Fullerton Attorney David Gonzalez discusses DUI checkpoints and DUI penalties.

Law enforcement begins to be more aggressive during the holidays when it comes to driving under the influence of alcohol or even driving while being under the influence of drugs.  Police will often set up more checkpoints looking for such drivers.

Before going out of for the evening, and when you know you may be drinking, set up a plan to avoid drinking and driving. It is the best thing to do to avoid harming someone or yourself while driving and after having had a few. It certainly is the wise thing to do to avoid being arrested and suffering the consequences that may arise if you are convicted of drinking and driving. 
But if you cannot avoid drinking and driving and you insist on doing so, here are a few things to consider:

Check on-line for any DUI checkpoints.  There are many real time websites that allow a person to check for DUI checkpoints before driving. These sites allow a person to avoid certain areas where the police is setting up road blocks to catch and arrest drunk drivers. For the Orange County area, a site like www.ocduicheckpoints.com is one example. 

If you get arrested, the California Vehicle Code provides the following as penalties:

1. First Offense: Probation, a six month suspension of your driver license, 48 hours in jail, a fine of $390.00 plus penalties, and attendance and completion of an alcohol or drug program ranging to three, six, nine or even eighteen months;

2. Second Offense within 10 years: Probation, a minimum of ten days of jail, a fine of $390.00 plus penalties, two year suspension of your driver license, and attendance and completion of an eighteen month alcohol program. The maximum jail sentence is one year jail.

3. Third offense within 10 years: a minimum of 120 days of jail, $390.00 fine plus penalties, being labeled as a habitual offender for three years, a revocation of your driver license for 3 years, attendance and completion of an 18 month alcohol or drug program. The maximum penalty is one year in jail.

The above is only a summary of the possible consequences. There can be additional jail time in the event a person is also guilty of violating probation on other DUI cases. Some courts also want a person to complete a Mother’s Against Drunk Driving classes. There are also harsher penalties for a driver who has a commercial driver’s license. 

So whether it is Halloween, Thanksgiving or the Christmas season you are celebrating, be wise. Don’t drink and drive.

If you get caught, call the Gonzalez Law Firm located either in Fullerton or Santa Ana in the Orange County. Attorney David Gonzalez can aggressively fight against a DUI charge. He can consult with you concerning your best defense against a DUI violation. He helps his clients in such cases whether the DUI charge is in the courts of Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside or San Bernardino Counties. 

Santa Ana Criminal Defense Attorney Gonzalez explains arraignment in criminal cases

So you either just got cited with a ticket that states you need to appear in court for a violation of either a vehicle code or penal code offense, or you got arrested, or at worst you were told you are being charged with a felony. You are told you need to come to court and make an appearance. What should you do?

The first court appearance for charges involving a crime is called an arraignment. It really is the first court appearance whereby the person accused of a crime is brought before a judge, is informed of the criminal charges he or she faces, and asked by the judge whether he or she wants to plead guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere (no contest) to the charges.

The arraignment is not for the person to tell his or her story to a judge about what did or did not happen when that person received that ticket, citation, notice to come to court, or was arrested. The arraignment is not the time for that person to provide excuses- justified or otherwise- as to why he or she should not be in court. Any judge in a criminal court case is not interested in hearing such things from a person who is accused of a crime. The judge wants to know whether a person wants to plead not guilty or guilty.

At an arraignment, if you go without a lawyer, a judge is required to inform you of your right to be represented by an attorney, or if you are poor or have very low income means, you should be told of your right to be have attorney appointed for you- in other words, a public defender.

Some people who have been charged with a crime believe that going to the court and pleading guilty is the best thing to do. Beware of going to court by yourself. Typically you will receive the harshest sentence possible or recommended by the prosecutor assigned to your case. The prosecutor represents the People and is not interested in making friends with those accused of crimes.

It is best to get legal consultation before going to court when you are facing criminal charges. The penalties for pleading guilty may have a great impact on your record, employment, and your liberty. After consultation, you should make a decision to have an experienced criminal defense attorney represent you at all stages of any criminal proceeding. Contact the Gonzalez Law Firm for that consultation and representation. David Gonzalez has many years of experience helping persons charged with infractions, misdemeanors, or felonies. Facing criminal charges can cause much stress upon you and the ones you love. Contact Criminal Defense Attorney David Gonzalez. His offices are located in Santa Ana and Fullerton. He gets results. 1-877-345-2997.

What can I do about False Imprisonment?

False imprisonment is the unlawful violation of the personal liberty of another. The punishment for false imprisonment can be a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by both fine and imprisonment.

The penalty for false imprisonment increases when if the false imprisonment is done by violence, menace, fraud, or deceit. In these situations, then the punishment can be jail time for 16 months, or two or three years. If the false imprisonment is done to a certain class of persons, such as an elderly person or a dependent adult, then the penalty for a conviction is further increased.

When a person is accused of false imprisonment, a state prosecutor must prove that the person intentionally and unlawfully restrained, or detained, or confined another person, and that the accused person made the other person stay or go somewhere against that person’s will. An act that can be considered done against a person’s will is one that a person does not consent to such an act. In order to consent, a person must act freely and voluntarily and know the nature of the act. It is not necessary that the prosecutor show that the alleged victim of false imprisonment be confined in jail or prison.

If the false imprisonment is said to one done by violence or menace, the prosecutor must prove the violence or menace used. Violence means physical force that is greater than the force reasonably necessary to restrain someone. Menace means a verbal or physical threat of harm. That includes the use of a deadly weapon.

Any charge of false imprisonment, whether it is labeled as a misdemeanor or felony, is a serious charge. You need the experience of the Gonzalez Law Firm to help defend you or someone you know who is being charged with this crime. It is important to speak to OC Santa Ana Criminal Defense Attorney David Gonzalez immediately. He will provide you with a confidential consultation and explain the defenses that can be used to fight against these charges. Call Now.

