Los Angeles DUI Attorney Blog

Kris Reed, aka “Kid” from the famous 1980s rap duo Kid ’n Play, was arrested last August for driving under the influence near the Long Beach area. The tabloids did not cover this much at the time; indeed, this blog – normally eagle eyed regarded all things Long Beach DUI – did not carry the story, either.

But now the situation has changed. According to a breaking report from tmz.com, a warrant has been issued for the rapper’s arrest, pursuant to charges that he failed to attend a progress hearing on his 2010 arrest.

As TMZ reports, Reed made the exact same mistake last July, when he no show-ed at a different court hearing. Reed made light of his situation, telling a reporter for the celebrity gossip website: “I’ve got DUIs I’m ducking!”

As any Los Angeles DUI lawyer will tell you... and as this blog has reported innumerable times – especially with respect to Lindsay Lohan’s never-ending, tragic DUI ring cycle -- Long Beach DUI defendants often make their situations vastly more complicated by failing to follow simple instructions from their attorneys and abiding by the law on and off the road.

The fact is that a Long Beach DUI – even one involving significant damages and injuries – does not have to mean the end of your license, your career, or your record of good citizenship. Indeed, when properly approached, a Long Beach DUI arrest – and even a conviction – can be a profoundly pivotal point in your life – an opportunity to learn more about yourself, to strengthen your resolve, to rededicate your life in a positive fashion. Prosecutors and judges do recognize when defendants are sincerely contrite. If you take the steps to defend yourself properly (with the help of an experienced Long Beach DUI criminal defense attorney) and address the root problems that got you into trouble, you may walk away from your experience happier, more conscientious, and more focused on success.

Attorney Michael Kraut at the Kraut Law Group (444 West Ocean, Suite 800 Long Beach, California 90802 Phone: (562) 531-7454) can help you develop and execute a common sense, highly strategic approach to your defense. Mr. Kraut is a former prosecutor and current Los Angeles DUI attorney. He was educated at Harvard Law School. He has a fantastic record at jury trials and has won great respect from his peers in the legal community.

Continue reading "No Kidding Around: Long Beach DUI Progress Hearings Must Be Attended. Just Ask Kid from Kid ’n Play" »

Amid all the sordid (and often funny) stories of celebrity Burbank DUI, let's take time to reflect on some of the sobering, tragic events of the past year. After all, it’s one thing to get lost in the stories about Demi and Ashton’s breakup, the rise and fall of GOP hopefuls like Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann, the discovery of earth-like planets just a few light years away, etc. But if we ever hope to make progress fighting Burbank DUI and making our roads safer, it behooves us to examine the scary and often fatal consequences of inappropriate relationships with alcohol.

Pop singer Amy Winehouse died July 23, after a long and very public battle with alcoholism and substance abuse. Winehouse won fame and admiration, thanks to her raw, sultry voice; her songs contain brutally honest confessions about her battles with her demons and voice defiant posture towards her addiction treatment. In her most famous song, “Rehab,” she sings “they tried to make me go to rehab: I said no, no, no.”

The authenticity of her voice and lyrics – the rawness and realness of her personal struggles with addiction – captured international attention because they made Winehouse a real, sympathetic, and dynamic character. These battles ring true for so many of us – particularly for those of us who have ever been arrested for driving under the influence in Burbank or elsewhere in the Southland.

Many of us understand firsthand how difficult it can be to face up to the root causes of our Burbank DUIs, and many of us are also plenty skeptical about typical rehabilitation programs, some of which have pretty abysmal track records. Some studies suggest, for instance, that Alcoholics Anonymous’ success rate may be as little as 5% over the long term.

What Winehouse’s ordeal teaches us is that we need to get help before our Burbank DUI problems metastasize and cause even more damage. Your journey begins with getting the right help at the right time. Attorney Michael Kraut of Burbank’s Kraut Law Group (2600 West Olive Avenue, 5th Floor, Burbank, California 91505 Phone: (818) 563-9810) can help you uncover not only the best strategy for your defense but also the best strategy for rebuilding your life and solving the deeper problems that got you into legal trouble in the first place. Mr. Kraut is an experienced Burbank DUI criminal defense attorney – a former prosecutor with a Harvard Law School education – and he can help you solve your problems.

Continue reading "2011 In Memoriam: Burbank DUI Blog Reflects on the Sad Passing of Amy Winehouse" »

It’s one thing if you or a neighbor or a co-worker gets arrested for Glendale DUI. That, in and of itself, is kind of disturbing. But what if one of the nation’s top safety experts gets arrested for driving on the wrong side of the road while under the influence of alcohol? How would you feel? Would you feel dismayed? Flabbergasted? Outraged? All of the above?

This is not a theoretical example. It actually happened the weekend before last, when 65-year-old Jerome Randolph Babbitt, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration, was arrested for DUI in Fairfax, Virginia, then taken to an adult detention center.

According to the Washington Post, Babbitt has requested a leave of absence from his position in the wake of the arrest. He had been serving a five-year term. Michael Huerta, the Deputy Administrator of the FAA, will take over in Babbitt’s absence.

On some level, the jaded among us have grown to expect this kind of behavior even from our highest elected and appointed officials. On another level, we also recognize the inherent dangers of driving under the influence in Glendale and elsewhere. We find ourselves caught up in paroxysms of anger and despair as we contemplate these misdeeds.

Here is another way to think about Glendale DUI arrests – and arrests for DUI elsewhere in America including Fairfax, Virginia and beyond. It is a far more empathetic, compassionate, and non-judgmental way to think. This way probes the fundamental causes of misbehavior and bad judgments. This way asks questions like: Why might someone like Babbitt drive under the influence or drive on the wrong side of the street? What circumstances might have influenced this decision? What can we do to prevent Glendale DUI injury accidents? What incentives, disincentives, social pressures and educational resources will make the roads safer and instill a sense of community among drivers?

This discussion may be a bit theoretical if you or someone you care about faces a scary charge of Glendale DUI pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 23152(a) or 23152(b). Fortunately, you need not fight this battle all on your own. An aggressive, results-focused Glendale DUI criminal defense attorney from the Kraut Law Group (450 North Brand Boulevard, Suite 600, Glendale, California 91203 Phone: (818) 507-9123) can help you assess your situation and fight the charges against you. Mr. Kraut is an experienced former prosecutor with a Harvard Law School background, and he has served as a legal expert for the Los Angeles Times, KTLA, and even US Weekly.

Continue reading "The Career-Destroying Power of a Glendale DUI Conviction: Jerome Babbitt Flies into Trouble" »

Perhaps you already follow the latest Beverly Hills DUI news in the tabloids or on the blogosphere. Or maybe you stick to more “serious” sources of DUI news, such as news reports or even professional analyses of DUIs.

But even if you scour all these sources, you will come up with a rather superficial understanding of what’s like to be a Beverly Hills DUI defendant, and you may not learn much meaningful information to:

A) Help you avoid getting into DUI trouble in the first place;

B) Help you understand what to do (and more significantly, what not to do) after you’ve been pulled over for driving under the influence in Beverly Hills or elsewhere in the Southland.

Fortunately, you now have a novel way to "pull back the curtain" and see what Beverly Hills DUI defendants really experience.

The TLC Network launched a new show last week called “DUI” in the spirit of reality TV shows like Cops and Jail. Reviews for the show generally have been positive. The Washington Post’s blog called the show “irresistible” and discussed how the show is interested in going deeper – actually following motorists “after they failed sobriety test… days and weeks into court appearances and the punitive phase of their charges.”

The Washington Post review also said that “What’s emphasized here are the disastrous financial and personal losses that come for everyday working folks arrested for DUI. Granted, they should never have been behind the wheel, but “DUI” is surprisingly uninterested in MADD-style scolding and more focused on legal process. It’s also refreshingly empathetic to everyone involved.”

This last point is absolutely crucial, and it is also wonderful.

It’s so easy in today’s world – where we’re berated with twitter-esque headlines 24/7 – to demonize people, judge them, blame them, categorize them, etc. Instead, we can learn a lot more – and protect our roads a lot better – if we focus on empathy. What feelings did you feel when you were pulled over for driving under the influence in Beverly Hills? How could your needs have been met differently that evening? Unless we ask questions like this – probing to the heart of the problem – our punishments are going to be superficial, relatively useless, and certainly damaging to defendants.

