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California Vehicle Code VC 23610 – Blood-Alcohol Level: Presumptions Affecting Burden of Proof

Posted by on May 4, 2012

23610. (a) Upon the trial of any criminal action, or preliminary proceeding in a criminal action, arising out of acts alleged to have been committed by any person while driving a vehicle while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 23152 or subdivision (a) of Section 23153, the amount of alcohol in the person’s blood at the time of the test as shown by chemical analysis of that person’s blood, breath, or urine shall give rise to the following presumptions affecting the burden of proof:

If there was at that time less than 0.05 percent, by weight, of alcohol in the person’s blood, it shall be presumed that the person was not under the influence of an alcoholic beverage at the time of the alleged offense.
If there was at that time 0.05 percent or more but less than 0.08 percent, by weight, of alcohol in the person’s blood, that fact shall not give rise to any presumption that the person was or was not under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, but the fact may be considered with other competent evidence in determining whether the person was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage at the time of the alleged offense.
If there was at that time 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in the person’s blood, it shall be presumed that the person was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage at the time of the alleged offense.

(b) Percent, by weight, of alcohol in the person’s blood shall be based upon grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.

(c) This section shall not be construed as limiting the introduction of any other competent evidence bearing upon the question of whether the person ingested any alcoholic beverage or was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage at the time of the alleged offense.

Added Sec. 84, Ch. 118, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative July 1, 1999.

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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 23562 – Conditions of Probation: Second Offense Within Ten Years

Posted by on May 4, 2012

California Vehicle Code VC 23562 – Conditions of Probation: Second Offense Within Ten Years

23562. If the court grants probation to a person punished under Section 23560, 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 subject to either subdivision (a) or (b), as follows:

Be confined in the county jail for at least 120 days and pay a fine of at least three hundred ninety dollars ($390), but not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000). The person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle shall be revoked by the department under 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.
All of the following apply:
1. Be confined in the county jail for at least 30 days, but not more than one year.
2. Pay a fine of at least three hundred ninety dollars ($390), but not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000)
3. The privilege to operate a motor vehicle shall be revoked by the department under 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
4. Either of the following:
  1. Enroll and participate, for at least 18 months subsequent to the date of the underlying violation and in a manner satisfactory to the court, in a driving-under-the-influence program licensed pursuant to Section 11836 of the Health and Safety Code, if available in the county of the person’s residence or employment, 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. The program shall provide for persons who cannot afford the program fee pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 11837.4 of the Health and Safety Code in order to enable those persons to participate.
  2. Enroll and participate, for at least 30 months subsequent to the date of the underlying violation and in a manner satisfactory to the court, in a driving-under-the-influence program licensed pursuant to Section 11836 of the Health and Safety Code, if available in the county of the person’s residence or employment. 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.
The court shall advise the person at the time of sentencing that the driving privilege shall not be restored until the person has provided 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.
This section shall become operative on September 20, 2005.

Amended Sec. 4, Ch. 493, Stats. 1997. Effective January 1, 1998.
Amended Sec. 15, Ch. 756, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative July 1, 1999. Supersedes Ch. 118.
Amended and renumbered from 23186 Sec. 22, Ch. 22, Stats. 1999. Effective May 26, 1999. Operative July 1, 1999.
Amended Sec. 31, Ch. 545, Stats. 2002. Effective January 1, 2003.
Amended Sec. 22, Ch. 551, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005. Operative September 20, 2005.

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California Vehicle Code VC 23249 – Study and Report to the Legislature

Posted by on May 4, 2012

California Vehicle Code VC 23249 – Study and Report to the Legislature

23249. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall conduct two studies to evaluate the effectiveness of ignition interlock in California and shall report the findings to the Legislature, as specified in subdivisions (a) and (b).

(a) The department shall conduct a process study of ignition interlock in California and report the findings to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2002. This study shall examine the implementation of ignition interlock by the courts, the department and ignition interlock installers, and report the rate at which courts assign interlock to persons convicted of a violation of Section 14601.2 and the rate at which these persons install these devices.

(b) The department shall conduct an outcome study of ignition interlock in California and report the findings to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2004. This study shall examine the effectiveness of California’s ignition interlock laws in reducing recidivism, moving violation convictions and crashes among drivers ordered by the court to install interlock devices, and among drivers applying to the department, and receiving from it, an ignition interlock restricted license.

(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2005, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2005, deletes or extends that date.

Added Sec. 24, Ch. 756, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative July 1, 1999.
Amended Sec. 22, Ch. 473, Stats. 2001. Effective January 1, 2002.
Amended Sec. 17, Ch. 545, Stats. 2002. Effective January 1, 2003.
Amended Sec. 28, Ch. 468, Stats. 2003. Effective January 1, 2004.

