Bay Area Criminal Defense Blog

When local police announce a planned sobriety checkpoint, most residents expect to hear about a number of arrests the following day. Sobriety checkpoints often identify drivers who may be under the influence, as well as drivers without a valid license or insurance. However, in some cases, DUI che...

In the past, people would expect packages to arrive around the holidays, as family members sent gifts from across the country. These days, some people do a majority of their shopping online. This can mean multiple deliveries per week of everything ranging from computers, smartphones, and even dia...

People from all walks of life can be arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Law enforcement officers and their family members should be well aware of what police look for when pulling over a suspected drunk driver. However, police officers and their family members are still...

Anyone who has been arrested for drinking and driving in California will tell you what a nightmare it can be. It may include a night in jail, the loss of your driver's license, and having to tell your friends and family that you were arrested for drunk driving. However, a nationwide review of DUI...

Anyone familiar with California's harsh DUI laws may expect some pretty stiff penalties. This includes thousands of dollars in fines and fees, a suspended license, DUI school, and in some cases, an ignition interlock device. However, a woman recently arrested on suspicion of drunk driving has als...

For many Californians, the Labor Day holiday marks the end of the summer. It is also a peak period for drunk driving arrests. This year was no different, as more than 2,000 people were arrested on suspicion for driving under the influence in California over the Labor Day weekend. According to th...

A drunk driving arrest can result in a number of potential consequences. For most drivers, the immediate penalties of a conviction include losing their license, expensive fines and fees, and a criminal sentence. However, for some individuals, the penalties include losing their job. A number of be...

Traffic in the East Bay is bad enough. When police set up a sobriety checkpoint, it can make traffic even more frustrating. However, for driver's who might have had a couple of drinks before driving home, a DUI checkpoint is not only inconvenient, it might land them in jail. DUI checkpoints allow...

People come to rely on their smartphones more and more in their daily lives. Phones help people keeping in contact with friends, look up restaurant reviews, and take selfies. For some people, losing their phone can seem like a disaster. However, when someone drops their phone at the scene of a cr...

UC Berkeley is a prestigious university, known for a lot of number-one-rankings. For a couple of years, US News ranked Berkeley as the top public university in the country. Unfortunately, Berkeley has some less prestigious rankings as well. Cal has recently been named as the top UC school when it...

Shoplifting often involves people taking small items of moderate value without paying for them. Most people consider shoplifting to be a relatively minor crime. When individuals are caught for shoplifting small items, the store owner may even let them go with a warning. If the police are called, ...

When a driver sees flashing red and blue lights in their rearview mirror, panic can set in. Even if a driver thinks they have done nothing wrong, they may worry about why they are being pulled over. For drivers that have had a few drinks, they may worry that a traffic stop will lead to a drunk dr...

It has been almost 6 months since Peyton Manning and the Denver Bronco's won Super Bowl 50. In a couple of weeks, a new NFL season will start up again. During that break, many players enjoyed their time off the field, spending time with their families. However, other players got busted for drinki...

After a couple of drinks, many drivers may feel fine to drive home. Even if they are driving safely, seeing flashing lights in the rear-view mirror may trigger a panic response. The driver may worry that they will be arrested for a DUI, which will turn their life upside down. However, in some cas...

Innocent people are accused of crimes all the time. Unfortunately, it often comes down to a question of “he said, she said.” However, after a former police officer was suspected of making up a story about a non-existent shooting suspect, the officer is now facing criminal charges of her own. In ...

When a person is arrested for drinking and driving, most people take the side of the police department. They believe the suspect was, in fact, driving under the influence before the individual ever gets the chance to have their day in court. A DUI suspect can have their life turned upside down, e...

Over summer, thousands of college students return home after another university year ends. Whether they are returning from their freshman, sophomore, or junior year, they have learned a lot over the past year and had some new experiences as they grow into adults. For many students, college marks ...

When the police find some unknown substance in an individual's pocket, they may test to see whether that substance is an illegal drug. They may use a field drug kit, adding the substance to a pouch and shaking it up to reveal an illegal narcotic. Prosecutors use this evidence to make the suspect ...

In California, if you are arrested for driving under the arrest, the police will ask you to submit to a breath or blood chemical test. If you refuse, you may lose your license for up to a year for a first-time DUI. Until a few years ago, the police could force you to give a blood sample against y...

Stealing a purse or wallet can result in petty theft charges if the property taken is valued at less than $950. However, as people increasingly rely on credit or debit cards instead of cash, individuals in receipt of stolen wallets and purses may be tempted to use stolen credit cards to get cash,...

This 4th of July marks 240 years since the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. The holiday is celebrated with parades, barbecues, picnics, and fireworks. Unfortunately, it is also a peak time for drinking and driving. Law enforcement throughout the East Bay will be stepp...

After an accident, the driver is supposed to pull over at the scene and provide their contact and insurance information. Instead, some drivers get nervous and panic, leaving the scene of the accident. However, leaving the scene of an accident can lead to criminal prosecution in California. A woma...

Most states, including California, have enhanced drunk driving penalties for higher blood alcohol content (BAC) levels. For most drivers, a BAC of 0.08% is a per se DUI violation. In California, a BAC of 0.15% or higher can lead to increased penalties. However, a court in Wyoming has voided a loc...

We all know that driving under the influence in California is a crime, with extensive penalties for a DUI conviction. A driver found guilty of drunk driving will face a suspended license, thousands in fines, DUI school, and may even have an ignition interlock device in their car. Similarly, it is...

A DUI can affect anyone. From teachers to lawyers, actors to pop stars, and even police officers and politicians can be arrested for drunk driving. In some cases, people are arrested after trying to use their political clout to avoid a DUI arrest. Unfortunately, we may only hear about the times t...