Defending DUI Cases

San Marcos Woman Found Guilty In Drunk Driving Trial

October 23, 2012 | The Law Offices of Susan L. Hartman

A Vista driving under the influence trial concluded with a finding for guilt on three counts of gross vehicle manslaughter this week, according to 10news.com.

San Marcos resident, Debbie Sumi, 36, was in a vehicle that crashed into the back of another car that was parked on the shoulder on westbound 78 near Sycamore Avenue in August 2010. Her blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, was reported as .27 and .28 and she was ejected from the car.

Escondido resident, Susana Orozco, 23, and Erica Oliva, 23, of Fallbrook, were standing on the side of the road by the parked car and were killed. The defendant’s fiancé, Larry Alvarez, 34, was partially ejected and also died at the scene.

Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is a felony. According to the California Criminal Jury Instructions, CALCRIM 590, in order for the jury to find a defendant guilty of this charge, the prosecutor must proof beyond a reasonable doubt:

The defendant drove while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage and/or drug;
While driving that vehicle while under the influence, the defendant also committed a misdemeanor, infraction, or an otherwise lawful act that might cause death;
The defendant committed that misdemeanor, infraction, or otherwise lawful act with gross negligence; and,
The defendant’s grossly negligent conduct caused the death of another person.

The defense argued that Alvarez was the driver of the vehicle, not Sumi. The jury did not accept this argument and they convicted her on the three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter. She is facing up to 14 years in prison when she is sentenced on January 8th.

Should I Hire A San Diego Drunk Driving Attorney To Handle My DUI?

September 28, 2012 | The Law Offices of Susan L. Hartman

When you are arrested for driving under the influence, there are three options on how you can handle the case and be represented. First, you may choose to represent yourself in court. Second, if you meet the financial qualifications, you may have a public defender appointed to represent you. And third, you may hire a private attorney to handle your DUI case.

Although a defendant has a right to represent himself or herself, it is not advisable to do so. The prosecutor and the judge will not help you through the process and they will not give you legal advice. They are interested in getting people into court to plead guilty, and to get the greatest penalty allowed under the law for the crime they believe was committed. Their caseload is full every day and they work to push the cases through the system as quickly and efficiently as possible. Meaning, they want you to plead guilty at your first appearance in court.

When you plead guilty to a DUI charge this early in the process, the prosecutor often does not turn over all the discovery to you. So, you do not know if the government can even prove their case against you.

No one should represent themselves in court!! You want a defense attorney who looks out for your interests. Someone who makes sure you are pleading guilty when and if the prosecutor’s case is strong, the offer is fair, and there are no defenses in your case that can lead to reduced charges or even a dismissal. A criminal defense lawyer that will file motions, argue on your behalf, negotiate for the best deal, and stand ready to take your drunk driving case to trial if needed.

So if you financially qualify for a lawyer who works for the San Diego Public Defender’s Office, should you still hire your own private lawyer? First off, you have to decide if you have the means to pay for legal counsel. If you do not, the Public Defender is a great option for you. They take on all criminal cases, including drunken driving cases, and it will cost you very little, if anything, for their help.

Because these criminal defense attorneys take every case the court appoints to them, they are extremely busy. They also have incentive to push the calendar and settle cases as quickly and as early as possible. In addition, they usually have little time to focus on any one case and their day is filled with several clients needing several matters handled, leaving little time to fully discuss your case and explain the court process to you, request and review all discovery, and fully assess the case.

By hiring The Law Offices of Susan L. Hartman, an accessible, aggressive, exclusively DUI defense firm, you get an experienced drunk driving lawyer. Driving under the influence cases are fact specific and each one is complex and different. This firm limits the amount of cases it takes on so that every client’s case is handled with the time and attention it needs and you deserve.

The above blog article is by no means all-inclusive and is not legal advice. For information about a specific case, speak to a drunk driving attorney in your area.

SD Courts Suffer Cut In Funding, How Will This Affect Your DUI Case?

September 19, 2012 | The Law Offices of Susan L. Hartman

budget cuts.png The San Diego County courts are suffering from the biggest financial cuts in history. State funding dropped from $190 million to $157 million and a larger shortfall is expected next year. To bridge the gap in the funding, many changes are happening within the courthouse.