If you’ve been struggling with a DUI charge – fretting about what might happen to your license, your job, your pocket book, or even your freedom – you likely need the assistance of a qualified and highly experienced Beverly Hills DUI defense attorney. The Kraut Law Group (9107 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 450, Beverly Hills, California 90210 Phone: (310) 550-6935) is dedicated to providing empathetic, substantial, and powerfully strategic services for defendants. Connect with the former Deputy DA and Harvard Law School educated Attorney Kraut today to explore the most effective solution for your DUI problems.

Continue reading "Will Beverly Hills DUI Defendants Like or Loath TLC’s New Show “DUI”?" »

In the annals of Beverly Hills DUI arrests (and arrests for similar crimes in surrounding areas, like Pacific Palisades and Malibu), few sordid tales are as well known as Mel Gibson’s July 28, 2006 arrest on the PCH for driving under the influence. As regular readers of this blog (and really any publication that even remotely address problems like celebrity dysfunction and Beverly Hills DUI) know, Gibson dined at Moon Shadows in Malibu just hours before getting pulled over and spouting off crazy antisemitic ramblings to the arresting officer.

The “What Women Want” actor absorbed the public once again with a lurid spectacle earlier this year. Taped arguments between Gibson and his ex-girlfriend leaked into the blogosphere, revealing the ramblings of what appeared to be a sad, desperate person. Many of Gibson’s fans abandoned him, and even his long-term Hollywood pals distanced themselves. Never one to be intimidated, however, Gibson refused to allow the bad press to impact his life and his wanderings. Last week, paparazzi snapped some photos of Gibson hanging out at Moon Shadows at Malibu with a young lady friend, whom TMZ.com referred to as a “mysterious blonde.”

Gibson apparently was in no mood to repeat his mistakes of 2006 – he did not consume alcohol, and he had a driver drive him and his date home.

Nevertheless, this story does raise some interesting implications about what happens when defendants commit the same crime twice. If you are arrested and convicted more than once for Beverly Hills DUI, pursuant California Vehicle Code Sections 23152(a) or 23152(b), within a 10-year period, your penalties can escalate substantially.

Collect three DUI’s or more in one decade, for instance, and what ordinarily would be a simple (and potentially dismissible) misdemeanor Beverly Hills DUI charge could get jacked up to a felony DUI charge. As students of the law (and watchers of legal procedural shows) know well, a felony is far more serious than a misdemeanor. Depending on the nature of the legal indiscretion, you may also face additional penalties, such as extended probation time and stricter terms, longer time in alcohol school, longer drivers’ license suspension, more jail time, steeper fines and court costs, and harsher indirect problems, such as spikes in your insurance rates.

For help with your DUI charge, connect with the respected, highly accredited Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Michael Kraut of Beverly Hills’ Kraut Law Group (9107 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 450, Beverly Hills, California 90210 Phone: (310) 550-6935). Attorney Kraut has experience fighting for both sides: before he became a criminal defense attorney, he spent 14 years as a city prosecutor, during which he amassed a nearly perfect record at jury trials and a reputation as a convincing, compassionate, astute student of the law.

Continue reading "Beverly Hills DUI Flashback: Mel Gibson Visits Same Restaurant He Went to Moments Before Infamous 2006 Bust" »

Out of all the celebrities who’ve ever been arrested for driving under the influence in Los Angeles, few if any have generated more riveting legal headlines than Lindsay Lohan.

Ms. Lohan’s 2007 arrest for Los Angeles DUI was a relatively staid affair: she did not hurt anyone while driving DUI; she didn’t resist arrest in some crazy fashion; and didn’t have a BAC in an “out of this world” range (e.g. 0.48% or something). But in the years since her arrest, Lohan has returned again and again to the national spotlight for legal problems, including charges of probation violation, stealing jewelry, and even trying to duck out of her community service obligations at the County Morgue.

25-year-old Lohan's parents have also earned a reputation for flouting the law. Last week, for instance, the actress's father was arrested on two separate occasions for domestic violence and resisting arrest, after he allegedly beat-up and then subsequently harassed his ex-girlfriend, Kate Major.

Lindsay was long ago the picture of wholesomeness. She starred in movies like “Freaky Friday” and Disney TV specials. She has now upped the ante, in some sense, by offering to strip nude for Playboy Magazine for approximately $1 million.

TMZ.com reports that Playboy originally offered her $750,000, but she turned down that offer to ask for a cool million. Obviously, Lohan’s experience with Los Angeles DUI – and her other legal troubles – is not typical. In other words, if you or someone you care about has recently been arrested for a similar crime, you probably should look for other defendants to model. But the extravagant coda to her Los Angeles DUI arrest does give us some universal lessons about what to do (and what not to do) as a defendant.

The most crucial lesson is this: what you do after an arrest can magnify future punishments.

For instance, let’s say you got arrested for driving under the influence in Glendale after you got stopped at a checkpoint. Then you failed some Glendale field sobriety tests. If you go to a Glendale criminal defense attorney, like Michael Kraut at the Kraut Law Group (450 North Brand Boulevard, Suite 600, Glendale, California 91203 Phone: (818) 507-9123), and you avoid doing or saying anything that might comprise your case or give police and prosecutors ammunition, you might be able to fight the charges successfully.

However, if you make mistakes or omissions after the fact – fight with the arresting officers, for instance, or ignore what your attorney tells you, or get into additional legal trouble – then your situation becomes more complicated. The courts will consider not only the facts of the arrest itself but also your character and how you’ve displayed contrition (or lack thereof) since the arrest.

Fortunately, you don’t have to navigate the whole post-Glendale DUI arrest situation by yourself. Michael Kraut, an experienced former prosecutor with great connections and a fantastic track record for success, can help you.

Continue reading "Lindsay Lohan’s Never Ending Los Angeles DUI Complications – Part 2" »

In 2007, “Freaky Friday” actress Lindsay Lohan was arrested on a relatively routine charge of driving under the influence in Los Angeles.

Since then, Lohan has engaged in bizarre behavior, faced probation violations, and generally conducted herself publicly in what one might charitably describe as an “unusual” manner.

In a two part series, we are going to take a look at some of the most recent developments in Lindsay Lohan’s post 2007 Los Angeles DUI saga.

In this article, we will discuss the latest legal trouble facing her father, Michael Lohan. In a post later on this week, we will talk about Lohan’s amazing offer from Playboy Magazine to strip naked for the magazine for $1 million.

But first, let’s review what happened to Michael Lohan. According to TMZ.com and other outlets in the blogosphere and major media, Lohan was arrested in Florida last week… twice!

Early in the week, Michael allegedly hit his ex-girlfriend, Kate Major, at her apartment, sparking an arrest on charges of domestic violence. Barely 12 hours later, Michael called Kate and harassed her. Concerned for her safety, she called the Tampa police, who responded. Officers considered Michael to be a threat, so they headed to place him under arrest.

What happened next? Something completely amazing: instead of submitting quietly to the arrest, “Michael tried to escaping by hopping his third store balcony…but fell 34 feet to the ground, crashing onto some wooden chairs…and then he try to hide in some trees.”

Needless to say, Michael was ultimately apprehended and placed under arrest for violating the condition for his pretrial release and resisting arrest. Kate later told TMZ, clearly in fit of pique: “he [Lohan] has no regard for the justice system. He can beat up women, but Mr. Tough guy who slurred his words calling me five times after getting into jail wasn’t too tough by jumping off a third floor balcony into a tree to try to flee from going back to the same jail he just got released from less than 12-hours ago.”

Wow. It’s a big mess, and it appears to be getting bigger.

Of course, it’s important to try to draw some lessons from the sordid public tales of the Lohans' runs-ins with the law, as opposed to merely mindlessly spectating the downward spiral.

