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California Vehicle Code VC 23568 – Conditions of Probation: Third or Subsequent Conviction Within Ten Years

Posted by on May 4, 2012

23568. (a) If the court grants probation to a person punished under Section 23566, in addition to the provisions of Section 23600 and any other terms and conditions imposed by the court, the court shall impose as conditions of probation that the person be confined in the county jail for at least one year, that the person pay a fine of at least three hundred ninety dollars ($390) but not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), and that the person make restitution or reparation pursuant to Section 1203.1 of the Penal Code. The person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle shall be revoked by the department under paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 13352. The court shall require the person to surrender the driver’s license to the court in accordance with Section 13550.

(b) In addition to Section 23600 and subdivision (a), if the court grants probation to a person punished under Section 23566, the court shall impose as a condition of probation that the person enroll in and complete, subsequent to the date of the underlying violation and in a manner satisfactory to the court, an 18-month driving-under-the-influence program licensed pursuant to Section 11836 of the Health and Safety Code or, if available in the county of the person’s residence or employment, a 30-month driving-under-the-influence program licensed pursuant to Section 11836 of the Health and Safety Code, as designated by the court. The person shall complete the entire program subsequent to, and shall not be given any credit for program activities completed prior to, the date of the current violation. In lieu of the minimum term of imprisonment in subdivision (a), the court shall impose as a minimum condition of probation under this subdivision that the person be confined in the county jail for at least 30 days but not more than one year. Except as provided in this subdivision, if the court grants probation under this section, the court shall order the treatment prescribed by this subdivision, whether or not the person has previously completed a treatment program pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 23542 or paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 23562. In order to enable all required persons to participate, each person shall pay the program costs commensurate with the person’s ability to pay as determined pursuant to Section 11837.4 of the Health and Safety Code. No condition of probation required pursuant to this subdivision is a basis for reducing any other probation requirement in this section or Section 23600 or for avoiding the mandatory license revocation provisions of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 13352.

(c) The court shall advise the person at the time of sentencing that the driving privilege may not be restored until the person provides proof satisfactory to the department of successful completion of a driving-under-the-influence program of the length required under this code that is licensed pursuant to Section 11836 of the Health and Safety Code.

(d) This section shall become operative on September 20, 2005.

Added Sec. 84, Ch. 118, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative July 1, 1999.
Amended Sec. 37, Ch. 22, Stats. 1999. Effective May 26, 1999. Operative July 1 1999.
Amended Sec. 33, Ch. 545, Stats. 2002. Effective January 1, 2003.
Amended Sec. 23, Ch. 551, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005. Operative September 20, 2005.

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Note: Laws change frequently and thus the information provided should not be relied upon as legal advice. To be certain, contact a criminal defense attorney for a legal assistance.
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California Vehicle Code VC 23612 – Implied Consent For Chemical Testing

Posted by on May 4, 2012

California Vehicle Code VC 23612 – Implied Consent For Chemical Testing

23612. (a) (1) (A) A person who drives a motor vehicle is deemed to have given his or her consent to chemical testing of his or her blood or breath for the purpose of determining the alcoholic content of his or her blood, if lawfully arrested for an offense allegedly committed in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153. If a blood or breath test, or both, are unavailable, then paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) applies.

(B) A person who drives a motor vehicle is deemed to have given his or her consent to chemical testing of his or her blood or urine for the purpose of determining the drug content of his or her blood, if lawfully arrested for an offense allegedly committed in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153.

(C) The testing shall be incidental to a lawful arrest and administered at the direction of a peace officer having reasonable cause to believe the person was driving a motor vehicle in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153.

(D) The person shall be told that his or her failure to submit to, or the failure to complete, the required chemical testing will result in a fine, mandatory imprisonment if the person is convicted of a violation of Section 23152 or 23153, and (i) the suspension of the person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle for a period of one year, (ii) the revocation of the person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle for a period of two years if the refusal occurs within 10 years of a separate violation of Section 23103 as specified in Section 23103.5, or of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153, or of Section 191.5 or paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 192 of the Penal Code that resulted in a conviction, or if the person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle has been suspended or revoked pursuant to Section 13353, 13353.1, or 13353.2 for an offense that occurred on a separate occasion, or (iii) the revocation of the person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle for a period of three years if the refusal occurs within 10 years of two or more separate violations of Section 23103 as specified in Section 23103.5, or of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153, or of Section 191.5 or paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 192 of the Penal Code, or any combination thereof, that resulted in convictions, or if the person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle has been suspended or revoked two or more times pursuant to Section 13353, 13353.1, or 13353.2 for offenses that occurred on separate occasions, or if there is any combination of those convictions or administrative suspensions or revocations.

