There are a number of ways that a law enforcement officer can come into contact with a driver, including a traffic stop, following an accident, and at a DUI checkpoint.  Our previous blog post "What Leads To a DUI Investigation?" discussed this issue.  Let's assume that the initial encounter betw...

Many people that are arrested for DUI are often confused, overwhelmed, and, sometimes, scared.  What happens next? and What should I do now? are two questions that we are frequently asked.  To make matters worse, there is frequently a substantial amount of time that may pass from the date of ...

Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) are used by law enforcement officers as an investigative tool to determine whether a driver is drunk or impaired in some manner.  SFST's are usually requested by the officer if the officer smells alcohol or observes some objective symptoms that the driver ...

California DUI penalties in criminal cases depend on how many prior offenses a person has and whether there were any aggravating factors in the case.  Aggravating factors can best be described as "any fact or circumstance that increases the severity or culpability of a criminal act."  In DUI case...

A person convicted of 3rd offense DUI faces 120 days minimum in county jail.  A person convicted of a felony DUI could be sentenced to years in prison.  A good DUI Lawyer will discuss alternative sentencing options with the prosecutor and Judge.  One such option may be for the client to serve his...

If you are arrested for DUI the officers are required by California law to serve a notice of driving privilege suspension/revocation order if the arrested driver does any of the following: 1) submits to a breath test with the results showing .08 or higher ...

Technology is beginning to play an important part in DUI investigations.  Many law enforcement officers have dashcam videos in their patrol vehicles.  The California Highway Patrol calls them MVARS, short for Mobile Video Audio Recording System.  The Los Angeles Police Department refers to them...

A commercial drivers license is required to operate commercial or heavy vehicles. A commercial vehicle is any type of motor vehicle used for transporting goods or paid paid passengers.  California DUI laws for commercial drivers are strict.  The legal limit for a driver operating a commercial ve...

As we have discussed previously on our blog, law enforcement officers need reasonable suspicion to initiate a traffic stop upon a vehicle.  A driver who was speeding, weaving between lanes, rolling through a stop light or sign, driving with expired registration, talking on a cell phone, or textin...

The Metropolitan Courthouse, commonly known around Los Angeles as simply Metro, located at 1945 S. Hill Street in Los Angeles, is where the Los Angeles City Attorney prosecutes misdemeanor DUI cases where the arrests occurred in Central Los Angeles, including downtown Los Angeles, Chinatown, Ec...

In our last blog post, we provided an introduction to DUI sobriety checkpoints and the Ingersoll guidelines that govern their implementation.  To recap, the following guidelines should be followed for a valid DUI checkpoint: 1.  Decision making by supervising officers; 2.  Limits on the discret...

DUI checkpoints, also known as sobriety checkpoints or DUI sobriety checkpoints, are locations where law enforcement officers are stationed to check drivers for signs of intoxication or impairment.  Law enforcement agencies use DUI checkpoints as part of their campaigns to deter drunk driving.  T...

If you are convicted of Driving Under the Influence you will will likely be placed on probation.  If it is a misdemeanor offense it will be informal, or summary probation.  This means that you do not have to report to a probation officer or the Los Angeles County Probation Department.  If you wer...

If you are placed under arrest for suspicion of Driving Under the Influence, California's implied consent law requires you to submit to a breath or blood test to determine your blood alcohol content ("BAC").  If you select a breath test but the officer also suspects that you are under the influen...

The days following an arrest for Driving Under the Influence can be overwhelming and frightening, especially for those who have just been arrested for the first time.  To add more stress to the situation, you may start receiving phone calls and letters from insurance companies and companies that ...

Red light camera tickets are issued based on photographic evidence, which can make it difficult to dispute the ticket.  However, you may still be able to challenge the ticket if you have a valid defense. Here are some possible defenses that a good Los Angeles traffic ticket attorney will look at...

The city of Beverly Hills runs a very active red light camera program.  These photographic devices are also known as "automated enforcement systems" and are allowed under California law.  These devices are usually located on traffic signals at intersections.  They consist of a camera which is tri...

When you face DUI charges, breath and blood tests are key pieces of evidence that the prosecutor will you against you. These tests measure your blood alcohol level.  Knowing how these tests work is vital for your defense. Many people don't know that these tests can be wrong.  Breath and blood te...

A traffic ticket lawyer can potentially help you fight a traffic ticket in court and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.  However, it is important to note that there are no guarantees, as the final decision ultimately rests with the traffic court judge or commissioner. Here are a few w...

When you face a DUI charge in Los Angeles, having a good lawyer can really help.  DUI lawyers know a lot about the complex nature of California's DUI laws.  They understand the legal process and can help you through it.  If you have been arrested for DUI in Los Angeles, call our office today at (...

Getting a DUI in Los Angeles means you'll likely be arrested and held by the police.  It's a scary situation.  Prosecutors often push hard for DUI convictions.  You could face thousands of dollars in fines and fees. The court might also add extra costs.  A DUI conviction could even mean jail time...

The holidays are a time for vacations, celebrations, work parties, and family gatherings.  Unfortunately, many of these celebrations involve the consumption of alcohol, which means that the holiday season also sees a rise in DUI-related crashes, leading to preventable holiday accidents.  Law enfo...

Understanding California's drunk driving laws is tough. But knowing the penalties is key for drivers. The Golden State has different penalties for driving under the influence (DUI), based on the blood alcohol content (BAC) level, past crimes, and if injuries happened. Most DUIs in California are...

An arrest for driving under the influence is a very traumatic experience for many.  The most important thing to do after this happens is to keep calm.  You are not alone.  The first thing you should do is reach out to a Los Angeles DUI lawyer and explain what happened.  Berglund Law Office, P.C. ...

Many DUI cases are filed at the Metropolitan Courthouse, commonly referred to as the "Metro" court, is located at 1945 South Hill Street in the city of Los Angeles.  The Metro Court is known for having a very high volume of DUI cases in Los Angeles.  This is due, in part, to the large jurisdictio...