DUI Laws in Los AngelesIn California, law makers are constantly making changes and updates to the current DUI laws. There’s a great deal of controversy concerning how DUI offenders should be punished, how evidence can be gathered for a DUI case, and how police should determine if a suspect is legally drunk. Certain non-profit organizations and political groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving are specifically known for pushing the state legislature to pass stricter DUI laws. It could be difficult to keep up with the most up to date information on the state’s DUI laws, but Los Angeles DUI defense lawyers have studied the law and are constantly aware of the new changes. If you have questions about California’s DUI laws, you can locate a Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer through FindLaw’s directory. |
In Los Angeles, there are many consequences to driving under the influence. A DUI can not only be mortifying in today's society, but it can also be very expensive. Aside from the license suspension, high fines, DUI attorney fees, and a permanent mark on your criminal record, a DUI conviction can fire back at you in the most unexpected ways, such as car insurance.
Both the State Senate and Assembly are now looking to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign AB 2486 into a law. AB 2486 would allow party hosts to be sued if they serve alcohol to a minor who is subsequently injured or killed.
AB 2486, also known as the Teen Alcohol Safety Act of 2010, was authored by Los Angeles Assemblyman Mike Feuer. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the bill passed with a 72-1 vote in the Assembly and a unanimous vote in favor of the bill in the Senate.
The Huntington Beach Police Department might soon be adopting a new policy, where people that have been accused of drunk driving will have their names posted on the police department's website. According to the Orange County Register, the listing of names is part of an effort to address the problem of drunk driving in the city.
Yet this strategy doesn't seem too popular among DUI defense lawyers. Aside from the fact that posting the names of DUI suspects may not do anything to deter drunk driving in Huntington Beach, many people feel that the listing of names can be damaging to a person's reputation.
DUI offenders convicted of driving under the influence after July 1 will be facing an additional punishment of being required to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle, even if they're a first-time DUI offender.
Los Angeles County is one of four California counties participating in the five-year pilot program through Assembly Bill 91, where courts mandate the installation of ignition interlocks for five months with first time DUI offenders, 12 months for two-time DUI offenders, and 24 months for a third drunk driving offense. The program may turn into a law across the state, as the state Legislature will be evaluating the effectiveness of the Assembly Bill 91 program in 2015.
So perhaps you've had a few drinks at a bar, and you're smart enough to decide not to drive home under the influence. Thinking of an alternative way to get home, you remember that your bicycle is also parked outside and you decide to mount the two-wheeler and journey off into the distance.
You may think that this is a clever way to avoid a DUI, but in fact, you're also committing a crime by biking home drunk. That's right, you may not have realized it but cycling under the influence is also illegal and can be punishable with a fine up to $250, according to USA Today.
Cycling under the influence, otherwise known as a CUI, can have detrimental consequences just like a DUI. While bicycles are not considered vehicles under California law, the state has a separate vehicle code that states it is unlawful to ride a bicycle on a highway while intoxicated. The term "highway" includes public streets but excludes driveways and private roads, according to DMV.
People in Los Angeles may love their beer pong, but one nearby city has banned the alcohol-based game in new venues.
The city of Huntington Beach actually passed a ban last week, which outlaws all alcohol-based games in new restaurants and in those establishments looking to renew entertainment permits. This means that bar hoppers will be saying good-bye to their ping pong balls and plastic red cups.
Costa Mesa City Council voted to tighten up restrictions on certain alcohol vendors yestderday in hopes of "reducing public drunkenness and nuisances," according to the Daily Pilot. Yet the efforts of Costa Mesa City Council might not be an effective means of solving the problem, nor is their any suggestion that the policies Costa Mesa City Council is enforcing, will decrease the number of DUI incidents in Orange County.
Federal and state funding provided numerous DUI checkpoints in Los Angeles County for the holiday season, in order to send the message that drunk driving is unsafe and illegal. Drivers may have expected for the checkpoints to stop after the New Year's Eve holiday weekend, but people may be surprised when they learn that California's Office of Traffic Safety is launching the most extensive extensive program in the country for 2010.
