Bay Area Criminal Defense Blog

There are not as many military bases in the East Bay as in other parts of California but there are still plenty of U.S. military service members passing through the area at any given time. Lots of service members are from East Bay communities and visit family and friends when they are on leave. W...

Many people are treating life as back to normal after a couple of tough years dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. This summer, people in the East Bay are looking forward to enjoying summertime activities, like outdoor festivals, backyard barbecues, and road trips across the state. One of the firs...

Local residents who are familiar with the neighborhoods of Oakland usually know which streets may be best to avoid at certain times of the day. However, drunk driving arrests can happen anywhere this is a road. DUI traffic stops do happen more often at certain times of the day and on certain days...

A conviction for domestic violence in California can have more serious penalties than a conviction for battery against a stranger. Domestic violence involves violence between people in a close personal relationship. Additional penalties for a DV conviction in California may include restrictions o...

In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, drunk driving accidents dried up when most people had no need to get in their cars except for necessities. The early COVID days also saw increased alcohol consumption in many communities. However, as the world begins to reopen, the combination of mor...

Serving time in jail can be very disruptive to your life. Even a short jail sentence may cause problems with your employment, education, and family life. With a jail sentence, you may be unable to earn an income, which can compound the problems and make it more difficult to get back to a normal l...

The penalties for a California DUI can be harsh. In addition to fines, loss of your license, and DUI school, there is a possibility of jail time. Minimum jail time increases for each additional drunk driving conviction. The good news is that you may be able to avoid jail time if your East Bay DUI...

Up until a few years ago, all states in the U.S., including California, had the same blood alcohol limit for drunk driving violations. Drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher were per se in violation of the law and could be arrested for a DUI. However, back in 2018, Ut...

The penalties for a DUI increase with each additional drunk driving charge. After a first-time arrest for a DUI, most drivers can avoid the minimum 48-hour jail time with community service and probation. However, the mandatory jail time for a 2nd or 3rd DUI can mean jail time that could seriously...

When thinking about extradition, it brings to mind high-level drug lords like Pablo Escobar or Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. Other famous extradition cases involve people who remain abroad, like Julian Assange for sexual assault charges in Sweden or Edward Snowden for espionage charges in the U.S. H...

Every year sees new laws going into effect as of January 1. This year, there were quite a few new laws that went into effect, including new criminal law changes and new traffic laws. Some cities and municipalities around the East Bay also had changes to their community regulations. Here are some ...

Another summer comes to a close in the East Bay. For many, Labor Day represents the end of the summer break, when kids go back to school, college is back in session, and the weather starts to turn cooler and cloudier. It also marks the end of the so-called 100 deadly days of summer, with increase...

It is a violation of California's vehicle laws to  drive under the influence of alcohol (DUI). Under current laws, it is not a defense to drunk driving charges just because the driver is using a vehicle's autopilot or self-driving feature. A driver in California was recently arrested and charged ...

The proposed $1 trillion infrastructure bill has a requirement for new vehicles to be equipped with a drunk-driving detection system. Impaired driving technology can monitor the driver and vehicle for drivers that may be impaired, tired, or distracted. However, some people are concerned about the...

In December 2018, Utah became the first state to lower the per se drunk driving limit to 0.05% from 0.08%. Like all other states, the per se threshold for blood alcohol content (BAC) in California is 0.08%. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended lowering the per se BAC li...

Driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) can be fatal. Impaired drivers have a greater risk of getting into an accident and causing serious or fatal injuries. A fatal car accident is a tragedy but the driver never intended to hurt anyone. However, if the driver had a prior drunk driving convi...

Many Amazon employees report feeling the pressures of performing on the job, with limited break opportunities, fast-paced expectations, and high pressure. When some people are stressed at home or at work, they may turn to chemical substances to unwind. When the job involves delivery driving, usin...

College students often come home after finals to spend the summer hanging out with friends or working a summer job. Many university students may have stayed home most of last year, taking classes online. However, now that the COVID-19 restrictions are lifting in California, young people are looki...

Memorial Day is the beginning of “100 Deadly Days of Summer.” According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), there are a number of days during the summer that have higher than normal rates of impaired driving accidents. Generally, the summer drunk driving arrests begin with Memorial Day and e...

Law enforcement officers often try to expand their search and seizure authority. When someone's rights have been violated, the victim may have to challenge the search in court, to hold the police accountable for their actions. A recent Supreme Court ruling found police went too far in searching a...

A lot of people are caught up in the criminal justice system after making a simple mistake. Instead of having a criminal record that may brand you for the rest of your life, some counties are offering pre-filing diversion programs. Alameda County has been granting motions for dismissal with diver...

The amount of traffic on the streets and highways in Northern California plummeted after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the area in March of 2020. Traffic has been steadily increasing since that time but is still not as high as the pre-outbreak levels. However, the rates of drunk driving arrests appea...

The state tells you that after a DUI, you need to complete an education and counseling program if you want your license back. DUI school generally requires 30 plus hours of educational classes and counseling, in-person. With so many programs shut down and in-person classes canceled in California,...

Diversion programs give individuals a second chance by dropping criminal charges if the individual completes all the requirements set by the judge. Drug diversion programs are helpful for non-violent offenders who may be better served by treatment programs than time in jail and a criminal record....

If the police suspect someone committed a misdemeanor, can the officer enter the suspect's house without a warrant? The Supreme Court recently heard a California case where an officer entered a driver's garage without a warrant because the officer believed the driver had committed a misdemeanor v...