Bay Area Criminal Defense Blog

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...

Over the past year, police departments have noticed an uptick in automobile burglaries. From Brentwood, to Oakley, to Pittsburg, local police logs have shown burglaries involving automobiles on the rise across the East Bay. This appears to match the trend in San Francisco, which has the highest r...

Candice Ooley, 23-years-old of Clovis, California, was driving her White Chevy Cruze on a Friday night down Highway 41 in Madera County. Ooley was 6 months pregnant at the time, and also under the influence of alcohol. Ooley was traveling at a high rate of speed, according to the California Highw...

A conviction for driving under the influence can lead to a suspended license and thousands of dollars in fines and fees. However, even if no one was injured, driving under the influence with a child passenger can lead to child endangerment charges. A DUI conviction with a passenger in the car und...

Mail theft in the East Bay and throughout California has been on the rise in recent years. This could involve people taking packages to sell whatever products were inside. It also often involves identity theft, using the information found in the mail to purchase goods, apply for services, or cash...

Memorial Day welcomes a three-day weekend and signals the beginning of summer. Many people get the day off of work, and the post office and county courthouses will be closed in honor of those who died in military service. However, not all government employees will be taking the day off. Across th...

When police suspect a driver may have been drinking, they can ask them to take a preliminary alcohol screening test (PAS), sometimes called a breathalyzer. If arrested for drunk driving, drivers are required to submit to a chemical test or lose their license for a year. California is also working...

Many of us know someone who has had a bad run-in with the police. Even if they weren't doing anything wrong, the police may have gone too far, making them feel like criminals. You have the constitutional right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure. The police also have rules they are su...

Drunk driving arrests can affect anyone. Every day, lawyers, teachers, and even Hollywood actors get arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. In some cases, those actors have played roles that make it especially ironic when they are pulled over and taken to jail on suspicion of drunk d...

After someone has a few too many drinks, it can be difficult to convince them that they've had enough. It may take until the next day when a hangover takes hold they admit that they had too much to drink. Having too much to drink may not be a big deal if the individual has a safe place to sleep o...

As more and more people become continuously connected to the internet through social media and live streaming sites, they may find themselves exposed doing things they don't want the world to see. Unfortunately for them, it can be almost impossible to take something back once it has been released...

Scared straight programs are intended to show individuals the dramatic consequences of drunk driving. This could include staging a fake accident scene, having family members talk about losing a loved one, or even a visit to the local morgue, to see the most extreme examples of what can happen aft...