(2) (A) If the person is lawfully arrested for driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, the person has the choice of whether the test shall be of his or her blood or breath and the officer shall advise the person that he or she has that choice. If the person arrested either is incapable, or states that he or she is incapable, of completing the chosen test, the person shall submit to the remaining test. If a blood or breath test, or both, are unavailable, then paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) applies.

(B) If the person is lawfully arrested for driving under the influence of any drug or the combined influence of an alcoholic beverage and any drug, the person has the choice of whether the test shall be of his or her blood, breath, or urine, and the officer shall advise the person that he or she has that choice.

(C) A person who chooses to submit to a breath test may also be requested to submit to a blood or urine test if the officer has reasonable cause to believe that the person was driving under the influence of a drug or the combined influence of an alcoholic beverage and a drug and if the officer has a clear indication that a blood or urine test will reveal evidence of the person being under the influence. The officer shall state in his or her report the facts upon which that belief and that clear indication are based. The person has the choice of submitting to and completing a blood or urine test, and the officer shall advise the person that he or she is required to submit to an additional test and that he or she may choose a test of either blood or urine. If the person arrested either is incapable, or states that he or she is incapable, of completing either chosen test, the person shall submit to and complete the other remaining test.

(3) If the person is lawfully arrested for an offense allegedly committed in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153, and, because of the need for medical treatment, the person is first transported to a medical facility where it is not feasible to administer a particular test of, or to obtain a particular sample of, the person’s blood, breath, or urine, the person has the choice of those tests that are available at the facility to which that person has been transported. In that case, the officer shall advise the person of those tests that are available at the medical facility and that the person’s choice is limited to those tests that are available.

(4) The officer shall also advise the person that he or she does not have the right to have an attorney present before stating whether he or she will submit to a test or tests, before deciding which test or tests to take, or during administration of the test or tests chosen, and that, in the event of refusal to submit to a test or tests, the refusal may be used against him or her in a court of law.

(5) A person who is unconscious or otherwise in a condition rendering him or her incapable of refusal is deemed not to have withdrawn his or her consent and a test or tests may be administered whether or not the person is told that his or her failure to submit to, or the noncompletion of, the test or tests will result in the suspension or revocation of his or her privilege to operate a motor vehicle. A person who is dead is deemed not to have withdrawn his or her consent and a test or tests may be administered at the direction of a peace officer.

(b) A person who is afflicted with hemophilia is exempt from the blood test required by this section.

(c) A person who is afflicted with a heart condition and is using an anticoagulant under the direction of a licensed physician and surgeon is exempt from the blood test required by this section.

(d) (1) A person lawfully arrested for an offense allegedly committed while the person was driving a motor vehicle in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153 may request the arresting officer to have a chemical test made of the arrested person’s blood or breath for the purpose of determining the alcoholic content of that person’s blood, and, if so requested, the arresting officer shall have the test performed.

(2) If a blood or breath test is not available under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), or under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), or under paragraph (1) of this subdivision, the person shall submit to the remaining test in order to determine the percent, by weight, of alcohol in the person’s blood. If both the blood and breath tests are unavailable, the person shall be deemed to have given his or her consent to chemical testing of his or her urine and shall submit to a urine test.

(e) If the person, who has been arrested for a violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153, refuses or fails to complete a chemical test or tests, or requests that a blood or urine test be taken, the peace officer, acting on behalf of the department, shall serve the notice of the order of suspension or revocation of the person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle personally on the arrested person. The notice shall be on a form provided by the department.

