San Diego Drunk Driving Defense
San Diego Drunk Driving charges?
Driving Under the Influence, Driving While Intoxicated, and Operating Under the Influence are closely related crimes, but they can all mean the same thing: loss of license, stiff fines, embarrassment, and possible jail time. Although DUI, DWI, and OUI are relatively common crimes, few people are familiar with their rights and how to protect themselves in such a situation.
Driving under the influence, referred to as, "drunk driving," describes operating a motor vehicle while one's blood alcohol content is above the legal limit set by California statutes, which supposedly is the level at which a person cannot drive safely. State statutes vary as to what that level is, but it ranges from .08 to .10 for adults, which means a 8/100ths to one-tenth of one percent by weight of alcohol to the weight of blood.
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This is translated into grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood in tests of blood or urine sample, or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of air in a "breathalyzer" test. A combination of the use of alcohol and narcotics can also be considered "under the influence" based on erratic driving. Driving on private property such as a parking lot is no drunk driving defense, but sitting in a non-moving vehicle without the ignition on probably is (sometimes resulting in a charge of "drunk in and about a vehicle"). This is a misdemeanor and is variously referred to as DUI, driving while intoxicated (DWI), drunk driving, or a "deuce".
There are thousands of factors that must be considered if you are charged with a DUI. The legality of your arrest, field sobriety tests, proper functioning test equipment, correct handling of your evidence, and the conduct of the arresting officers are frequently contentious issues during legal proceedings. Many people who believed themselves guilty discovered they could avoid serious penalties when any number of these variables failed to withstand legal scrutiny.
The San Diego drunk driving defense lawyers at Kerry L. Steigerwalt and Associates are experienced attorneys handling Drunk Driving, DUI, DWI and OUI charges regularly. Time is critical; contact a San Diego DUI Lawyer today. If you have been charged with drunk driving in San Diego contact the San Diego DUI attorneys at Kerry L. Steigerwalt and Associates today.