NOTE: The preceding section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2005, and as of that date is repealed.

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California Vehicle Code VC 23153 – Driving Under Influence of Alcohol or Drugs Causing Injury

Posted by on May 4, 2012

California Vehicle Code VC 23153 – Driving Under Influence of Alcohol or Drugs Causing Injury

23153. (a) It is unlawful for any person, while under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle and concurrently do any act forbidden by law, or neglect any duty imposed by law in driving the vehicle, which act or neglect proximately causes bodily injury to any person other than the driver.

(b) It is unlawful for any person, while having 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle and concurrently do any act forbidden by law, or neglect any duty imposed by law in driving the vehicle, which act or neglect proximately causes bodily injury to any person other than the driver.

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 driving.

(c) In proving the person neglected any duty imposed by law in driving the vehicle, it is not necessary to prove that any specific section of this code was violated.

(d) It is unlawful for any person, while having 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, and concurrently do any act forbidden by law or neglect any duty imposed by law in driving the vehicle, which act or neglect proximately causes bodily injury to any person other than the driver.

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 performance of a chemical test within three hours after 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 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 and Added Ch. 1114, Stats. 1989. Operative January 1, 1992.
Repealed Ch. 708, Stats. 1990. Effective January 1, 1991. Operative January 1, 1992.
Amended Ch. 974, Stats. 1992. Effective September 28, 1992.

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.

23153. (a) It is unlawful for any person, while under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle and concurrently do any act forbidden by law or neglect any duty imposed by law in driving the vehicle, which act or neglect proximately causes bodily injury to any person other than the driver.

(b) It is unlawful for any person, while having 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle and concurrently do any act forbidden by law or neglect any duty imposed by law in driving the vehicle, which act or neglect proximately causes bodily injury to any person other than the driver.

(c) In proving the person neglected any duty imposed by law in driving the vehicle, it is not necessary to prove that any specific section of this code was violated.

(d) This section shall become operative only upon the receipt by the Secretary of State of the notice specified in subdivision (f) of Section 23153, as added by Section 30 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.

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California Vehicle Code VC 23111 – Throwing Substances on Highways or Adjoining Areas

Posted by on May 4, 2012

California Vehicle Code VC 23111 – Throwing Substances on Highways or Adjoining Areas

23111. No person in any vehicle and no pedestrian shall throw or discharge from or upon any road or highway or adjoining area, public or private, any lighted or nonlighted cigarette, cigar, match, or any flaming or glowing substance. This section shall be known as the Paul Buzzo Act.

Amended Ch. 1548, Stats. 1970. Effective November 23, 1970.

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California Vehicle Code VC 21205 – Carrying Articles

Posted by on May 4, 2012

California Vehicle Code VC 21205 – Carrying Articles

21205. No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the operator from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars.

Added Ch. 479, Stats. 1963. Effective September 20, 1963.

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California Criminal Defense Attorney DUI / DWI Plea Bargains

Posted by on May 4, 2012

California Criminal Defense Attorney DUI / DWI Plea Bargains

One may plead guilty to a charge of driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence. Generally a California DUI / DWI attorney will help the client assess the strength the of the prosecutor’s case before making any such decision. The prosecutor will also assess the case. Based on their assessment, they will offer the driver a plea bargain.

A DUI / DWI lawyer will try to get the charge reduced. If one is charged with felony drunk driving one might seek a reduced charge of misdemeanor driving under the influence. When one is charged with a misdemeanor DUI, often an attempt to seek lesser charges such wet-reckless or dry-reckless will take place.

Generally, the first three drunk driving offenses are charged as misdemeanors while a fourth DUI / DWI within ten years will be charged as a felony. If a person is injured or killed, a first, second, or third driving under the influence offense will be charged as a felony.

The minimum sentence for a first time DUI / DWI in California is 36 months of informal probation, 12 weeks of alcohol education classes, close to $1,500 in court fines and penalties, a 90 day driver’s license restriction as well as six month suspension imposed by the DMV if the driver is not successful at the DMV hearing.

A second drunk driving offense within 10 years will result a minimum of 10 days in county jail and 18 months of alcohol education classes. Furthermore, the DMV will institute a two years suspension of the driver’s license. After one year the driver will be eligible to apply for a restricted license.

Third time drunk driving offenders will face 120 days in county jail and extensive alcohol education classes. The Department of Motor Vehicles will suspend driving privileges for three years. A restricted license may be available after two years of suspension.

A fourth DUI / DWI offense in California will be charged as a felony. Punishment will include 180 days in county jail, 18 months of alcohol education classes, fines and probation. The driver’s license will be suspended for four years with eligibility for a restricted license coming after three years.

