Fullerton Lawyer for DUI Cases

Individuals arrested in Fullerton for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) may not only face criminal charges in a court of law, but also civil actions initiated by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Being a college town, Fullerton Police will often set up DUI checkpoints, and if you're caught driving and drinking, you will need a reputable Orange County criminal defense attorney like Ms. Johnson-Norris to defend you.

A DUI (driving under the influence), otherwise known as “drunk driving”, refers to the operation of a motor vehicle while the operator is under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs with their ability to drive safely being in question.. An example of this crime would be a person going to a bar in order to have a few drinks. After leaving the bar, on their way home, they are stopped by an officer for running a red light. The officer approaches them, only to notice the smell of alcohol on their breath, prompting the officer to give that person a breathalyzer test. The test reports that the person’s BAC is above the legal limit in their state and that person would be arrested.

Vehicle code 23152(b) states that it is against the law to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or greater. A person arrested for drunk driving will be charged with both Driving Under the Influence and with California's 'Per Se' law, which calls for the suspension of your driving privileges. Upon conviction, you might face a number of penalties, including a hefty fine, a lengthy license suspension and spend an unpleasant amount of time in jail. You many also have to attend DUI School, perform community service and have a vehicle ignition device installed that requires you to perform a breathalyzer each time you attempt to start your car.

Fullerton DUI attorney Ms. Johnson-Norris knows that an arrest for driving under the influence can be a harrowing experience, and that your freedom and ability to make a living may be at stake. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to challenge a drunken driving arrest.

A common defense for the crime is that the operator was not under the influence, even if their BAC (blood alcohol content) was at or over 0.08%. For example, one could argue that the operator, who may or may not possess a BAC of over 0.08%, may not be guilty of a DUI, based on impairment because of the lack of evidence that their drinking affected their driving. Also, because of the “Zero Tolerance” law for drivers under the age of 21, drivers that have a BAC of anything over 0.01 will be charged with drunk driving.

Ms. Johnson-Norris is knowledgeable about all facets of the DUI laws in California, and has the know how to beat a DUI charge. If you have received charged for driving under the influence of alcohol, call the Johnson Criminal Law Group right away at (949) 622-5522 to defend your rights.