May 2010 - Posts

• “How Can You Defend Them?”

  It always surprises me how many people are outraged that I would defend someone accused by the police of a crime – and particularly of drunk driving. Arrest increasingly means guilt, and there is a public perception of criminal defense attorneys as being obstructionist, nefarious and somehow unethical. Certainly, every defense attorney tires of the [...] Posted May 30 2010, 08:33 AM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• The Future of DUI Revisited

  Over five years ago, I gave a lecture to a national organization of attorneys during which I was asked, among other things, to anticipate the future course of DUI laws in the United States.  B earing in mind the words of Adlai Stevenson ("We can chart our future clearly and wisely only when we know the [...] Posted May 23 2010, 09:34 AM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• Law and Politics vs Science

  It is an unfortunate fact that law and politics repeatedly trump science when it comes to prosecuting citizens accused of drunk driving… In People v. Bransford, to cite one notable example, the California Supreme Court was confronted with a defendant who was challenging his conviction for driving with over .08% blood in his blood [...] Posted May 18 2010, 08:42 AM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• State Supreme Court: DUI Doesn’t Require Driving

  From today’s Alice-in-Wonderland department, this mind-boggling ruling from the Supreme Court of West Virginia: West Virginia Supreme Court: DUI Does Not Require Proof Of Driving Drunk driving fines may be imposed without proof that the accused ever drove, the West Virginia Supreme Court ruled. Wheeling, WV.  May 10 – State officials can punish an individual for [...] Posted May 10 2010, 09:55 AM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• What Does a DUI Cost?

  Did you ever wonder how much it could cost you today if you’re arrested for drunk driving?  Not necessarily guilty of drunk driving, just accused of it?  Maybe $500?  Or $1000?…   Drunk Driving Could Cost $20,000 CNBC News.  Dec. 14  –  Twenty thousand dollars sounds like a lot to pay for a drink at a holiday party, [...] Posted May 05 2010, 12:29 PM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog