Bay Area Criminal Defense Blog

Package delivery service drivers are under a time crunch to get their packages delivered to waiting customers. Some drivers may be going over the speed limit, rolling through stop signs, or taking chances on the road to empty their delivery truck on time. However, in some cases, the drivers are b...

As more and more states pass legislation to allow the use of recreational marijuana, lawmakers are looking to make it easier for law enforcement to do roadside tests for the presence of marijuana in a driver's body. While many groups have been working on technology to make the test both portable ...

The penalties for a drunk driving conviction depend on where you were arrested. Each state has their own DUI laws and penalties. However, even in California the penalty you receive could depend on the county where you were pulled over. Under a California pilot program, some drivers required an ig...

Most people see the possibility of jail time as a real deterrent. Spending time behind bars forces you into cramped quarters with other people you may not get along with. It also separates you from friends and family. However, for some individuals, immediately after being released from prison, th...

Even though a DUI can occur any time of day or night, they often occur from early evening on into the early morning hours. There are increased DUI arrests during the weekend, and on certain holidays. While most DUIs here in the East Bay involve drivers behind the wheel of a car or truck, occasion...

Residential burglaries are on the rise in parts of the East Bay. In Dublin, police believe the increase in area burglaries is the work of out-of-town thieves and gang members. Dublin's reported home burglaries in the month of March increased 400% over last year. Police are now looking to other ar...

Drinking and driving can lead to a criminal record for anyone arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. However, under California law, it is a violation to be driving while impaired by any substance, including marijuana, prescription medication, and even toxic fumes. For drivers arrest...

Troy Smith had a 4-year career with the National Football League, playing his final NFL games with the San Francisco 49ers. On October 27, 2010, he became the first black quarterback to start for San Francisco, in a victory over the Denver Broncos. Unfortunately, the football star most recently m...

Across the country, states are changing their position on marijuana as a drug. Nearly half of all states have decriminalized marijuana for medical use, with California becoming the first. More states are joining Colorado and Washington to decriminalize recreational pot use. California may decide ...

It is not uncommon to feel drowsy during work hours. After the effects of a morning cup of coffee have worn off, some people even find themselves dozing off at work. Whether it was due to late night partying, cold medication, or simple boredom at work, it can be embarrassing to be caught asleep o...

Every year, police make more than 150,000 DUI arrests in California. The vast majority of those are misdemeanor drunk driving arrests, and result in fines, fees, DUI school, probation, and sometimes an ignition interlock device. However, sometimes driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs c...

While the rate of drinking and driving is on the decline across the country, driving under the influence of drugs may be on the increase. Drugged driving does not only involve illicit drugs like heroin or methamphetamines. Under California law, a driver can be arrested for impaired driving under ...

Many people have anxiety about flying. Although it is reportedly one of the safest forms of transportation, high-profile cases of terrorism, equipment failure, and unexplained crashes make many people apprehensive about buckling in for a flight. After a recent report of a pilot arrested for being...

For anyone who has been pulled over by police officers here in the East Bay, they do a pretty good job of making you feel guilty, even if you haven't done anything wrong. If you end up under arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence, many police officers show few signs of understanding o...

Spring break for thousands of East Bay students is almost here. It is not only a time to take a break from classes and studying. For many students spring break is a time to let loose, hitting popular party locations like Lake Tahoe, Lake Havasu, or San Diego. While celebrating with other young pe...

In most drunk driving cases, the police rely on a combination of chemical tests, observations of the driver, field sobriety tests, and in some cases, on self-incriminating statements. However, few things could provide the police and prosecutors such strong evidence as a driver recording their own...

For people who enjoy festive holidays with raucous parties, St. Patrick's Day is a great time to wear your green and enjoy drinks with friends. St. Patrick's is also notorious for early and all-day drinking that can lead to problems, especially when revellers do not plan ahead to make sure they h...

If a car dealership hands over the keys to a driver who later gets into an alcohol-related accident, can the dealership be held responsible? Warren Smale was a 43-year-old car salesman for CarMax dealership in Ontario, California. Alex Mark Demetro, a 28-year-old man came into the dealership to ...

Since the early 1990s, news outlets have been reporting on the spike in domestic violence that accompanies the Super Bowl each year. The increased profile of domestic violence among professional football players in recent years may have helped to fuel this story. However, it appears that the rumo...

When breaking and entering into a building to commit a theft, most burglars are looking for valuable goods that they can easily exchange for cash, including laptop computers, jewelry, and prescription medications. However, some burglars end up taking other items that they may use in other ways in...

While the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has reported a continued decline in Northern California bank robberies, a number of recent incidents shows that banks are still a tempting target for people looking to get rich quick. Over the last few months, dozens of bank robberies have taken pl...

With almost half of all states legalizing medical marijuana, and more states joining the list permitting recreational marijuana, it seems like the outdated stigma of the drug is wearing off. However, just because you have a medical marijuana card does not mean that the police can't arrest your fo...

There have been a number of headlines recently about the decline in drunk driving rates. However, it is troubling to see the rising number of drunk driving incidents and serious injuries on golf carts and other motorized vehicles. According to Golf Digest, an internet search of “golf+cart+alcohol...

Here in California, we have all scene breaking news helicopter footage following a suspected stolen car chase. Eventually, the fleeing vehicle may crash, and the driver will take off on foot, as the camera follows from above, until the suspect is taken into custody. However, running from the poli...

The Golden State Warriors sit atop the National Basketball Association (NBA) leaderboard, thanks not only to star players Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, but due to contributions from all the players on the team. When a player gets in trouble with the law, they may find themselves facing a susp...