(f) If the peace officer serves the notice of the order of suspension or revocation of the person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle, the peace officer shall take possession of all driver’s licenses issued by this state which are held by the person. The temporary driver’s license shall be an endorsement on the notice of the order of suspension and shall be valid for 30 days from the date of arrest.

(g) (1) The peace officer shall immediately forward a copy of the completed notice of suspension or revocation form and any driver’s license taken into possession under subdivision (f), with the report required by Section 13380, to the department. If the person submitted to a blood or urine test, the peace officer shall forward the results immediately to the appropriate forensic laboratory. The forensic laboratory shall forward the results of the chemical tests to the department within 15 calendar days of the date of the arrest.

(2) (A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a document containing data prepared and maintained in the governmental forensic laboratory computerized database system that is electronically transmitted or retrieved through public or private computer networks to or by the department is the best available evidence of the chemical test results in all administrative proceedings conducted by the department. In addition, any other official record that is maintained in the governmental forensic laboratory, relates to a chemical test analysis prepared and maintained in the governmental forensic laboratory computerized database system, and is electronically transmitted and retrieved through a public or private computer network to or by the department is admissible as evidence in the department’s administrative proceedings. In order to be admissible as evidence in administrative proceedings, a document described in this subparagraph shall bear a certification by the employee of the department who retrieved the document certifying that the information was received or retrieved directly from the computerized database system of a governmental forensic laboratory and that the document accurately reflects the data received or retrieved.

(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the failure of an employee of the department to certify under subparagraph (A) is not a public offense.

(h) A preliminary alcohol screening test that indicates the presence or concentration of alcohol based on a breath sample in order to establish reasonable cause to believe the person was driving a vehicle in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153 is a field sobriety test and may be used by an officer as a further investigative tool.

(i) If the officer decides to use a preliminary alcohol screening test, the officer shall advise the person that he or she is requesting that person to take a preliminary alcohol screening test to assist the officer in determining if that person is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or a combination of alcohol and drugs. The person’s obligation to submit to a blood, breath, or urine test, as required by this section, for the purpose of determining the alcohol or drug content of that person’s blood, is not satisfied by the person submitting to a preliminary alcohol screening test. The officer shall advise the person of that fact and of the person’s right to refuse to take the preliminary alcohol screening test.

Amended Sec. 70, Ch. 1154, Stats. 1996. Effective September 30, 1996.
Amended Sec. 4, Ch. 740, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative July 1, 1999. Supersedes Ch. 118.
Amended and renumbered from 23157Sec. 18.4, Ch. 22, Stats. 1999. Effective May 26, 1999. Operative July 1, 1999.
Amended Sec. 2, Ch. 854, Stats. 1999. Effective October 1, 1999. Supersedes Ch. 853.
Amended Sec. 26, Ch. 287, Stats. 2000. Effective January 1, 2001.
Amended Sec. 2, Ch. 254, Stats. 2003. Effective January 1, 2004.
Amended Sec. 19, Ch. 550, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005.

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California Vehicle Code VC 23560 – Penalty: Second Conviction Within Ten Years

Posted by on May 4, 2012

California Vehicle Code VC 23560 – Penalty: Second Conviction Within Ten Years

23560. If a person is convicted of a violation of Section 23153 and the offense occurred within 10 years of a separate violation of Section 23103, as specified in Section 23103.5, 23152, or 23153 that resulted in a conviction, that person shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison, or in a county jail for not less than 120 days nor more than one year, and by a fine of not less than three hundred ninety dollars ($390) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000). The person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle shall be revoked by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 13352. The court shall require the person to surrender the driver’s license to the court in accordance with Section 13550.

Added Sec. 84, Ch. 118, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative July 1, 1999.
Amended Sec. 30, Ch. 545, Stats. 2002. Effective January 1, 2003.
Amended Sec. 16, Ch. 550, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005.

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California Vehicle Code VC 23247 – Ignition Interlock Device Prohibitions

Posted by on May 4, 2012

California Vehicle Code VC 23247 – Ignition Interlock Device Prohibitions

23247. (a) It is unlawful for a person to knowingly rent, lease, or lend a motor vehicle to another person known to have had his or her driving privilege restricted as provided in Section 13352 or 23575, unless the vehicle is equipped with a functioning, certified ignition interlock device. Any person, whose driving privilege is restricted pursuant to Section 13352 or 23575 shall notify any other person who rents, leases, or loans a motor vehicle to him or her of the driving restriction imposed under that section.

