A 34-year-old man was arrested and charged with felony DUI and murder in Fresno after a Thanksgiving Day traffic accident.
It will be imperative that a DUI defense lawyer in Fresno be hired to represent the driver in this case. Unfortunately, the media is reporting that the driver has a history of alcohol-related driving violations. Such tragic circumstances are one reason why a driver should always fight to keep a drunk driving charge off his or her record.
DUI charges are often beatable, especially for a first offense or cases in which there is no accident or injury. Having a conviction on your record can increase the chances of being stopped and arrested again in the future. And the tiered nature of California's DUI laws call for increased penalties for repeat offenders. Additionally, states are continuously increasing the penalties for conviction and there is even talk of further lowering the .08 legal limit. It ranges from .02 to .05 in many other countries.
Defending yourself against DUI charges in California also requires fighting for your rights to drive at a DMV Administrative Hearing, which is separate from the criminal courts process.
In this case, ABC30 reported that the defendant lost his license for a DUI last year.
Police say he rear-ended an SUV while driving an El Camino, killing a man and critically injuring his girlfriend.
The California Highway Patrol said witnesses reported that the El Camino was swerving and traveling at a high rate of speed prior to the crash.
Investigators say they were already looking for the car after an accident on Highway 99 near Ventura.
Media reports indicate the defendant served 62 days in jail and was ordered to complete an alcohol program as a result of last year's DUI arrest. He was also convicted of DUI in 1997 and has been arrested several times for driving without a license.
At least 8 other people were charged with drunk driving after being arrested at sobriety checkpoints in Fresno over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
If you are facing drunk driving charges in Fresno, contact the Law Offices of Michael E. Mitchell for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call 559-222-2424. SE HABLA ESPANOL.
