San Diego DUI Lawyer Blog

Former “Prison Break” actor Lane Garrison is scheduled to be released from prison early because of credits earned while incarcerated for driving under the influence.

Garrison who is now 28 pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter, felony DUI with bodily injury and one misdemeanor count of providing alcohol to a minor, in a 2006 DUI crash that killed a 17-year-old boy and injured two 15 year-old teenagers.

The drunk driver was sentenced to 40 months in prison. According to a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation rep Terry Thornton, “We can confirm that he is going to be released to parole soon, but it is our policy not to disclose the inmate’s scheduled date for release date for security and safety reasons.

“He was sentenced to three years and four months, but inmates including Mr. Garrison, can earn credits that reduce the time they spend in prison. He received half time-meaning that for every day that he participated in a rehabilitative program, he got a day off his sentence,” said Thornton.

Driving Under the Influence in San Diego County

With young Hollywood getting DUI’s and the attention it receives from other motorists. Driving under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug in California is still against the law.

If you have 0.08 percent or more by weight, of alcohol in your blood, you will be charged with a DUI if apprehended. You could be facing fines and jail time if convicted.

Lane Garrison To Be Released From Prison Early, AHN News, April 24, 2009

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California DMV guidelines about DUI

Continue reading " Lane Garrison Incarcerated for DUI Being Released Early " »

A San Diego man suspected of driving under the influence is responsible for a number of hit-and- run crashes before running head-on into a vehicle in the Jamacha area injuring two women and himself, according to the San Diego Police.

The accident happened about 8:20 p.m. in the 8600 block of San Vicente Street when the suspected DUI driver, 38 apparently missed a curve in the road and drove directly into the path of an oncoming vehicle, crashing, sending him and two women, 41 and 58 to the hospital, said San Diego Police Sgt. David Jennings.

The drunk driver was taken to the hospital with possible internal injuries. The driver of the other vehicle was hospitalized with a fractured foot and her 41- year old passenger with neck injuries.

Driving Under the Influence in San Diego County

With young Hollywood getting DUI’s and the attention it receives from other motorists. Driving under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug in California is still against the law.

If you have 0.08 percent or more by weight, of alcohol in your blood, you will be charged with a DUI if apprehended. You could be facing fines and jail time if convicted.

Suspected DUI Hit-And-Run Spree Ends In Crash, 10 News.com, April 27, 2009

Suspected Drunk Driver Blamed for Hit-and-Run Crashes, San Diego 6 The CW, April 27, 2009

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California DMV guidelines about DUI

Continue reading " San Diego Man Suspected of DUI Causes Several Hit and Run Crashes " »

A man suspected of DUI crashed the vehicle he was driving into two parked cars in the driveway of a Mission Hills home early Thursday morning, escaped serious injury.

The incident happened in the driveway of a house in the 2400 block of Arista Street, when the sedan of the suspected drunk driver crashed into two parked cars around 4:00 a.m., said San Diego Police Sgt. Ramona Hastings.

Police say the sedan was traveling at least 60 mph when it crashed into the vehicles.

According to the owner of the home “I saw a young man laying on the ground curled up bleeding badly and I heard someone in the background just yelling you’re gonna be ok, you’re gonna be ok, and I told them I was calling 911. I ran in the house and called 911 and then I got the family together. We came around the front of the house and by the time I got around the front of the house they were gone,” said Greg Davis.

The man suspected of driving under the influence and his passenger were staying at a friend’s house down the street, when they decided to take the Hyundai out for a “joyride.” The car is owned by the stepfather of the friend who was on his honeymoon at the time.

The two men were taken to the hospital with injuries, but remain in police custody.

Driving Under the Influence in San Diego County

In California, it is unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle while under the influence of any kind of alcoholic beverage or drug.

If you have 0.08 percent or more, by weight, blood alcohol concentration, you will be charged with DUI or driving while intoxicated if arrested. You may face a fine and jail time if convicted.

Suspected Drunk Driver Crashes Into Mission Hills Driveway, San Diego News10.com, April 23, 2009

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Continue reading " San Diego Suspected Drunk Driver Crashes into Parked Cars " »

A man suspected of drunk driving is responsible for a high speed chase with police and two separate crashes that killed one man and leaves 2 others injured.

Silvero Morales Romero, 23, of Vista was speeding and driving under the influence in his 2001 Ford Explorer just after 7:00p.m. heading south on Interstate 15 when a California Highway Patrol officer pulled him over at Rainbow Valley Road.

Romero, who was driving without a license, sped off when the CHP officer asked him for his identification. He was exceeding about 100 mph weaving in and out of lanes, said CHP officer Eric Newbury.

The suspected DUI driver crossed over the double yellow lines and crashed head-on with a 1999 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. Douglas Terry, 27, of Moreno Valley in Riverside County, was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The drunk driver continued driving the wrong way until his vehicle collided with a Ford F-150 truck driven by a 50 year-old man who suffered minor injuries as did his 43 year-old wife.

Romero’s explorer rolled down an embankment then came to a stop. He crawled out of his vehicle and fled on foot, but was only able to go about 50 feet before collapsing. His left leg was amputated below the knee in the crash.

Police arrested Romero and took him into custody where he is facing felony charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, felony evasion and hit and run.

Victim in fatal Pala crash identified as musician, student from Riverside area, Sign on San Diego, April 20, 2009

High-Speed Chase Ends With 2 Crashes, Fatality, 10 News.com, April 20, 2009

Continue reading " San Diego DUI Crash Claims the Life of One and Injures Two " »

A man was arrested for suspicion of DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter after a passenger in his car died early Saturday morning after a drunk-driving crash on Highway 78.

Lorenzo Gabriel-Lopez- Gonzalez, 45, was thrown out of a car that was driven by a drunken driver and landed in the westbound lanes of Highway 78 just west of Melrose Drive about 11:30pm.

Lopez-Gonzalez a married father was pronounced dead about 45 minutes after the DUI crash took place, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Jesus Alonzo, 26, the driver of the vehicle was brought to a hospital where he was treated for his injuries and then taken into custody by police for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

“Gross Vehicular Manslaughter while Intoxicated” carries with it a punishment of 4, 6, or 10 years in state prison.

Driving Under the Influence in San Diego

In California, it is unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle while under the influence of any kind of alcoholic beverage or drug.

One Killed In Suspected DUI Crash, 10 News.com, April 18,2009

Passenger in Drunk Driving Crash Dies; Driver Arrested for DUI, 760 KFMB, April 18,2009

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Continue reading " Oceanside Man Dies in Suspected DUI Crash " »

A man suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol is arrested for a DUI crash early Sunday morning that killed a woman, according to a California Highway Patrol officer.

The DUI driver crashed his BMW when he lost control of his car around 2:10a.m. on southbound Interstate 805, north of the 54 interchange. His car went up an embankment then flipped, back onto the traffic lanes, said Officer Brad Baehr.

A woman passenger who was riding in the front seat was ejected from the vehicle and thrown into traffic lanes.

The woman who remains unidentified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office, was then run over by a pickup truck, but was already assumed dead.

Officer Baehr said, the driver of the pickup truck momentarily stopped after he ran over the woman but then drove away. San Diego police officers want him to contact them or witnesses to provide descriptions of the driver and vehicle.

The suspected intoxicated driver of the BMW was also thrown out of the car and taken to Scripps-Mercy Hospital where he sustained moderate injuries. He was then taken into custody where he could be facing charges for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Driving Under the Influence in San Diego County

In California, it is unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle while under the influence of any kind of alcoholic beverage or drug.

If you have 0.08 percent or more, by weight, blood alcohol concentration, you will be charged with DUI or driving while intoxicated if arrested. You may face a fine and jail time if convicted.

Passenger Killed in Suspected DUI Crash on I-805, San Diego 6 The CW, April 12,2009

Woman Killed In Single-Car Crash On I-805, San Diego 10 News.com, April 12, 2009

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California DMV guidelines about DUI

Continue reading " San Diego Suspected DUI Crash on I-805 Leaves Woman Dead " »

A suspected drunk driver is responsible for killing Los Angeles pitcher Nick Ardenhart and two others on Thursday after a hit and run car accident in Fullerton.

Nick Ardenhart, 22 just finished pitching his season debut for the Angels against the Oakland Athletics throwing six scoreless innings.

At 12:30 a.m. a man suspected of driving under the influence in a red minivan, ran a red light and broadsided a silver Mitsubishi Eclipse that Ardenhart was a passenger in. The DUI driver fled the crash site on foot.

Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, of Riverside, was captured and identified by police about 30 minutes later. Gallo was driving on a suspended license for a previous drunk driving conviction.

Gallo’s blood alcohol level was “substantially over the legal limit” of .08 percent, said Lt. Kevin Hamilton.

Ardenhart was taken to the University of California, Irvine Medical Center where he died in surgery. The driver of the car Courtney Frances Stewart, 20, and Henry Nigel Pearson, another passenger in the car were pronounced dead at the scene. Jon Wilhite, 24, a forth passenger in the car was in critical condition and expected to live.

Gallo is likely to be convicted of three counts of murder, three counts of vehicular manslaughter, felony hit and run and driving under the influence.

Driving Under the Influence in San Diego County

In California, it is unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle while under the influence of any kind of alcoholic beverage or drug.

If you have 0.08 percent or more, by weight, blood alcohol concentration, you will be charged with DUI or driving while intoxicated if arrested. You may face a fine and jail time if convicted.

Angels pitcher Adenhart killed in Fullerton crash, driver arrested, Sign on San Diego, April 9, 2009

Continue reading " Suspected DUI Driver Kills Angels Pitcher Ardenhart in Crash " »

A program in Riverside County that uses an alcohol monitoring bracelet for DUI offenders appears to be an effective deterrent to consuming alcohol.

A reading is taken every half hour from the bracelet, which measures the amount of alcohol in a person’s sweat. At least once a day, the information is uploaded via modem and a case agent checks any alcohol-detection alerts.

The program is known as SCRAM, Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor Program. Linda Connelly, president and CEO of Leaders in Community said that of the 55 people enrolled in the program, about 40 percent of them represent felony driving under the influence cases. About 49 percent are on informal probation for misdemeanor cases and 11 percent are enrolled on a voluntary probation.

Kathleen Brown, a spokeswoman for Alcohol Monitoring Systems said that case agents that review the data from the ankle bracelets can tell the difference from environmental factors that have touched off a positive reading and the consumption of alcohol.

Comedian Andy Dick was ordered to wear an alcohol monitoring bracelet for one year after being sentenced to three years probation pleading guilty to misdemeanor battery and drug possession in Murrieta.

Driving Under the Influence in San Diego County

In California, it is unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle while under the influence of any kind of alcoholic beverage or drug.

If you have 0.08 percent or more, by weight, blood alcohol concentration, you will be charged with DUI or driving while intoxicated if arrested. You may face a fine and jail time if convicted.

Riverside County program lets DUI convicts prove they're staying sober, The Press Enterprise,March 29,2009

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California DMV guidelines about DUI

Continue reading " Program Lets DUI Offenders Prove They’re Staying Sober " »

A man suspected of drunk driving was taken into custody early Tuesday morning after crashing his truck through a convenience store front door, then leading police on a high speed chase.

The DUI driver pulled into a Circle K on College Boulevard about 3:20 a.m. to get gas, but the store was closed and when the clerk refused to sell him gas he drove his car through the front glass doors and then sped off.

The 33 year-old man was pulled over by police officers near Old Grove Road for driving under the influence, but as they approached his truck he drove off reaching speeds up to 90 mph and driving on the wrong side of the road at times, according to Sgt. Kelan Poorman.

As the chase continued, one of the patrol cars on pursuit crashed into a wall near Chroma Drive where the officer was taken to the hospital by helicopter and treated for minor injuries.

The man suspected of DUI, continued on SR 76, but police called off the chase for concern over public safety.

The drunken driver then took off again towards Oceanside. When officers saw him approaching Jeffries Ranch Road they laid down spike strips which he evaded and sped away again this time heading South on Interstate 5.

Police finally arrested the man about 4:20 a.m. when he stopped at a Chevron station on La Costa Avenue.

He was taken into custody on felony charges, including DUI, vandalism and evading a police officer.

Suspected DUI driver held after crash, chase, Sign on San Diego, April 7, 2009

Continue reading " Suspected DUI Driver is Arrested After High Speed Chase " »

Police arrest a Los Angeles Clippers player for suspected drunk driving on the southbound San Diego 405 Freeway early Monday morning.

Zack Randolph, 27, who plays for the Los Angeles Clippers was stopped by the California Highway Patrol in a white Roll Royce around 2:25am this morning because of suspected driving while intoxicated and weaving in and out of lanes.

