california proposition 36

It was recently reported in the OC Register that a woman was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after she crashed into a parked pickup truck in front of a police cruiser. Jennifer Bowman, 36, was driving a black Acura when she crashed into a Toyota pickup. The parked truck suffered major damage in the collision.
Bowman will most likely be charged with driving under the influence. Under California Vehicle Code Section 23152, 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. The person can also be charged with a DUI if he or she was driving while having a BAC of 0.08% or more.

A first time conviction for a DUI can be punished by imprisonment in county jail for up to six months. The court will also issue a fine and suspend the driver’s driving privileges.

If you or a loved one is facing a charge for drunk driving, it is important that you speak with an experienced Los Angeles DUI attorney. At Wallin & Klarich, our Orange County DUI attorneys have over 30 years of experience. Our attorneys are highly knowledgeable in the most up-to-date DUI laws and will aggressively fight to get you the best possible result in your case. Call us today at (888) 280-6839 or contact us through our website at www.wklawdui.com. We will be there when you call.

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As recently reported by KTLA, Lindsay Lohan violated her bail provisions when her SCRAM bracelet detected the presence of alcohol in her system. After appearing at the MTV Movie Awards, she attended at least one after party, where it is suspected that her bracelet went off. Judge Marsha Revel, after meeting with Lohan’s attorney and the District Attorney, issued a bench warrant for Lohan’s arrest.

The judge ordered Lohan to wear the SCRAM bracelet following a May 24th hearing with the added condition of not consuming alcohol. For violating the conditions sets forth, Lohan forfeited her existing bail and the judge issued a bench warrant for Lohan’s arrest and set a new bail at $200,000, which is twice the previous amount. Within hours of the bench warrant, Lohan paid the bail and was discharged from police custody. If the judge determines that a violation had occurred, the judge could revoke Lohan’s bail and send her to jail.

Under California Penal Code § 1269b, the judge has discretionary authority to fix the bail amount for the defendant who has appeared before the court. Once the defendant has paid the bail, he/she shall be discharged from custody. If, however, the defendant fails to appear before the court or violates the bail provisions, the court may declare that the defendant has forfeited his/her bail. They may also issue a bench warrant for the defendant’s arrest and set a new bail at a higher amount.

If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges, it is important to be properly represented in a court of law. With over 30 years of experience, the attorneys at Wallin & Klarich understand the criminal legal system and can effectively defend your case. Our attorneys will raise every possible defense on your behalf to afford you the best possible outcome. Call us today at (888) 749-0034 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (888) 749-0034      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (888) 749-0034      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or visit us online at www.wklaw.com. We will be there when you call.

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Brittany Deanne Schuetz, 21, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for the DUI murder of April Junhee Whang, a 26-year-old Fullerton woman in 2009. Schuetz had previously been convicted of drunk driving in 2007 and had completed subsequent alcohol education programs.

On New Year’s Eve 2009, Schuetz sped through a red light and struck Whang’s car, killing her instantly. When police arrived, they reported the smell of alcohol on Scheutz’s breath. They also noticed bloodshot and watery eyes. Her blood alcohol content was measured as 0.24, three times the legal limit. Earlier that evening, Schuetz had consumed alcohol at a party and was driven to her car. Schuetz then got into her car and drove home, ignoring her friends’ please to not drive. Because of this, Schuetz was convicted of second-degree murder in February under the legal theory that she knew driving under the influence was dangerous to life because of her prior drunk driving conviction but did it anyway.

Under the California Vehicle Code 23152, it is illegal to drive a vehicle while under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or any combination thereof. It is also illegal under this section to drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or more. In most DUI cases, the judge and prosecuting attorney are much more likely to increase punishment when there is an accident involved. The punishment is also likely to be more severe when there is significant damage done or when a work-related vehicle is involved.

If you or a loved one have been arrested for DUI, you should speak with a DUI attorney as soon as possible. An experienced DUI defense lawyer can provide you with the best advice on how to proceed with your case and present the best defense. At Wallin & Klarich, we have represented people accused of DUI for over 30 years. Call us at 888-280-6839 or visit us at www.wklaw.com. We will be there when you call.

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California’s Prop. 36 allows nonviolent drug offenders to participate in treatment programs rather than go to jail. Eligible defendants plead guilty to the underlying drug charge, and are then placed on probation and ordered to complete an outpatient program. If they do so, and comply with the terms of probation, the drug case is ultimately dismissed. But eligibility for Prop. 36 is laced with restrictions, one of which pertains to DUI charges. A person charged in the same complaint with both a nonviolent drug offense and a DUI offense does not qualify.

The restriction stems from language in Prop. 36 itself that excludes “any defendant convicted, in the same case, of any misdemeanor not related to drugs or any other felony that is not a nonviolent drug possession offense.” The California Supreme Court has found “misdemeanor not related to drugs” charges to include DUI charges.

Suppose, for example, that a potential defendant gets pulled over for weaving (a typical reason for a DUI stop) and the cop finds a small amount of cocaine in his car. Normally, he would qualify for Prop. 36, but if he’s also charged with DUI he will not qualify for Prop. 36. This will be the case unless the prosecuting attorney drops the DUI, or the defendant goes to trial and wins on the DUI charge.

This “DUI exclusion” is unfortunate. DUI suspects, who also possess or are under the influence of drugs, probably need treatment as much as anyone, if not more so. Denying them the benefit of Prop. 36 defeats the policy goals and ultimately hurts everyone.

If you, or a loved one, are charged with a DUI, or a DUI and possession of drugs, it is important that you contact an experienced California DUI defense attorney who can provide assistance in protecting your rights. The experienced attorneys at Wallin & Klarich can provide such assistance in your time of need. Please call us at 1-888-764-2615 or visit us online at wklawdui.com.  We can help you.

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