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In California, it is illegal for a person to drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. On reasonable suspicion of drunk driving, a law enforcement officer may pull your vehicle over and ask you a series of questions. Also, the police officer may request your documentation or ask you to take some DUI tests – chemical tests or field sobriety tests.

In the state of California, drivers are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol or with a BAC of at least 0.08%. Similar to taking alcohol, a person can become intoxicated from using prescription or over-the-counter medications. However, most police officers lack the necessary training to differentiate between intoxication due to alcohol or illegal drugs and impairment due to prescription medications.

Facing a criminal trial can be extremely stressful. Many defendants enter these criminal proceedings without a complete understanding of the process, which can make them feel powerless and like they’re not in control of their future.

If you’re facing a criminal trial, you must know what to expect from beginning to end. This includes the pretrial process, including your arraignment, hearing, discovery process, and what to expect when the actual trial is underway.

Self-defense is a common defense strategy people use when charged with a crime that involves causing some form of physical violence. However, it is important to understand the rules on self-defense in California before claiming that you used physical force to protect yourself from imminent harm.

Shoplifting can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony in California, depending on the value of the property allegedly stolen. In either case, it is not a conviction you want to have on your record for the rest of your life.

The time is long past when violence occurring between spouses or family members behind closed doors was a private matter. The pendulum has swung in the opposite direction. In fact, the penalties for a domestic assault conviction may be more severe than a similar assault on someone who is not related to you, or who does not share an intimate relationship with you.

Charges for domestic violence are handled more aggressively and often have more severe penalties than the same acts perpetrated against people you don’t have some sort of intimate or household relationship with.

In California, many of us consider our driver’s licenses to be absolutely essential. They give us freedom of movement and help us carry out responsibilities, such as getting to and from work and school, or transporting our children. If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in California, you might wonder if you’ll lose your license.

We’ve just finished the year-end holiday season when spirits can be high in more ways than one. It’s not unusual for police to take extra steps during holidays of any type to look out for drivers operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs.