Posts Tagged ‘dui conviction’

The California implied consent law states that ” A person who drives a motor vehicle is deemed to have given his or her consent to chemical testing of his or her blood or breath for the purpose of determining the alcoholic content of his or her blood, if lawfully arrested for an offense allegedly committed in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153.” If a blood or breath test, or both, are unavailable, then a chemical test of urine will be used. Not everyone knows everything about the California implied consent law, so below you will find some important tips about chemical tests and this law.

1. You must submit to a chemical test if you are arrested

Some states across the US, including California have implied a consent law requiring drivers to submit to a chemical testing if they are arrested on suspicion of a DUI. Though field sobriety tests do not have to be taken, including a breathalyzer, if the law enforcement officer arrests you because he feels he has enough evidence to do so, you will have to submit to a chemical test or face losing your license for a year.  If this does happen to you, it’s wise to contact an experienced attorney who specializes in DUI laws.

2. You have three options of tests

Due to the California implied consent law, you are obligated to submit to one of these three tests or you could face harsh consequences. If you are subjected to chemical testing, you have the option of choosing a breath, blood, or urine test to confirm that you were under the influence of alcohol upon arrest. Usually, a breath or blood test is offered immediately following your arrest, and a urine test is usually issued as a last resort. Urine testing can prove to have many discrepancies compared to the blood or breath tests, but know that all three of these tests can be proven to be inconclusive. For this reason, it’s not a bad idea to contact a DUI lawyer like Max Gorby to fight for you and attempt to throw out the chemical tests given to you at the police station.

3. There can be harsh penalties for refusal

If you are caught but refuse to take the chemical test, there will be penalties attached to you. The minimum penalty for the first time refusal will be a minimum of a 1-year license suspension. If you have already been convicted of DUI within 10 years, your license suspension could last up to two years or more. In addition, a violation of Vehicle Code § 14905, could also cost you up to $125 in fines.

4. Sickness or Illness are no exception

The test will be taken after you are arrested by the law enforcement officer. The officer will then offer you two initial choices – a breath test or blood test. Due to medical conditions and illnesses, some people may be limited in their capacity to comply with chemical testing. People with a respiratory disorder, those who are taking the anticoagulants for heart conditions or people who have hemophilia could be exempt from taking any of the alcohol tests. This does not mean they are off the hook, however. It’s smart to consult with a knowledgeable attorney to determine the next steps to take when combating your DUI case.  

5. DUI Lawyers can help tremendously

An attorney like Max Gorby who specializes in DUI law can help you get your case reduced or dismissed regardless of what your blood alcohol content may or may not be. There are many factors that play a role in a conviction of a DUI, and with a smart attorney on your side, you can use the police officer’s tactics and protocols against them!

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5 Things to Know About Getting a Past DUI Case Expunged

Facing the consequences of a DUI conviction is a horrible feeling. No one enjoys knowing that they now have a DUI on their record. In some of the worst case scenarios, you could lose your job, create a strain on your personal life, have difficulty finding more work, or have problems getting into schools. Though some states don’t allow the DUI charges to be expunged, California does. In fact, having your criminal record expunged is important after you have finished probation, especially if you plan to continue to progress in your personal and professional lives. No one wants to have a paper trail of criminal wrongdoings on their public record, so getting a DUI expunged is a great option to try to move on with your life.  

For those that don’t know, an expungement is when you make a petition to the judge requesting the complete removal of the DUI case from your records. If the motion for the expungement is passed, your DUI will be erased from all public records. Here at the Law Offices of Max Gorby, we understand that some people make mistakes, and we will do everything in our power to help you move forward with your life after your unfortunate lapse of judgement.

1. Waiting Period

A DUI record is not very easy to be erased. Like with most cases, you have to wait once your petition has been filed in the court system.  Keep in mind that if you have the right attorney, you can expedite the process of an expungement. No one enjoys waiting for anything, but it is something we all must accept.

2. Court Priorities

Expungement cases are usually not a top priority in court due to the fact that there are much more pressing matters at hand. Requesting a mistake be erased from your past is probably not as important as most of the other cases that judges have to deal with on a daily basis. 

3. Finishing Probation

When you are convicted of a DUI, your license will be suspended for up to one year, and you will serve up to three years of probation as penance for your crime. However, as long as you have complied with the courts probationary terms from the moment you were convicted of a DUI (attended all classes, paid your fines, finished your probation, etc.), you will have a legitimate chance to get your criminal record expunged.

4. No New Crimes

A surefire way to make sure you can’t get anything expunged from your record is to continue to commit crimes. No judge in his right mind will erase a crime from the public record if you committed the same crime 3 separate times since the first one. If you happen to have a traffic violation or some kind of minor violation that has nothing to do with a DUI, it would be smart to contact an experienced attorney to make sure that blasting your music too loud in a residential area (or something of the sort) doesn’t hurt your chances of getting a DUI expunged.

5. What to Expect

The moment you hire an attorney to start working on getting your past record expunged, he will need to know a couple facts pertaining to your case. Let him know about your past conviction cases, your driving history, and whether or not you are off probation. He will ask these questions in order to determine whether you are wasting your time, his time, and the court’s time. This is yet another reason why you should hire the professional services of Max Gorby to get the results you are looking for. 

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