Parenting tips for having a safe and fun Halloween with your children.

Halloween is upon us again. Children are looking forward to wearing their best ghoul and goblin and princess costumes.

Halloween tends to be a festive celebration. One where there can also be party goers who drink alcohol and choose to drive to and from their Halloween parties.

So parents when you take your children out for trick or treating, keep in mind some of the following helpful tips:

Start your trick or treating early:

During daylight and prior to dusk is a good time in which to start your child's trick or treating. Your children can be seen by drivers. As dusk passes, bring a flashlight that can illuminate for over 30 feet if possible. Cell phones can also download certain flashlight apps making the cell phone a flashlight. For example, Torch Flashlight App can be obtained trough the App Store from iTunes. Although such apps provide illumination, a typical hardware flashlight may be your best bet.

Have an adult be the leader of the pack and also have an adult protect the rear:

Children do like to run off on their own to various homes to be the first to get the candy. It is wise, however, to have an adult maintain a reasonable distance ahead of the pack to make certain a child does not run across a street. An adult should also cover the rear to make certain no child is left behind or is not accounted for in the event the pack gets a bit to far ahead. Always keep a count of the children and always use your flashlights to direct crossing a street if necessary.

Designate a location to meet ahead of time in the event your pack separates:

It does happen. Parents cannot hold the pack together. That is fine should it occur; just a normal part of the fun. But parents can designate a certain landmark as a meeting place for the pack to get together again in the event there is a break in the group. Such landmarks can include the corner of the street, the house at the end of the street, the stop sign area, just to name a few examples.

Keep an eye out for careless drivers:

Keep a watch out for drivers who do not have their car headlights on, the driver who is using the cell phone while driving, the driver who may be driving a bit too fast for driving conditions. They are out there. Parents should be watchful and attentive to their surroundings while their kids are trick or treating. Use your cell phone to call 911 to report such careless drivers especially any driver that may be driving a bit erractically in a neighborhood. Such a driver may be driving under the influence of alchohol so it is wise to involve your local police agency should you suspect such a driver.

Just a word of advice to any one who may drive to and from their Halloween parties: if you are going to drink, do so wisely and responsibly. Designate a driver who has not consumed any alcohol to drive you to your destination. Use a fun shuttle or limousine service. Do the right thing: DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL AND THEN GET BEHIND AN AUTOMOBILE TO DRIVE. If you do so, you risk putting the lives of children and others in danger. There are stiff penalities in California for drinking and driving. A first time conviction for driving under the influence criminal charge charge can include jail time, years on probation, loss or suspension of a driver license, court fees and fines, and participation and completion of a state mandated alcohol program. A person can spend about $5,000.00 in fees, penalties, and fines. Furthermore, the drunk driving conviction can remain on a driver's licensing record for 10 years. Convictions for second or third DUI offenses can be even more severe. If a driver has consumed alcohol and gets involved in a car accident, that person faces a felony charge and possible felony conviction. A jail sentence for a period of months may be ordered by the judge.

Halloween should be a time of fun for all. Children get the most fun wearing that cool ninja constume or that beautiful princess costume. Parents love to see their children radiate wearing such costumes and getting their favorite candy in their Halloween bag. Let all of us do our best to maintain a safe and sane Halloween.

The Gonzalez Law Firm has over 18 years of experience helping families with their legal issues. Attorney David Gonzalez has offices in Fullerton and Santa Ana and can assist you with your child custody issue, parenting rights, or dissolution of marriage matter. His firm also assists persons who may be accused of criminal charges including misdemeanor or felony DUI charges. Contact his firm for a consultation concerning your legal issue.

What is an "assault with a deadly weapon" charge in California?

California Penal Code Section 245 is the section that defines assault with a deadly weapon or force likely to produce great bodily injury. Section 245 also defines the various punishments given if a person is convicted of that charge.

Penal Code Section 245(a)(1) states that any person who commits an assault upon the person of another with a deadly weapon or instrument other than a firearm shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or four years, or in a county jail for not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding $10,000 or by both the fine and imprisonment.

To prove someone guilty of a charge of assault with a deadly weapon, the prosecutor for the state must show that the person did the act with a deadly weapon that by its nature would directly and probably result in the application of force to a person. The prosecutor must also show that when the person acted that she or he had the present ability to apply force likely to produce likely to produce great bodily injury with a deadly weapon to a person. The term force or application of force means to touch a person in a harmful or offensive manner. Slight touching can be enough if it is done in a rude or angry way. Even making contact with another person, including through his or her clothing, can be enough. The touching does not have to cause pain or injury of any kind.

A deadly weapon is any object, instrument or weapon that is inherently deadly or dangerous or one that is used in such a way that is capable of causing and likely to cause death or great bodily injury.

A defense to assault with a deadly weapon can include self-defense or defense of others. Whenever you or someone you know is charged with an assault with a deadly weapon it is important that you contact the David Gonzalez Law Firm in order to get immediate legal help with this serious criminal charge. If you are contacted by any law enforcement officer requesting that you speak with such authority, you must remember that you have a legal right to remain silent. Although you may be told by such law enforcement that your speaking or discussions with them will help you to prevent harsher legal consequences, experience shows that law enforcement will use anything you say voluntarily against you when you end up being charged with assault with a deadly weapon. Speak only to Santa Ana Attorney David Gonzalez by calling his office and arranging for a confidential consultation. Call now and retain the experience of a criminal defense attorney. The Gonzalez Law Firm helps all clients with criminal charges in all counties throughout the State of California.

~ David Gonzalez