Phoenix DUI Abogados

When you got arrested the first time for driving under the influence in Pasadena, you wrote if off as a fluke.

Perhaps you had one too many drinks while chilling with old college friends at the Cheesecake Factory in Old Pasadena. Or maybe you had a few glasses of wine with some college professors at Caltech… and the rest is history. You got behind the wheel when you shouldn’t have driven, and you got caught and punished.

But this time is different.

Now that you’ve been arrested twice for DUI in Pasadena (or elsewhere in the Southland), you’re getting more concerned. Maybe the problem really IS you. Maybe it wasn’t a one-time thing. This scares you. After all, as much as you want to avoid penalties for recidivist DUI in Pasadena–such as jail time, forced fines and fees, mandatory interlock ignition device installation, compulsory probation, and on and on–you know that your situation could have been a lot worse.

You could have seriously hurt or even killed someone while DUI. Then you would have been charged with a much more serious crime, such as vehicular homicide or even DUI murder because of your past criminal history.

It’s easy to beat yourself up.

And the very fact that you’re taking time to read this article and reflect on what you did (and why you did it)…that’s a very positive sign. But you now need to translate this concern into effective, positive action, not only so that you avoid punishment–or at least minimize it–but also so that you better fulfill your responsibilities as a driver and as a citizen of Southern California.

Often, the root cause of why we behave in certain ways is difficult to identify.

For instance, you might blame your DUI problems on your impetuous nature–your natural devil-may-care attitude. But other psychological “stuff’ could be going on below the surface, breeding problems and stirring up trouble. For instance, maybe you were recently fired or divorced. The stress is driving you to self-medicate through drugs or alcohol. Unless and until you deal with that underlying emotional hurt in a constructive fashion, you might continue to feel helpless and use an element, like alcohol, to manage your pain.

Don’t expect to solve your psychological puzzle in a single day. But do put some awareness on the problem. Strive to be compassionate with yourself–to treat yourself as a human being with legitimate needs. At the same time, do everything you can to avoid getting into a similar situation in the future. Recidivist Pasadena DUI offenders face extended jail time, fees, fines, and dire consequences for your license, insurance, and reputation.

You should also consider getting in touch with an experienced Pasadena DUI criminal defense attorney at the Kraut Law Group. Attorney Kraut is a highly respected, well connected DUI lawyer who worked well over a decade as a prosecutor before turning his attention to criminal cases. He and his team can help you unpack what’s gone wrong and figure out effective solutions.

HB 1114 Unanimously Approved by House Judiciary Committee.

On Tuesday, February 26, the House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved House Bill 1114, which would establish limits to infer impairment for a person driving with THC in their system.

Under current Colorado law, it is already illegal for a person to drive while high or under the influence of marijuana. However, prosecutors must prove in court that the driver was actually affected, usually by reference to the observed driving and performance of roadside tests. No particular THC level is required for a conviction. As a procedural matter, HB 1114 would assist prosecutors obtain convictions for any person driving with a THC level of five nanograms or more of THC in their system without having to prove that the driver was actually affected, although the driver could still present the jury with evidence that he or she was not affected. In essence, HB 1114 would allow the prosecutors to argue that a jury may infer that a driver was impaired when the presumptive limit was reached or exceeded.

The statement released on Tuesday by House Republicans Communications Director Justin Miller states as follows:

The House Judiciary Committee gave their approval to House Bill 1114 today, which establishes limits for people driving under the influence of marijuana. The bipartisan measure is sponsored by House Minority Leader Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs, and state Rep. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora. This is the third consecutive year Waller has introduced legislation that would create limits for drivers under the influence of marijuana.

“We can’t kick this can down the road any longer,” Waller said. “It’s high time we give law enforcement the tools they need to ensure the safety of our roads.”

Similar to blood alcohol limits for drunk drivers, under HB 1114, a driver in Colorado will be considered under the influence of marijuana if five or more nanograms of delta-9-THC is present in a milliliter of whole blood. Delta-9-THC is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that renders a driver impaired after consumption.

Unlike limits on blood alcohol content, however, a driver who reaches the five nanogram limit can argue in court that he or she is unimpaired at five nanograms because of their tolerance, size or other contributing factor. This “permissive inference” helps address the concerns of medical marijuana users who are chronically above five nanograms but function as if they were sober.

In 2011 alone, 13 percent of deadly crashes in Colorado involved marijuana. The number of marijuana users in Colorado is also expected to increase after voters legalized the recreational use of cannabis last November. As such, lawmakers in Colorado have felt a growing sense of urgency to create a standard that determines when a person may be impaired by the use of marijuana.

“This is a public safety issue,” Waller added. “It is never ok to get behind the wheel and put citizens’ lives at risk. This bill will make people think twice about doing that.”

The Bill now goes to the House Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

The post Pot Driving Limits One Step Closer to Becoming Colorado Law appeared first on My Denver DUI Lawyer.

The City of Vallejo Police Department will be conducting a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint tonight, March 1, 2013. The drunk driving checkpoint take place from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. Vallejo police have not disclosed the location of the checkpoint.

California drivers caught driving under the influence can face punishment including possible jail time and the suspension of their driving privilege. Moreover, drunk drivers face insurance increases, fines, fees, and attendance at DUI school.