The second type of felony DUI happens when the driver has been in an accident. Restitution is required in cases of injury. The injured party must be repaid for the damages they suffered. As well as requiring restitution, the driver will be sentenced to jail, fined, and have their driver’s license suspended. Extensive alcohol education classes will be ordered by the court.

There are factors that will result in an increase of the minimum punishments. Those factors include a refusal to take a chemical test, a BAC of .20 percent or higher, speeding at 20 miles per hour above the speed limit on side streets and 30 miles per hour when driving on freeways. Reckless driving while under the influence, causing a traffic accident, or having a minor in the car will also worsen the punishment. Prior DUIs and being under 21 will also have exacerbate the sentence.

When a jury trial is not a good option, a DUI / DWI lawyer will try to achieve a fair compromise from the prosecutor. While some punishments in plea may seem harsh, they can be better than the alternative at trial.

Superior Court Of California, County of Riverside

Posted by Brianna Wilkins on May 4, 2012

Superior Court Of California, County of Riverside

If you have been arrested for Driving Under the Influence of alcohol or drugs in the state of California, it is important to know the location of the courthouse where your arraignment will be held. If there are multiple courthouses in the county, please contact a skilled Riverside, CA criminal defense attorney for more information.

Riverside County Superior Court – Riverside Historic Courthouse
4050 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501

Riverside Hall of Justice
4100 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501

Riverside Juvenile Court
9991 County Farm Road, Riverside, CA 92503

Southwest Justice Center – Murrieta
30755-D Auld Road, Murrieta, CA 92563

Moreno Valley Court
13800 Heacock Street, Bldg. D #201, Moreno Valley, CA 92553

Banning Court
135 N. Alessandro Road, Banning, CA 92220

Hemet Court
880 N. State Street, Hemet, CA 92543

Temecula Court
41002 County Center Drive #100, Temecula, CA 92591

Larson Justice Center – Indio
46-200 Oasis Street, Indio, CA 92201

Indio Juvenile Court
47-671 Oasis Street, Indio, CA 92201

Blythe Court
265 N. Broadway, Blythe, CA 92225

» Riverside County Superior Court of California website.

Getting arrested on suspicion of DUI / DWI can be a frightening experience. Suspected drunk drivers face a legal labyrinth that can seem daunting. A drunk driving case generates two separate cases – in criminal court, and at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). A California attorney with experience defending drinking and driving cases can help drivers navigate through both the DMV hearing and the court case.

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Proposition 36

Posted by Brianna Wilkins on May 4, 2012

Proposition 36

If a criminal defendant is convicted of a Non-Violent Drug Possession Offense after July 1, 2001, they may be eligible for Proposition 36 sentencing. Prop 36 sentencing consists of probation and drug treatment, and specifically states that a defendant shall not be required to spend time in jail as a condition of probation.

A Proposition 36 sentence requires treatment for up to one year, with an additional six months of aftercare. This may include outpatient treatment, halfway house (sober living) treatment, narcotic replacement therapy, drug education or prevention courses and/or limited inpatient or residential drug treatment as needed to address special detoxification or relapse situations or severe dependence. However, a Prop 36 sentence does not include drug treatment programs offered in a prison or jail facility. Jail is only a possible sentence where multiple efforts at rehabilitation have failed.

Note that possession for sale, production or manufacturing controlled substances DO NOT count as Non-Violent Drug Possession Offenses, and Prop 36 relief is not available.

One of the benefits to Prop 36 relief over Diversion is that it does not require a guilty plea; Prop 36 treatment is still available after a jury trial. However, there are some downsides as well: there is still a conviction on record while in treatment, and a person is not granted leave to deny that it occurred. Dismissal of the case is not automatic, and it remains to be seen how courts will deal with this.

Because of these variables, it is essential that anyone facing a drug charge receive legal advice from a California DUI and drug case lawyer that can advise the accused about all of his or her options.

If you or someone you care about has a problem with alcohol or drugs, and wants help, please contact our offices at once. We can help.

California Vehicle Code VC 13351.5 – Assault With Deadly Weapon: Motor Vehicle

Posted by on May 4, 2012

California Vehicle Code VC 13351.5 – Assault With Deadly Weapon: Motor Vehicle

13351.5. (a) Upon receipt of a duly certified abstract of the record of any court showing that a person has been convicted of a felony for a violation of Section 245 of the Penal Code and that a vehicle was found by the court to constitute the deadly weapon or instrument used to commit that offense, the department immediately shall revoke the privilege of that person to drive a motor vehicle.

(b) The department shall not reinstate a privilege revoked under subdivision (a) under any circumstances.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), the department shall terminate any revocation order issued under this section on or after January 1, 1995, for a misdemeanor conviction of violating Section 245 of the Penal Code.

Added Ch. 1221, Stats. 1994. Effective January 1, 1995.
Amended Sec. 15, Ch. 606, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999.

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