If you ever thought that police officers and city employees were exempt from California DUI laws or received special treatment.....think again. In March 2010, there has been a rash of arrest involving police officers and a Los Angeles City Administrative Officer.
On March 27, the top budget analyst for the city of Los Angeles, City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana, was arrested by the California Highway Patrol on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Mr. Santana, who had attended a political roast of Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley hosted by the American Diabetes Association, was arrested about 12:15 a.m. in the San Gabriel Valley. A CHP officer made the traffic stop after observing Santana's car traveling at a high rate of speed on a surface street, The officer detected "signs and symptoms of intoxication" and placed Mr. Santana under arrest.
On March 24, an Anaheim police officer resigned amid a department investigation and after being charged with driving under the influence of a cocktail of prescription drugs for the third time in less than a year. Kevin Noel Schlueter, is charged in three separate cases with one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of drugs for each case. If convicted in all three cases, he faces up to two years and six months behind bars. He is accused of being under the influence of prescription drugs that impaired his ability to drive including phentermine, carisoprodol, and oxycodone.
On March 22, former Riverside Police Chief Russ Leach was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he crashed his city-owned vehicle last month after a night of drinking. The February 8 accident happened after Mr. Leach had four drinks at home and at least seven more at a strip club in Colton, according to the California Highway Patrol. The CHP said he had been taking "several" prescription medications that carried strict warnings that they not be mixed with alcohol. Mr. Leach's vehicle ran a red light -- which was caught on tape -- and struck a "low-profile object" that flattened his tires and damaged the front end of the car. He drove on the rims until coming to a stop a few miles later. His intoxication level was such that he did not realize the extent of the damage and continued driving for an extended time until he was pulled over by police officers. The Riverside County district attorney's office have filed misdemeanor charges.
On March 5, an off-duty Orange County sheriff’s deputy, who allegedly was intoxicated when he crashed his Mercedes-Benz into another vehicle and injured a passenger, had crashed 30 minutes earlier and was allowed to drive from that accident scene by fellow deputies. Sheriff’s deputies were called to a crash involving Deputy Allan James Waters, and another vehicle outside City Hall in Dana Point. Deputies took a report and permitted him to keep driving. About 30 minutes later, at 5:20 p.m., Waters crashed his Mercedes-Benz into a Toyota in Laguna Niguel, causing it to cross the center median and slam into a tree. CHP officers said Waters showed signs of being intoxicated and was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence. The department is conducting an internal investigation to determine why Waters was allowed to keep driving. The deputy will remain on leave while the investigations are conducted.
In California, people will be charged with
DUI if their BAC level reaches or exceeds .08. DUI charges can also be filed against a person who drives under the influence of drugs. This includes both illegal drugs and prescription medications. When a drug impairs a person’s ability to safely operate a vehicle, they will be charged with DUI.
People who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs not only violate the law, but they also endanger the lives of innocent people. Police take DUI offenses seriously, and will hold you accountable for a driving under the influence charge. If you have been charged with DUI in California, you could be sentenced to time in jail, fines, probation, DL suspension, impoundment of you car, mandatory alcohol treatment, DUI school, community service, and a permanent mark on your record.
If you have been charged with DUI anywhere in
Los Angeles,
San Fernando Valley,
Van Nuys,
Burbank,
Glendale,
Hollywood and
Beverly Hills, you need someone representing you who understands California DUI law, and has extensive experience defending people against DUI charges. At
Goldstein Law Group, we have been defending people charged with DUI for more than 46 years, and know how to build a strong defense against DUI charges. Attorney
Michael A. Goldstein knows many ways in which DUI charges can be negotiated down to a lesser offense, or dropped altogether. Goldstein Law Group is committed to doing whatever we can to get your charges reduced or dismissed. If your case moves to trial, we will vigorously defend you and fight hard to ensure you are not found guilty!