(b) It is unlawful for any person whose driving privilege is restricted pursuant to Section 13352 or 23575 to request or solicit any other person to blow into an ignition interlock device or to start a motor vehicle equipped with the device for the purpose of providing the person so restricted with an operable motor vehicle.

(c) It is unlawful to blow into an ignition interlock device or to start a motor vehicle equipped with the device for the purpose of providing an operable motor vehicle to a person whose driving privilege is restricted pursuant to Section 13352 or 23575.

(d) It is unlawful to remove, bypass, or tamper with, an ignition interlock device.

(e) It is unlawful for any person whose driving privilege is restricted pursuant to Section 13352 or 23575 to operate any vehicle not equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device.

(f) Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months or by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.

(g) (1) If any person whose driving privilege is restricted pursuant to Section 13352 is convicted of a violation of subdivision (e), the court shall notify the Department of Motor Vehicles, which shall immediately terminate the restriction and shall suspend or revoke the person’s driving privilege for the remaining period of the originating suspension or revocation and until all reinstatement requirements in Section 13352 are met.

(2) If any person who is restricted pursuant to subdivision (a) or (l) of Section 23575 is convicted of a violation of subdivision (e), the department shall suspend the person’s driving privilege for one year from the date of the conviction.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a vehicle in which an ignition interlock device has been installed is impounded, the manufacturer or installer of the device shall have the right to remove the device from the vehicle during normal business hours. No charge shall be imposed for the removal of the device nor shall the manufacturer or installer be liable for any removal, towing, impoundment, storage, release, or administrative costs or penalties associated with the impoundment. Upon request, the person seeking to remove the device shall present documentation to justify removal of the device from the vehicle. Any damage to the vehicle resulting from the removal of the device is the responsibility of the person removing it.

Added Ch. 694, Stats. 1992. Effective January 1, 1993.
Amended Ch. 1244, Stats. 1993. Effective January 1, 1994.
Amended Ch. 1237, Stats. 1994. Effective September 30, 1994.
Amended Sec. 22, Ch. 756, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative July 1, 1999. Supersedes Ch. 118.
Amended Sec. 28, Ch. 22, Stats. 1999. Effective May 26, 1999. Operative July 1, 1999.

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California Vehicle Code VC 23152 – Driving Under Influence of Alcohol or Drugs

Posted by on May 4, 2012

California Vehicle Code VC 23152 – Driving Under Influence of Alcohol or Drugs

23152. (a) It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle.

(b) It is unlawful for any person who has 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle.

For purposes of this article and Section 34501.16, percent, by weight, of alcohol in a person’s blood is based upon grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.

In any prosecution under this subdivision, it is a rebuttable presumption that the person had 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood at the time of driving the vehicle if the person had 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood at the time of the performance of a chemical test within three hours after the driving.

(c) It is unlawful for any person who is addicted to the use of any drug to drive a vehicle. This subdivision shall not apply to a person who is participating in a narcotic treatment program approved pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 11875) of Chapter 1 of Part 3 of Division 10.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

(d) It is unlawful for any person who has 0.04 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in Section 15210.

In any prosecution under this subdivision, it is a rebuttable presumption that the person had 0.04 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood at the time of driving the vehicle if the person had 0.04 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood at the time of the performance of a chemical test within three hours after the driving.

(e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1992, and shall remain operative until the director determines that federal regulations adopted pursuant to the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (49 U.S.C. Sec. 2701 et seq.) contained in Section 383.51 or 391.15 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations do not require the state to prohibit operation of commercial vehicles when the operator has a concentration of alcohol in his or her blood of 0.04 percent by weight or more.

(f) The director shall submit a notice of the determination under subdivision (e) to the Secretary of State, and this section shall be repealed upon the receipt of that notice by the Secretary of State.

