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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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