Many courtrooms are being closed including six criminal courtrooms and one civil courtroom in the Downtown San Diego Superior Court. In addition, the San Diego’s North County Probate Division no longer exists and all of those matters are being transferred to the Central Division Probate Court in Downtown San Diego. Also, juvenile dependency lost a courtroom in Vista and all Ramona cases will now be heard in the East County Courthouse in El Cajon.

Thirty court reporters have been laid off and another eleven accepted early retirement.
Civil matters will no longer be heard with a court reporter present in the courtroom taking a verbatim record of the court proceedings unless the litigants want to pay for their own reporter. Court clerks now have the added responsibility of making notes on the judge’s rulings.

In order to give the busy clerks time to catch up on the backlogged work, all of the San Diego Superior Court Business Offices now close on Fridays at noon.
With fewer courtrooms and court staff, criminal defendants, including those charged with driving under the influence, can expect a longer wait time to get into a courtroom for hearings and trials. If you already have a court date with an assigned department, when you get to court, you may find that your courtroom is closed and your matter has been transferred elsewhere.

One huge benefit of hiring a DUI lawyer to assist you with your misdemeanor drunk driving case is most defendant’s do not have to appear in court. Your attorney can appear on your behalf. With these new budget cuts, that can save you many long hours waiting in the courthouse for your matter to be addressed. In addition, an experiened attorney, who works in the San Diego County Courthouses, is familiar with these procedures and navigating this new system and can assist you with handling your case with ease.

For the most up-to-date information about the court cutbacks, refer to the San Diego Court’s website.

Articles Cited:

“San Diego courts change hours due to budget cuts”
“San Diego courts to cut more than 40 jobs”
“County court budget cuts kick in; the impact“

DUI Arrest & Case Not Filed Or Case Dismissed, What Can I Do About My Arrest Record?

August 3, 2012 | The Law Offices of Susan L. Hartman

After a person is arrested for drunk driving, the police write up a police report which is forwarded onto the prosecuting agency. It is this agency, either the City Attorney or District Attorney’s Office, that will decide if charges will officially be filed against you in court. The prosecutor will review the police report and determine if, on an initial review of the facts, they believe they can prove the case against you. confidential envelope.jpg
If they do not believe they can prove their case, they may choose not to file charges. Even if the case is never filed, records that you were arrested are still active within local, state, and federal databases. To prevent these records from being used against you in the future, you should do what you can to try to clean up your record.

To have your criminal records sealed and destroyed when charges have not been filed against you, you must first petition the agency that arrested you requesting they destroy your arrest records. That petition must also be served on the prosecuting agency with jurisdiction over your matter.

The police agency may or may not respond to your petition. If they deny your request or fail to respond by the dates set by California Penal Code Section 851.8, you may petition the court to order the arresting agency to seal your arrest records and then destroy them three years from the date of your arrest. The petition to the court must be served on the law enforcement agency that arrested you and the prosecuting agency with jurisdiction. The court then calendars a hearing to decide your petition.

If driving under the influence charges were filed against you but were subsequently dismissed or you were acquitted of the charges, you can directly file your Petition for Sealing and Destruction of Arrest Records with the court without first petitioning the law enforcement agency that arrested you.

Defendants/Petitioners must be aware that there is a 2 year statute of limitations on filing the petition. This means the petition must be filed with the court no later than 2 years from the date of the arrest or the filing of the complaint, whichever is later, unless there is good cause and without prejudice to any other party.

If you suffered a DUI arrest and the prosecutor never filed against you or your case was ultimately dismissed, clean up your record! You never know when your arrest may be used against you if a record of it remains on the books. For assistance with the sealing and destruction of your drunk driving arrest records, contact The Law Offices of Susan L. Hartman.

San Diego Criminal Drunk Driving Convictions And Victim Restitution

July 31, 2012 | The Law Offices of Susan L. Hartman

money bag.jpg Once a DUI defendant pleads guilty or is convicted of drunk driving after a jury trial, the judge will pronounce sentence. If there was a victim who suffered any loss or damages as a result of defendant’s driving under the influence, the sentence will include court ordered restitution. The victim’s right to collect restitution is found in the Declaration of Rights of the California Constitution, Article I, Section 28.