Driving under the influence in Los Angeles or anywhere else in California is a crime punishable according to California Vehicle Code Sections 23152(a) or 23152(b). The punishments can be quite severe – they can include jail time, forced probation, loss of driver’s license, mandatory alcohol classes, indirect bad effects on your insurance rates, etc. If you complicate the situation by, for instance, hurting someone while DUI, resisting arrest, etc, you could face additional charges, including the possibility of having a misdemeanor charge elevated to a felony charge.

Not good news.

Fortunately, an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at the Kraut Law Group (6255 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 915, Los Angeles, California 90028) can help you. Michael Kraut, the lead attorney, is a former city prosecutor (14 plus years as a Senior Deputy DA), and he has great relationships with prosecutors and a deep understanding of how the legal system works on a practical level.

Continue reading "Lindsay Lohan’s Never Ending Los Angeles DUI Complications – Part 1" »

Getting pulled over for driving under the influence in Long Beach or anywhere else throughout the Southland (or the U.S.) can be a humiliating experience. The level of humiliation gets ratcheted up substantially, however, if you happen to be a public, elected official.

When lawmakers, police officers and others entrusted with the public good do bad things – such as drive DUI in Long Beach or elsewhere – the media pores it on.

Consider last week’s arrest of ex Wisconsin state senator Randy Hopper, who, per a story in the Green Bay Gazette, got pulled over in a Wisconsin parking lot, after witnesses saw him nearly collide head first with another car. Officers administered field sobriety tests to Hopper. He apparently failed, big time – he could not balance, could not say the alphabet, etcetera.

After his arrest, Hopper pleaded with the arresting officer, Deputy Nicholas Venne: “Will you put down there that you didn't think I was that I (was) driving; you never saw me driving; you don't know I was driving. I didn’t do anything illegal.” Hopper refused an evidentiary breath test, but jail staff did get a preliminary breath test which suggested that his BAC was around 0.13% -- significantly higher than the cut off for Long Beach DUI of 0.08%, pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 23152.

To put it mildly – Hopper has not had a shining last few years. In a recent election, Hopper lost his senate seat to democrat Jessica King by a margin of 51% to 49% -- analysts believe that the razor thin defeat was fueled in part by Hopper's messy divorce. He apparently left his wife for a lobbyist, Valerie Cass, who witnessed the arrest. According to one report, Cass “reportedly became upset… and yelled at the family who had called the police.”

So what are some lessons this story can teach Long Beach DUI defendants?

1. What you say or do after your DUI arrest can matter – and come back to haunt you.

The fact that Hopper blew a 0.13% BAC preliminary breath test and uttered recorded comments to Deputy Venne may complicate his legal defense.

2. Anyone can get tagged with a DUI.

Just because you are an elected official or a police officer or some other “special person” does not immunize you from the consequences of driving DUI in Long Beach.

3. Your choice of Long Beach DUI defense attorney is pivotal.

The quality of your legal defense can fundamentally influence your potential sentencing – as well as your ability to rebound, long-term, from what happened to you. Michael Kraut of Long Beach’s Kraut Law Group (444 West Ocean, Suite 800 Long Beach, California 90802 Phone: (562) 531-7454) is an experienced former prosecutor with a phenomenal success rate at jury trials and a great reputation within his industry. Judges, former prosecutors, and others in the system all greatly respect him.

Continue reading "Long Beach DUI Consequences Can Be Brutal, Politically and Otherwise – Just Ask Republican State Senator Randy Hopper…" »

Last week, 20-year old actor Mitchel Musso was arrested for driving under the influence in Burbank underage near Chandler and Buena Vista, according to a report in the La Canada Valley Sun.

The actor, who appeared on Hannah Montana as well as in the 2003 movie, Secondhand Lions, allegedly “drove through the intersection [near an accident scene] and failed to do what the officer instructed him to do.”

Musso, who is probably best known for playing Oliver Oken in Hannah Montana, was pulled over at 3:45 A.M last Sunday morning. He had a BAC of substantially over the limit for driving under the influence in Burbank (0.08%). But since he was underage, any significant amount of alcohol in his system would constitute a crime. Per the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the actor was released after posting a bail of $5,000. No one else was in his 2007 Mercedes during the arrest.

Underage DUI in Burbank is not only a frustratingly serious crime, but it is also a crime that can ruin or cripple a young person’s future.