Repealed Ch. 708, Stats. 1990. Effective January 1, 1991. Operative January 1, 1992.
Amended Ch. 974, Stats. 1992. Effective September 28, 1992.
Amended Sec. 31, Ch. 455, Stats. 1995. Effective September 5, 1995

NOTE: This section remains in effect only until notice by the Secretary of State, at which time it is repealed and the following section becomes effective.

23152. (a) It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle.

(b) It is unlawful for any person who has 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle.

(d) This section shall become operative only upon the receipt by the Secretary of State of the notice specified in subdivision (f) of Section 23152, as added by Section 25 of Chapter 1114 of the Statutes of 1989.

Amended Ch. 708, Stats. 1990. Effective January 1, 1991.
Amended Ch. 974, Stats. 1992. Effective September 28, 1992.
Amended Sec. 32, Ch. 455, Stats. 1995. Effective September 5, 1995.

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California Vehicle Code VC 23110 – Throwing Substances at Vehicles

Posted by on May 4, 2012

California Vehicle Code VC 23110 – Throwing Substances at Vehicles

23110. (a) Any person who throws any substance at a vehicle or any occupant thereof on a highway is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) Any person who with intent to do great bodily injury maliciously and wilfully throws or projects any rock, brick, bottle, metal or other missile, or projects any other substance capable of doing serious bodily harm at such vehicle or occupant thereof is guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison.

Amended Ch. 1119, Stats. 1976. Effective January 1, 1977. Supersedes Ch. 1139.

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California Vehicle Code VC 21204 – Riding on Bicycle

Posted by on May 4, 2012

California Vehicle Code VC 21204 – Riding on Bicycle

21204. (a) No person operating a bicycle upon a highway shall ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.

(b) No operator shall allow a person riding as a passenger, and no person shall ride as a passenger, on a bicycle upon a highway other than upon or astride a separate seat attached thereto. If the passenger is four years of age or younger, or weighs 40 pounds or less, the seat shall have adequate provision for retaining the passenger in place and for protecting the passenger from the moving parts of the bicycle.

Amended Ch. 1000, Stats. 1993. Effective January 1, 1994.

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California Criminal Defense Attorney – Wet-Reckless Plea

Posted by on May 4, 2012

California Criminal Defense Attorney – Wet-Reckless Plea

One may plead guilty to a variety of charges relating to driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A criminal defense attorney will help to determine the nature of the charges and of the prosecutor’s ability to back up the charges with good evidence before making any decision.

An attorney skilled in defending drinking and driving cases will try to get the charge reduced. If the charge is felony DUI, misdemeanor driving under the influence will be a reduced charge. When one is charged with a misdemeanor drunk driving, lesser charges that one might seek that carry less harsh punishments include a wet-reckless or a dry-reckless.

A California DUI / DWI attorney knows that sometimes it is better to accept a plea bargain than to go to trial in a drunk driving cases. The plea negotiations in a drunk driving case will often depend on the strength of the prosecution’s case. A weak case may result in an offer that may be too good to turn down.

A plea bargain is a compromise between the criminal defense attorney and the prosecution. If the prosecution does not feel that they will be able to win at trial, they will offer a deal to the defendant. If the prosecutor believes strongly in their case, they may not offer any compromise. A DUI / DWI lawyer will discuss the case with prosecutor and try to iron out a deal that will spare the hassle of trial if the driver agrees to plead guilty to lesser charges or a to the same charges with negotiated consequences.

A wet-reckless is similar to a DUI but does not carry some of the same mandatory punishments that a misdemeanor DUI carries. A wet-reckless will generally be offered where the driver’s BAC was .10 percent or less. There are no mandatory alcohol education classes, no driver’s license suspensions and no SR-22 filings so long as the driver was successful at the DMV hearing. For those holding or seeking professional licenses, they will have an easier time passing the scrutiny of the licensing boards with a wet-reckless rather than a DUI on their records.

On the other hand, a wet-reckless will be counted as a prior DUI if a driver is charged with a second DUI / DWI within 10 years of the first one. Also, insurance companies often view a wet-reckless as the same thing as a driving under the influence conviction, so a driver can expect to pay higher insurance bills.