Section (b) specifically states: “In order to preserve and protect a victim’s rights to justice and due process, a victim shall be entitled to the following rights…(13) To restitution.” Because it is the victim that holds this right, neither the court nor the prosecuting authority can use their discretion in negotiating the restitution amount during the plea bargaining stage. However, the court “shall order full restitution unless it finds compelling and extraordinary reasons for not doing so, and states them on the record.” (See California Penal Code Section 1202.4(g).)

The California Constitution, Article I, Section 28(e), defines a victim to be “a person who suffers direct or threatened physical, psychological, or financial harm as a result of the commission or attempted commission of a crime or delinquent act. The term “victim” also includes the person’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, or guardian, and includes a lawful representative of a crime victim who is deceased, a minor, or physically or psychologically incapacitated.” This section also states that a victim is not “a person in custody for an offense, the accused, or a person whom the court finds would not act in the best interests of a minor victim.”
The amount of restitution that is ordered is governed by California Penal Code Section 1202.4, which states … “the court shall require that the defendant make restitution to the victim or victims in an amount established by court order, based on the amount of loss claimed by the victim or victims or any other showing to the court.”

Often, at sentencing, the amount of losses/damages to the victim or victims are not known. So, the judge will set a Restitution Hearing. At that hearing the victim presents their damages/losses to the court, usually in the form of documentary evidence or testimony. Under California Penal Code Section 1203.1d(d), the court shall not exclude “documentary evidence such as bills, receipts, repair estimates, insurance payment statements, payroll stubs, business records, and similar documents relevant to the value of the …damaged property, medical expenses, and wages and profits lost” as hearsay.

The defendant has a right to dispute the amount of the restitution under Penal Code Section 1202.4(f)(1).

Payment of the restitution is often a term of probation; however, if the defendant’s drunk driving probation is terminated and the restitution has not been paid in full, the judge will turn that Restitution Order into a Civil Judgment. This allows the victim or victims to use any legal means available under California law to collect on the judgment.

San Diego DUI Criminal Case Dismissed Or Not Filed, What Happens With The DMV Action?

July 24, 2012 | The Law Offices of Susan L. Hartman

A driver is arrested in San Diego County and is charged with drunk driving. Two processes begin: 1.) The criminal process involving the courts; and, 2.) The administrative action involving the California Department of Motor Vehicles, (DMV).

The San Diego criminal action is either not filed or the matter is filed but later it is dismissed by the prosecutor. How does this affect the administrative process and the driver’s license suspension?

Once arrested for driving under the influence, the driver has 10 days from the date of receiving the Administrative Per Se Suspension/Revocation Order and Temporary Driver License to request a DMV APS Hearing to challenge the automatic suspension of the driver’s license. If the DMV finds for the driver and reinstates their full driving privileges, there is nothing that the driver needs to do after finding out charges will not be filed or if the criminal case is dismissed.

However, if the DMV finds against the driver and subsequently suspends the licensee’s privilege to drive, but later the prosecutor decides not to file charges or dismisses the pending DUI charges due to lack of or insufficiency of the evidence, the DMV may grant a renewed right to request an administrative hearing under California Vehicle Code Section 13353.2(e).

In order to request this rehearing, the driver, (or his/her DUI defense attorney), must request from the DMV form DS 702, the Administrative Per Se Notice of Failure to File or Dismissal of Criminal Charges. The prosecutor must agree to fill out the form, indicating why the matter was dismissed or not filed. That form is then sent to the Sacramento DMV Office. This must be done within one year of the date of arrest.

The DMV has discretion in deciding to reopen the matter. If approved, the file is sent back to the local Drivers Safety Office for a rehearing. This is basically a new hearing, where all documents and testimony must be re-entered into evidence and any new evidence must be presented to the hearing officer.

Most often, the hearing office does not render a decision at the hearing. Instead, the Notice of Findings and Decision are sent in the mail.

If you have been arrested for drunk driving in San Diego County, you owe it to yourself to hire an exclusively, DUI defense firm that can advise you on your specific case. The above blog entry is not legal advice and may not pertain to your driving under the influence matter.

Misdemeanor Drunk Driving Charges: The Court Process

June 25, 2012 | The Law Offices of Susan L. Hartman

In California, including San Diego County, when a driver is arrested for driving under the influence, two processes start. There is an administrative process that is handled through the Department of Motor Vehicles, (DMV). That portion of the case addresses the status of the arrestee’s driver’s license. In addition, there is a criminal court process that addresses the crime of DUI. This article specifically addresses what happens in the court process. For information on the DMV, see “Driving Under The Influence And The DMV Hearing.”