Obviously, any Burbank DUI is a potential (or actual) tragedy. In this case, Musso was fortunate, in that he did not cause injuries to anyone or to himself. But imagine if he had killed someone while driving DUI underage. Not only might he face hugely serious charges, such as vehicular manslaughter or worse, depending on his background and the circumstances, but he would also face the problem of being “sucked into the system.”

Once you accept the notion that you are a criminal or a DUI driver, you may have a difficult time changing that self image and returning to your previous model of yourself as “upstanding, law abiding citizen.” The way we view ourselves can have profound ramifications for our behaviors, thoughts, and life paths.

Underage Burbank DUI driving should be taken as a major warning sign – a clarion call that you need to get help. You may need the services of a respected, empathetic, and results driven Burbank DUI criminal defense lawyer, such as Michael Kraut of the Kraut Law Group (2600 West Olive Avenue, 5th Floor, Burbank, California 91505 Phone: (818) 563-9810). You also might need to do some inner work, such as therapy, meditation, and changing your peer group to reduce the negative influences on your behavior.

Attorney Michael Kraut of the Kraut Law Group is a former prosecutor for the city of Los Angeles – he spent over 14-years in that role, in fact. Now, as a criminal defense attorney, he brings his wealth of prosecutorial knowledge and experience to bear to help Burbank DUI defendants understand their challenges and meet them in a principled, successful way.

Continue reading "Underage Burbank DUI for Hannah Montana Star – 20-Year Pulled Over in Mercedes with BAC “Well Over” the 0.08% Limit" »

Last week, Randy Michaels, the former Chief Executive of the Tribune Company (owner of the Chicago Tribune, among other media holdings) was arrested near Cincinnati. If you or someone you care about is facing similar charges after failing a field sobriety test in Beverly Hills (or elsewhere in the Southland), Michaels’ ordeal may be quite instructive.

Although blogs and media outlets around the country reported on the arrest, it was most interesting to read the Tribune’s own report about the paper’s former boss. According to an October 14th article in the Tribune, "the media scion was arrested on 2 A.M on Friday the 14th near Ohio Highway 122 and Interstate 75." The Tribune reported that “police found his car stuck in mud with water up to the vehicle's frame in a construction zone… an officer who approached the car said he smelled alcohol on Michaels' breath, noticed his eyes were bloodshot and described him as being “unsteady” on his feet."

As regular readers of this Beverly Hills DUI blog know, those are classic Beverly Hills DUI symptoms.

Michaels was also put through the paces of field sobriety tests – three times – including stand on one leg, and walk the line. Police reports said that Michaels could only balance on his leg for about 3 seconds – a classic indicator that something was either amiss with his vestibular system or that he was under the influence of alcohol or other substances.

After the arrest, Michaels was bought to a city jail in the nearby town of Middletown. After consulting with a lawyer, Michaels refused to take a breathalyzer test at the jail. He was released after posting a bail of around $600.

Michaels took over the Chicago-based Tribune Company in 2007 but departed last year amid allegations that he had brought a “frat house culture” to the corporate offices of the Tribune.

Are there lessons here? Sure.

First of all, it is interesting to note the difference between Michaels’ reaction to his arrest (he called his attorney instead of submitting mindlessly to a breathalyzer test) and to contrast his actions with the actions of other DUI suspects we’ve recently blogged about. If you recall from a few blog posts ago, we talked about how drivers often make impulsive, irrational, destructive decisions AFTER getting arrested that redound to massively complicate their cases.

So here is a takeaway – and it is a takeaway that cannot be stressed enough: even if you’ve made terrible mistakes, such as driving DUI in Beverly Hills with injury, it’s never too late to start making rational, accurate and strategic decisions.

A competent Beverly Hills DUI attorney can help you know what you need to do. Connect with Michael Kraut of Beverly Hills’ Kraut Law Group (9107 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 450, Beverly Hills, California 90210 Phone: (310) 550-6935) today to discuss your needs and concerns. Attorney Kraut is a very reputable former prosecutor (also Harvard Law School educated) with the knowledge, knowhow and connections to give you best service.

