Recent Blog Posts
Bill Would Ask Parole Boards to Consider Age of Inmates
Two new laws would change how California parole boards consider the inmates standing before them, based on their ages. The laws, now awaiting signature by Gov. Jerry Brown, would also have the effect of further reducing the California prison population. Senior inmates would be considered for parole One potential new law would ask parole… Read More »
California to Consider Statewide Bail Reform Measures
For many individuals currently locked up in jail in California, it isn’t proof of guilt that’s keeping them behind bars; it’s an inability to make bail. In recent years, a number of states have begun to reform their bail systems so that arrestees facing trial don’t spend months behind bars simply because they can’t… Read More »
Detecting Marijuana Use among Drivers Not an Exact Science
In November, California joined the states of Colorado and Washington in legalizing recreational marijuana use. According to law enforcement, this shift in the law has resulted in an uptick in the number of arrests for and accidents caused by pot intoxication while drivers are behind the wheel. These increased arrests may be due in… Read More »
Your Miranda Rights, and How to Invoke Them
If you’ve watched a police procedural show like Law and Order, you’ve heard Miranda rights recited to fictional arrestees enough times that you could probably recite them yourself. But do you know what rights they offer you when you’ve been arrested in California? More importantly, do you know how to invoke these rights to… Read More »
Tiger Woods DUI Arrest—A Cautionary Tale
You’ve doubtless seen the news (and accompanying mug shots)–legendary golfer Tiger Woods was recently arrested for driving under the influence. However, you may have also heard that Mr. Woods blew a 0.00 when completing two separate breathalyzer tests, showing no measurable amount of alcohol was in his system at the time of the arrest…. Read More »
What is the Process for Getting Your Driving Privileges Back after a DUI in California?
Convictions for Driving Under the Influence in California can bring very stiff penalties, including driver’s license suspension. As anyone living in Southern California can attest, getting to work or school without a driver’s license can feel just about impossible. The last thing you need after being convicted of a DUI is to lose your… Read More »
New Law Could Eliminate Bail for California Suspected Offenders
Two members of the California State legislature have recently introduced a bill that would eliminate bail for the majority of California citizens placed under arrest. The law is intended to protect low-income individuals from being seriously harmed by an arrest. Bail would be eliminated without evidence of safety threat posed Assemblyman Rob Bonta and… Read More »
Ignition Interlock Devices in California
After being convicted of a DUI, certain California drivers will be required to have an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) installed on their vehicle. Learn more below about how IIDs work, and which drivers will be required to have them installed, and speak with a Ventura DUI defense lawyer if you’re facing charges for a… Read More »
What You Should Know about California’s Zero Tolerance Law
California’s laws on drinking and driving impose stiff penalties on all drivers discovered to be driving while intoxicated, but these laws come down especially hard on drivers who have been drinking and are under age 21. California is a so-called “zero tolerance” state when it comes to underage drinking and driving, meaning that young… Read More »
DUI Charges Dropped against Over-Caffeinated Man
Solano County prosecutors made the news in August of 2015 for arresting a man and charging him for driving under the influence of drugs (DUID). While such arrests are commonplace, this one stood out, due to the nature of the drugs found in a test of the man’s blood. What was he on when… Read More »