The person suspected of drunk driving is often arrested and booked into the San Diego County Jail or the Las Colinas Women’s Detention Facility. They are given an opportunity to post bail and be released. Upon release, they are given a Bail Receipt which states the recommended charges and the date, time, and place of the first court hearing, the Arraignment.

At the Arraignment, the defendant is informed of the actual filed charges. Also, they are given a copy of the complaint and an opportunity to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. (Be aware of accepting an offer at this early stage! You and your attorney will not have all the evidence to review to help make an informed decision about pleading guilty. However, the prosecutor often gives a decent offer at this stage in hopes of getting the case resolved quickly.)

If the defendant chooses not to plead guilty, a Readiness Hearing is scheduled. Between the Arraignment and the Readiness Hearing, the prosecuting agency will forward all of the discovery to the defendant or the defendant’s drunk driving attorney. The discovery is reviewed by the attorney and the defendant. The defense attorney may find issues with the case and proceed with filing motions to challenge the State’s case. Winning a motion can result in a better offer or even a dismissal of the entire case!

In addition, there is a negotiation meeting between the prosecutor and the DUI defense attorney and another offer is made on the case. The defendant may choose to accept the offer, and enter a change of plea at the next Readiness Hearing.

However, if the DUI defendant chooses not to accept the offer, the next step is a trial. At the conclusion of the trial, the jurors, (or the judge if it is a court trial), will decide if the defendant is guilty of the charges. If found guilty, the judge will proceed with drunk driving sentencing. If the defendant is found not guilty, the defendant is acquitted and the court no longer has jurisdiction over the case.

The above blog is by no means all-inclusive and is not legal advice. Laws may change and some may not apply to your case. For the latest information, or to get legal advice about your specific drunk driving matter, speak to a DUI attorney in your area.

Drunk Driving Charges Reduced To Reckless Driving

June 4, 2012 | The Law Offices of Susan L. Hartman

Driving under the influence charges were filed against a Charleston, South Carolina sheriff’s deputy, Nicholas Wagner, after he crashed his personal vehicle on an on-ramp to Interstate 526 westbound on May 5th, according to postandcourier.com. Wagner was said to have “smelled of an alcoholic beverage, had glassy eyes, slurred speech, and he swayed as he walked.” He refused to do the field sobriety tests and he was arrested and charged with drunk driving.

The defendant, a ten year veteran of the sheriff’s department, was scheduled for a bench trial; however, the prosecutor offered to dismiss the DUI charge if he plead guilty to a lesser charge. He agreed and changed his plea to guilty of reckless driving.

In San Diego, California, if a person is charged with driving under the influence, the prosecutor has discretion in offering two lesser charges, a dry reckless or a wet reckless. If the blood alcohol content is significantly over the .08 limit, there are drugs (prescription or illegal) involved, there is personal injury or property damage, and the prosecutor believes they can prove the drunk driving case beyond a reasonable doubt, they will not give a reckless driving offer.

If the blood alcohol content was below or slightly above .08%, if there are mitigating factors in the case, and the prosecutor’s DUI case is not strong, they will often offer one of the reckless driving charges if the defendant agrees to plead guilty. If the defendant refuses to accept that offer, the matter often goes to trial on the original drunk driving charges.

There are benefits in accepting a reckless driving offer over the DUI. A dry reckless is not priorable. This means that if the defendant is convicted of another drunk driving incident within ten years, the dry reckless cannot be used to increase the penalty in the new case. A wet reckless is priorable. The fines and fees for a dry or wet reckless are less than a DUI and San Diego courts often give a three year period of informal probation for reckless driving verses five with a drunk driving conviction.

There are other differences between a dry and wet reckless and a DUI. The above blog article is by no means all-inclusive and is not legal advice. Each case involves distinct facts which may change the offer given by the prosecuter or the sentence imposed by the judge. In addition, laws may have changed since the last update. For the latest information on drunk driving cases, the penalties, and your specific facts and possible defenses, contact a DUI defense attorney in your area.