If a person is charged with driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated in California, the best thing to do is to contact a California criminal defense attorney to assist in deciding whether or not a plea should be taken. In many cases, a California DUI / DWI attorney will advise their clients to plead to a wet-reckless if the prosecutor makes the offer. Of course, the facts of each driving while intoxicated case must be evaluated before any decision can be reached.

DMV Consequences for first time DUI Offenders

Posted by Brianna Wilkins on May 4, 2012

DMV Consequences for first time DUI Offenders

The driver who is arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol will require the counsel of a California criminal defense attorney with vast experience in DUI cases. A first-time DUI still requires a case be filed within ten days of arrest with the DMV to protect driving privileges. An experienced DUI attorney can assist with the DMV case. In California there is both a Department of Motor Vehicles hearing and a criminal court case. Court date and hearings for the criminal case will be set by the court after arraignment. However, a DMV hearing will only take place if the driver requests a hearing within ten days of a drunk driving arrest. If no request is made, a thirty day automatic suspension of driving privileges will take place.

Two crucial factors in a DMV hearing will be whether there are prior driving under the influence violations on the driver’s record, and whether there was a refusal to submit to chemical tests. In the case of a first offense DUI, there will be no previous marks on the driver’s record. If there was a refusal to submit to the chemical tests following an arrest, a first time drinking and driving violation will carry an automatic one year suspension without any chances of getting a restricted license to allow for travel to and from work.

A first offense drunk driving where the driver voluntarily submits to a blood or breath test after being arrested, generally the punishment will be a four month suspension and the driver will be required to file formal proof of insurance with the Department of Motor Vehicles. This is done with the filing of an SR-22 form. This filing will be required for three years. But, for the first time offender, they may be entitled to a restricted license that allows for the travel to and from work.

In order for any sanction such as restriction, suspension, or revocation can take place, the DMV hearing officer must face three issues, and be satisfied with each of the three issues. In short those issues are whether the officer had reasonable cause to believe the driver was under the influence of alcohol or committed another crime or vehicle code violation. Next is whether the arrest of the driver was lawful, and lastly is whether the driver’s BAC was above the legal limit at the time of driving.

The DMV has the sole authority in California to suspend driving privileges. Criminal courts do not have this authority. However, when a motorist is convicted of drunk driving in California, the DMV will find out. Once the DMV has found out that a driver was convicted of DUI, the driver’s license will be automatically suspended for six months. This six month suspension will run concurrently with the original four months suspension given after the Department of Motor Vehicles hearing.

Consequences of DMV hearings may be harsh. It is best to have a California criminal defense attorney with vast experience in DUI cases on your side if you want to minimize the consequences against your license. Seek a free evaluation from The Kavinoky Law Firm if you want to fight the DMV and protect your driving privileges.

Motion to Suppress Evidence

Posted by on May 4, 2012

Motion to Suppress Evidence

Fighting a California drug charge may seem like a daunting proposition, but fortunately it’s possible to mount an aggressive defense to the charges you face. One of the most potent tools at your defense lawyer’s disposal is a motion to suppress evidence. Skilled California defense attorneys from The Kavinoky Law Firm are well-versed in using motions to suppress evidence to advance clients’ prospects in court.

A motion is any formal request asking the court to take action on your behalf. Your California defense attorneys may file a motion to suppress evidence on your behalf. If the court finds that the motion has merit, some or all of the evidence against you will be suppressed, and the case against you could be severely weakened or even dropped.

The key elements of a motion to suppress evidence can include a motion to quash, a motion to traverse, and/or a challenge based on one or more confidential informants who supplied information to the investigators who obtained a search warrant.

A motion to quash questions whether police had probable cause to obtain a search warrant in the first place. A motion to traverse questions the validity of the information contained in the search warrant affidavit.

Challenging confidential informants is tricky because police fight to keep their identities a secret, and the courts often uphold their right to do so. However, it may be possible to persuade a judge to compel the police to identify their informant and question that person’s credibility. Successfully doing so may result in evidence in your California drug case being excluded.

These are some of the tools that may be employed by your California drug lawyer in an effort to have evidence against you suppressed. To learn more about suppression of evidence in narcotics cases, please contact a skilled California drug lawyer from The Kavinoky Law Firm today at 1-877-4-NO-CUFFS for a free consultation.