Mark Rosenfeld is a discerning and experienced Beverly Hills DUI attorney who is well-equipped to handle any DUI case in Los Angeles County. His practice is focused exclusively on driving-related criminal charges, and he has successfully defended countless clients throughout Los Angeles County. Being charged with a DUI is a serious matter that is accompanied with many potentially serious consequences. After being arrested, it is important to contact a knowledgeable Los Angeles County DUI attorney as soon as possible to ensure that your rights are preserved. In addition to contacting a licensed and qualified DUI attorney in the area, it is important to have a basic understanding of DUI law as well.
In California, it is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle. Additionally, it is illegal in California to drive a car while your blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, is 0.08 percent or higher. Generally, a person’s BAC is affected by several factors: the number of alcoholic drinks consumed, the alcoholic concentration of those drinks, the person’s weight, and the time interval between the first drink and the last drink. The BAC is constantly changing as the body absorbs and eliminates the alcohol that was drunk. The important point to understand is that even if your BAC is lower than the legal limit, you can still be prosecuted under California law and accordingly need a good defense attorney to fight to protect you.
Furthermore, drivers under the age of 21 are in violation of California law if they have a BAC of .01 percent or higher. There is a zero tolerance policy for drivers under the age of 18, which means an under 18 driver violates the law if that person has any amount of alcohol in the bloodstream. Commercial vehicle operators also can be prosecuted if they have a BAC of over .04 percent.
The BAC is determined by a chemical test, usually by breath or blood, of the person being charged with a DUI. As a condition of receiving or renewing your California driver’s license, the DMV requires that you agree to submit to chemical testing at the request of a police officer. Generally, the officer will ask you to first submit to a Preliminary Alcohol Screening test, or PAS, which is more commonly known as a breathalyzer. You may refuse to take the PAS test, but you are required by law to submit to a chemical screening of your blood or breath. Regardless, if you do submit to a PAS, this does not take the place of the mandatory chemical test. If you refuse to submit, or are unable to complete any chemical test, you will likely be facing a refusal allegation with much stiffer and costly consequences.
Knowledge is power, and Mark Rosenfeld has the knowledge and experience to handle all aspects of your DUI case. Call his office now at (310) 424-3145 for a free consultation and experience the professional service that only he can provide. You will breathe more easily and feel more confident knowing that your DUI case is in capable, experienced hands.