Driving Under The Influence Of Marijuana In San Diego

May 28, 2012 | The Law Offices of Susan L. Hartman

Recently, the Colorado Senate attempted to treat driving under the influence of marijuana like driving under the influence of alcohol with a .08% or greater blood alcohol content, as reported by 9news.com. The proposed marijuana blood-level limit that was voted on and failed was 5 nanograms of THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

Those sponsoring the marijuana, (otherwise known as pot, bud, weed, grass, Mary Jane, MJ, among others), DUI bill argued that THC levels are reliable and they are a scientific indicator that shows if someone used marijuana recently and if they are under the influence for purposes of driving.

Opponents of the bill stated the THC levels do not gauge impairment because even though the psychoactive ingredient is not active and the person is no longer feeling the effects of ingesting marijuana, the chemical remains in the body for an extended period of time. The blood test will show a THC level indicating the subject at some point used pot; however, it will not determine the amount that was ingested, when it was used, or the concentration of THC in the product that was consumed. In addition, each person’s individual tolerance to marijuana is different and it is affected by usage.

In California, under Penal Code Section 23152(a), “It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of…[a] drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle.” Therefore, a person can be charged with drunk driving if law enforcement suspects the person is under the influence of marijuana at the time that they are driving a vehicle.

As the law stands now, the THC level is only one of the factors that is considered to determine if a person is under the influence. These cases are fact specific, looking into the driving pattern, the driver’s appearance, how he or she performed on the field sobriety tests, (or FST’s), and the chemical test result which shows the THC level in the blood. Because there is no hard and fast rules about marijuana impairment, marijuana drunk driving cases are hard for the prosecutor to prove.

Because these cases are so hard to prove, they are great cases to take to trial. Often, especially if there are no other drugs or alcohol in your system, these cases get dropped or the charges are reduced because the prosecutor does not want to take the risk of a not guilty verdict after trial.

There are many strong defenses in marijuana DUI cases. If you have been charged with drunk driving involving marijuana, you owe it to yourself to find an exclusively DUI defense firm that can aggressively fight your case.

The above blog article on marijuana driving under the influence cases is by no means all-inclusive and is not legal advice. Laws may change and may not apply to your case. For the latest information or to get legal advice, speak to a drunk driving attorney in your area.

Benefits Of Expungement After A Drunk Driving Conviction

May 18, 2012 | The Law Offices of Susan L. Hartman

ball and chain.jpg
A standard sentence in misdemeanor DUI cases includes a term of probation. Depending on what charges you plead to or were convicted of depends on the standard term of probation. In San Diego, the courts often give a term of three years for a dry or wet reckless and five years for a misdemeanor driving under the influence offense.

Once probation is terminated, either due to expiration or a motion for early termination, you may want to apply for an expungement. There are many benefits to doing an expungement, but there are also things that an expungement does not provide for.

Penal Code Section 1203.4 provides, the probationer shall be permitted by the court to withdraw his or her guilty plea or the court shall set aside the guilty verdict. The court shall then dismiss the accusations and he or she shall thereafter be released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense of which he or she was convicted. However, like anything else in the law, there are some exceptions.

The probationer still has an “obligation to disclose the conviction in response to any direct question contained in any questionnaire or application for public office, for licensure by any state or local agency, or for contracting with the California State Lottery Commission.”

If a private employer asks if you have been convicted of a crime, you can answer, “No.” But, if you are applying to a government job or with a government licensing agency, and you are asked if you have ever been convicted of a crime, you must disclose the expunged case. In addition to the disclosure, you should also note in the application that your matter was expunged.

The expunged matter cannot be used against you when applying for jobs or in promotion opportunities.

In any subsequent prosecution for any other offense, the expunged matter can be plead and proved with the same effects as though an expungement was not granted. This means the expunged matter is still “priorable.” For instance, if you had a DUI expunged, and then you are charged with another drunk driving case within ten years, that first expunged case can still be used as a prior DUI to enhance the penalties of this new case.

If you are not allowed to possess a firearm, an expungement does not restore that right. You must wait the requisite time under the law to reinstate your firearm rights.
If you are prohibited from holding public office due to the conviction, an expungement does not allow you to hold public office.

Even though an expungement does not result in your records being permanently destroyed, many people want to have this done as a way of having closure. Another motivation is for better employment opportunities and to better position themselves in a licensing application.

The above blog article is by no means all-inclusive and is not legal advice. Laws may change and may not apply to your case. For the latest information or to get legal advice, speak to a drunk driving lawyer in your area.