Los Angeles Criminal Law News

Los Angeles, CA- Los Angeles County DUI task force had a busy holiday season, arresting over 2,000 people for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs during their annual holiday crackdown.

Holidays mean more people are traveling to visit family and friends. Many of these seasonal gatherings involve alcohol. And New Year’s Eve is the heaviest nights of drinking for the entire year.

Law enforcement agencies across the country are aware that the holiday season, which begins with Thanksgiving and ends on New Year’s Day, is one of the most dangerous periods on the road for alcohol-related crashes. In an effort to keep the roads safe, DUI patrols and checkpoints are increased. Los Angeles County is no different and their efforts were very successful this year.

Multiple agencies teamed up in an initiative they called “Avoid the 100.” In just 17 days, the task force arrested 2,443 people for suspicion of DUI through saturation patrols and checkpoints, down from the previous year, according to LAist.

Last year, during the same period, less two days, police arrested 1,773 individuals for DUI-related offenses. The drop is promising and means people decided to designate drivers or take a cab instead of get behind the wheel.

Few people realize how little alcohol it takes to push them over the legal limit. Even though you may not feel intoxicated, your blood alcohol level can be over the legal limit. Under California law you can be charged with intoxicated driving even if you aren’t over the legal limit of .08.

Refusing to submit to a breathalyzer can create a different set of legal problems, and can keep you tied up in the legal system. Just because you refuse to blow doesn’t mean you can’t be charge with a DUI.

If you happen to be under the age of 21, California had a no tolerance policy, which means you can be charged with DUI if your blood alcohol concentration is a mere .01.

Aside from the criminal charges of DUI, you also face numerous traffic infractions, adding to the headache of DUI. If your arrest was the result of an injurious or fatal traffic accident, the charges against you will mount and will adversely affect your future.

One of the biggest mistakes a person makes following an intoxicated driving arrest it to think they can handle the charges without legal representation. Without an advocate in court, a judge can give you the maximum sentence which will result in a jail sentence, loss of driving privileges, probation, and months in DUI School. While some of the penalties are unavoidable, such as alcohol and drug awareness classes and probation, a criminal attorney can help you avoid jail time and make it possible for you to keep your license.

Don’t make the mistake of facing these very serious charges without legal assistance. As a prominent Los Angeles criminal attorney, Robert Bernstein, is well-equipped to handle your DUI case. He is willing to help you with the criminal aspect along with helping you deal with the DMV. Don’t hesitate to call his office to set up a consultation.