No-one wants to be arrested for a DUI and have to deal with jail, costs, stress, time wasted in court and classes etc. However to understand a DUI, please understand you do not have to be drunk. The correct charge is a Driving Under The Influence (DUI). You merely have to be Impaired/ Under the Influence or Buzzed from the alcohol and or a drug. This is determined by the Preliminary Alcohol Screening (PAS) Test at the scene or the Breath or Blood test at the station.
A DUI has always been called a DEUCE. This is because the Vehicle Code violation has always ended in a 2 and thus Drunk Drivers are referred to as “deuced”. A DUI was initially called a 502 requiring a .15 reading. Next it was called a 23102 requiring a .10 reading.
Some juries returned not guilty verdicts thinking the driver was not DRUNK because they drove without getting into an accident. Defense lawyers argued to the jury that the driver complied and produced their driver’s license and insurance when asked and the driver did not fall down while exiting the car.
Today it’s called a 23152(a&b), thus allowing the DA to file the two counts. One, is Driving under the Influence and the second count is Driving with a BA level of .08 or more. Many juries now split the baby and find the driver innocent of one count and guilty of the other. If there is a guilty verdict of either count it is a DUI with the same sentence.
In California you are under the influence if your ability to drive is impaired. Impairment takes place when your blood alcohol reading is .08 or higher with either the Breath or Blood test at the station. Thus, if you are driving on a California road with .08 or higher the burden of proof almost reverts back to you, to show that you weren’t under the influence and/or your blood alcohol was not .08.
Sooooo, If you’ve been bagged for a DUI, you don’t need some random 800 number lawyer. You need a hometown attorney; a local attorney whose practice focuses on DUI law here in the CV. If you’ve been charged with a DUI, don’t take a chance with remote, out-of-town legal representation. Choose Dale Gribow, based right here in Palm Desert for 24 years.
You may incorrectly think that once you blow into the breathalyzer the game’s over. But it’s not. And with experienced legal defense, you can assert your rights. Gribow has been defending drivers charged with Driving Under the Influence for over 30 years.
So, if you’ve been charged with a DUI, put that experience on your side. You need a lawyer who knows the local courts inside-out; a lawyer who knows that even though you’ve been charged, you do have rights. So if you’re looking at a bad DUI that could haunt you for the rest of your life, don’t gamble with some out-of-town 800 number attorney.
I look upon my job as protecting the Constitutional Rights of every American who drinks, drives and gets arrested for a DUI or has an ACCIDENT.
I do however “Change Hats” when I SUE Drunk Drivers for damages to my Injured or Deceased (Wrongful Death) clients.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE ARTICLE? CONTACT DALE GRIBOW 760-837-7500/ dale@dalegribowlaw.com.
DALE GRIBOW
“TOP LAWYER” – California’s Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 2011-20
“TOP LAWYER” – Inland Empire Magazine 2016- 2019
PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating
“PREEMINENT” Rating – Martindale Hubbell Legal Directory
BEST Attorneys of America -“Rue” (Limited to Top 100 Attorneys per State)
Legal Eagle “Best and Brightest Legal Minds” by Palm Springs Life- June 2016
