delayed for one year.

I have met a few people who thought it was a great idea to ride their bicycle to the bar, get drunk and then bicycle back home. It is not a great idea because alcohol affects your vision and your coordination, two things needed to ride a bike. Additionally, you can be pulled over and fined $250.

Although you wont technically be charged with a DUI for bicycling drunk, it is a Vehicle Code violation and can stay on your criminal record. Whether you live in Newport Beach, Fountain Valley or Mission Viejo, do not drive a car, ride a bicycle or operate a boat if you are drunk! If you do, get an experienced DUI defense attorney to help fight your case.

Continue reading " Can someone get a BUI (Biking Under the Influence)? " »

After drinking several shots of Sailor Jerry rum at a small house party at his house last year, Milad Moulayi was very drunk. However, he thought he should drive a few of his friends/classmates home that night. Jessica Dove and a few of her friends told Moulayi that he was too drunk to drive and refused to get into the car with him. However, Mackenzie Frazee was anxious to get back home, so she got into the car with Moulayi. As Moulayi, who was 17 at the time, was driving her home, he lost control of the car driving at 100 mph, drove over the center median, knocked over two road signs and slammed into a light pole. The crash cut the Mercedes into two. Frazee died immediately from massive blunt force trauma. Moulayi had just a few scrapes and was taken to the hospital. His blood alcohol level was a .10%.

Moulayi is being charged as an adult for the crime of second degree murder. The District Attorney claims that Moulayi was warned by his friends that he was too drunk to drive but he decided to drive anyway and endanger human lives so he should be charged with second degree murder instead of manslaughter. If he gets convicted, he will likely spend 15 years to life in prison.

At 17, juveniles do not know what alcohol can do to them and their decision making part of their brain has not been fully formed yet. Unfortunately for Moulayi, because of one stupid decision, he will be spending the majority of his young adult life in prison. If you are in a similar situation, whether you live in Laguna Niguel, Fullerton or Newport Beach, a good attorney may be able to help you.

Continue reading " Tustin Teenger was Warned Before DUI " »

After celebrating her friend's 30th birthday party at California Girls Gentleman's Club in Santa Ana in July, Lynette Ann Hunt was drunk. Nevertheless, she still decided to drive her friends, Vanessa Herada and Maria Zamarripa, home that night. Witnesses said they saw Hunt weaving in and out of lanes on the 91 freeway before her car skid out of control, went down an embankment, rolled over and ejected Herada and Zamarripa. California Highway Patrol arrived and noticed Hunt's breath smelled like alcohol, she was slurring her speech and her eyes were bloodshot. Her blood alcohol level was a .15%. Herrada was pronounced dead at the scene of the crime from major head trauma. Zamarripa was taken to the hospital and died from severe internal injuries. Hunt suffered a few broken bones.

On Monday, in Fullerton, Hunt pled guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, misdemeanor driving on a suspended license and to the sentencing enhancements of causing great bodily injury and having a blood alcohol level of above a .15%. She is expected to serve about 6 years in state prison.

It is so unfortunate that Hunt decided to drive her friends that night. Even when you are drunk, you know when your friends are drunk and her friends should have known not to get in that car. Unfortunately for Hunt, she killed her close friends and will think about it for the rest of her life. If you get a DUI, you will need an experienced attorney to help you through the legal process.

Continue reading " Drunk Fullerton Woman Pleads Guilty to Fatal Crash " »

With a blood alcohol level of three times the legal limit, Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, decided to drive. He ran through a red light in Fullerton in April and hit a Mitshubishi Eclipse. Inside the Eclipse was Angel's pitcher Nick Adenhart, college cheerleader Courtney Stewart, law student Henry Pearson and former Fullerton baseball player Jonathon Wilhite. Adenhart, Stewart and Pearson were killed. Gallo was charged with three counts of second degree murder, drunk driving causing great bodily harm, hit and run and driving on a suspended license because of a former DUI. He also received sentencing enhancements for injuring Wilhite and a passenger in his car, Raymond Rivera. His pretrial hearing will begin on September 11, 2009. If he is convicted of all these charges, he faces between 54 years to life in jail.

Gallo faces so much time in prison for an act he obviously did not think through or intend to do. Of course in retrospect, I am sure it is clear to him that he should not have driven. If you are ever feeling tipsy or drunk, ask someone else to drive.

An experienced Orange County DUI defense attorney will look at all the facts surrounding the incident and all of the possible defenses. Additionally, they would try to get the DA to drop or lower some of the charges so Gallo would have to spend less time in prison.

Whether you live in Lake Forest, Huntington Beach or Yorba Linda, if you get a DUI, you need an experienced defense attorney on your side.

Continue reading " Trial Set for Anaheim Angel's Pitcher Killer " »

Andrew Steuber, of Camp Pendleton's second Batallion and first Marines division, was driving his Ford Mustang this weekend with Cpl. Edmond K. Vandecasteele IV, of Camp Pendleton's first Batallion and first Marines division, in the passenger side. Steuber was speeding and intoxicated when he crashed his car into a tree in San Clemente on Saturday night. He was taken to Mission Hospital in critical condition. Vandecasteele was killed immediately at the scene of the crime. He was a skilled ammunition technician who had received multiple service awards. Two other Marines were in the backseat and were only slightly injured.

It is unfortunate that such an experienced Marine died. Hopefully Streuber has a speedy recovery, although once recovered, he will likely be facing manslaughter charges along with DUI charges. This incident will likely be grounds for military discharge of Streuber. Whether you live in Irvine, Newport Beach or Fullerton, if you get a DUI, get an experienced DUI defense attorney to help you.

Continue reading " Marine Killed in DUI Accident in Orange County " »

On Saturday night, after dinner with his friends, Westminster City Councilman Andy Tuan Ngoc Quach accidentally slammed his car into a power pole and knocked out power for about 300 homes in the area. Police arrested him because they believed he was driving under the influence. Quach claims that he just fell asleep for a few seconds and the next thing he knew, his black S550 Mercedez Benz had crashed into a power pole on McFadden Avenue. Quach said he was remorseful for what he did and wants to take full responsibility. He hopes that this event does not affect his position at the city.

As people know, DUI's have major consequences. Besides possibly killing or injuring yourself or others, a DUI is reported on your criminal record which employers are constantly checking. Employees may often lose their jobs for getting a DUI. Losing a job in these tough economic times can mean being unemployed for a very long time. After a while, bills cannot be paid on time and your house and cars can be subject to foreclosure. It is hard to see that far ahead when you are drinking though. The most sound advice is whether you are living in Irvine, Fullerton or San Clemente, do not drink and drive! If you get a DUI, please call a trusted Orange County DUI defense attorney to help you through the legal process. A good attorney may be able to keep that DUI off your criminal record.

Continue reading " Westminster City Councilman Arrested for DUI " »

Driving up or down a windy and narrow parking structure is hard enough. Being drunk and driving through a parking structure proved impossible for a drunk Downey man last week. Alexander Diaz, a non college student, crashed into 24 cars as he was trying to navigate through the narrow parking structure in the residential area of UC Irvine. He nor anyone else was injured. He was arrested and charged with a DUI, taken to the hospital and then released.

Again, the message is clear, do not drink and drive. Regardless if you are in Fountain Valley, Lake Forest or Anaheim, there are steep legal ramifications for drinking and driving. Diaz will likely have to pay for all the damage he caused to the cars, deal with a DUI on his record, pay steep court fees and even possibly go to jail.

Continue reading " Drunk Driver Hits 24 Cars in UC Irvine Parking Lot " »

Did you know that you can get a DUI for operating a boat while intoxicated? According to the California Department of Boating and Waterways, the same rules that apply to driving a car also apply to operating a boat. A person who is operating a boat cannot have a blood alcohol level of .08% or higher, or else they will be charged with a DUI. If a person under 21 is operating a boat with a blood alcohol level of .01% or higher, they will get their license suspended.

The California Department of Boating and Waterways also reminds you that drinking while on a boat gives you a false sense of warmth because you actually lose body heat when you drink. Additionally, drinking and operating a boat leads to poor judgment and slow response time which can ultimately lead to more boating accidents.

Since it is summer and many Californians own boats, I guess its a good reminder to the residents living in Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach not to drink and operate boats.

Continue reading " Operating a Boat While Intoxicated " »