In a statement issued by the CHP, Randolph was said to be driving “at approximately 60 miles per hour and weaving in and out of the No. 4 lane.” “Upon contacting Randolph, the officers noticed an odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from within the vehicle,” the statement continued. Officers determined that Randolph was “under the influence of alcohol,” according to the statement.

The suspected drunk driver was taken into custody for DUI. Randolph was released on $5000 bail about 9:00am this morning. He is scheduled to appear in court on April 27th.

Driving Under the Influence in San Diego County

In California, it is unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle while under the influence of any kind of alcoholic beverage or drug.

If you have 0.08 percent or more, by weight, blood alcohol concentration, you will be charged with DUI or driving while intoxicated if arrested. You may face a fine and jail time if convicted.

Driving drunk in the state of California will result in 2 cases being charged against the offender. The first charge processed will be by the DMV and another by the court system. Although, the case against the defendant by the courts contains two separate charges. According to California DUI attorneys these are known as the (a) and (b) counts (Vehicle Code 23152 (a) and (b). The defendant will only be punished once for both of the charges.

Clippers player Zack Randolph arrested in DUI, Contra Costa Times, April 6, 2009

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Continue reading " DUI Arrest for Clippers Zack Randolph on San Diego 405 Freeway " »

A Perris man suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol lost control of his SUV and caused it to roll over killing his passenger in the crash, remains in jail.

Julian Hernandez-Gomez, 29, was taken into custody Saturday night on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, DUI, and driving on a suspended license.

The suspected drunk driver lost control of his Jeep Cherokee just after 9:00p.m. on Saturday. He was heading northbound on Interstate 215 going about 50 mph when his SUV flipped over on the right shoulder south of the Ramona Expressway, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Sylvia Mosley.

The 33 year-old passenger who was from Houston, Texas was pronounced dead after paramedics arrived at the crash site. Hernandez-Gomez sustained only minor injuries. He is being held in Banning at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility without bail.

Driving Under the Influence in San Diego County

In California, it is unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle while under the influence of any kind of alcoholic beverage or drug.

Perris man suspected in DUI fatality remains in custody, Sign on San Diego, March 30,2009

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California DMV guidelines about DUI

Continue reading " Man Jailed for Suspected DUI Fatality " »

Increased DUI patrols and sobriety checkpoints will be enforced by the California Highway Patrol along State Route 67 between El Cajon and Ramona, because of a $265,000 grant from the OTS.

The grant will target high collision areas along the 25-mile highway. Many of the accidents that have occurred have been drunk driving-related. 11 people died and 65 people were injured because of accidents stemming from driving under the influence, between 2005-2007.

In the past year and a half there have been many more DUI fatalities that have occurred along State Route 67.

The $265,000 grant has been funded by the state’s Office of Traffic Safety. “The grant will pay for aggressive DUI enforcement, public education and community outreach to try to reduce DUI-involved collisions,” said CHP El Cajon Area Captain Theresa Sumprer.

The California Highway Patrol will focus their efforts on increased sobriety checkpoints and roving DUI patrols. The grant money must be spent in the next year.

Tackling drunken driving on SR-67 focus of grant, Sign on San Diego, April 2, 2009

Continue reading " CHP Plans to Use Grant For Aggressive DUI Enforcement on SR 67 " »

In Clairemont on Monday, a suspected drunk driver struck and injured a bicyclist.

The man who was driving under the influence is said to be in his 20’s was arrested and taken into custody for DUI related charges, according to san Diego police.

About 11:30 a.m. on Monday, the bicyclist was riding on Balboa Avenue near Charger Boulevard when he was hit by the intoxicated driver. He was then transported to a local hospital sustaining a chipped tooth and a cut on his forehead.

The suspected drunk driver was driving on a suspended license from a previous DUI, said police, before being taken to jail.

Driving Under the Influence in San Diego County

In California, it is unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle while under the influence of any kind of alcoholic beverage or drug.

If you have 0.08 percent or more, by weight, blood alcohol concentration, you will be charged with DUI or driving while intoxicated if arrested. You may face a fine and jail time if convicted.

Driver who hit bicyclist is suspected of drinking, Sign on San Diego, April 1,2009

Web Related Resources

California DMV guidelines about DUI

Continue reading " San Diego Man Suspected of DUI Hits Bicyclist " »