Continue reading "Beverly Hills Field Sobriety Test Cautionary Tale: Former CEO of Chicago Tribune Busted for DUI in Cincinnati" »

Obviously, anyone charged with a serious crime like driving under the influence in Pasadena needs to take proactive, responsible, strategic action. The consequences of a less than stellar Pasadena DUI defense could mean anything from extensive and unnecessary jail time to catastrophic destruction of your personal and professional reputation.

But in the grand scheme of things, you can at least be thankful that you are not sitting in the hot seat currently occupied by the late Michael Jackson’s erstwhile physician, Dr. Conrad Murray. Last week, Jacko’s personal physician squared off against prosecutors at Los Angeles County Superior Court (Judge Michael Pastor presiding). Drama started the day before opening statements, when the judge two made pivotal rulings – one that Murray’s attorneys no doubt cheered and one that they jeered.

Defense Attorneys Cheered (Probably):

Prosecutors will not be allowed to tell jurors that investigators contacted Murray four times to re-interview him. According to a Los Angeles Times report: “The physician and his lawyer met with police for a lengthy interview two days after Jackson died, but an e-mail and phone calls to the attorney and Murray’s office were not returned.”

Defense Attorneys Jeered (Probably):

Jurors will not get to see a video of Michael Jackson’s last ever news conference. Murray’s lawyers wanted to include the footage, which allegedly “showed Jackson “under the influence” in public three months before his death and…established that the singer had agreed to a comeback concert series of just 10 “This Is It” shows and not the 50 ultimately scheduled.”

The 58-year-old Murray faces up to four years in jail as well as the loss of his license to practice medicine if the jury convicts him of involuntary manslaughter.

Prosecutors are trying to build a case that Murray gave Jackson propofol, an anesthetic used in surgery, to help the pop star sleep – a clear and scary violation of physician norms. Murray’s camp, however, contends that the King of Pop dosed himself to death.

Jacko’s doctors legal woes notwithstanding, if you face Pasadena DUI charges, your mind is likely completely consumed with your potential punishments and possible opportunities to fight back. What strategies should you adopt? What Pasadena DUI criminal attorney can you trust to protect your rights and ensure that you get the best possible outcome?

These are important questions to think about. Attorney Michael Kraut of Pasadena’s Kraut Law Group (790 East Colorado Boulevard, 9th floor, Pasadena, California 91101 Phone: (626) 345-1899) would be happy to speak with you about what you might be able to do to improve your legal situation. Not only does Attorney Kraut have a Harvard Law School education, a great record at jury trials, and experience as a former prosecutor (14+ years as a Deputy DA for Los Angeles) but he’s also been featured as a legal expert for Legal Broadcast Network, U.S. Weekly, The Los Angeles Times, and KTLA Channel 5.

Continue reading "Pasadena DUI Charge or Charge of Killing the King of Pop: Which Would You Rather Face?" »

If you or someone you love has been charged with the crime of driving under the influence in Long Beach, you might feel the urge to get a little creative in your defense.

After all, you'd like to shelter yourself from punishments like a long jail sentence, license suspension, mandatory alcohol education, fines, and the complete destruction of your personal reputation. But there are right ways and wrong ways to construct a Long Beach DUI defense. Ex-Detroit Lion Reggie Rogers, who's facing a sixth DUI (in one of his earlier other DUI incidents, he killed three teenagers), is putting up a defense that has many commentators smacking their foreheads in disbelief: is he really doing this?

Here's the scoop, per a local Detroit Fox News affiliate: “45-year-old Rogers was sentenced to one year in prison for his latest DUI, but his attorney is pleading with the judge to hear his cry and have Rogers serve his time under house arrest because the mattresses in prison will hurt his back.”

In November, Rogers’s attorney will make a case that the hard mattresses in prison will compel Rogers to undergo “another expensive surgery on his back.” The attorney is claiming that sending a patient with a bad back to prison is tantamount to “cruel and unusual punishment.”

The father/uncle of the three teens Rogers killed in a 1988 incident is not buying it. Robert Willett gave this rage-packed rebuttal: “If it’s only a mattress keeping him out of jail, I’ll buy him a mattress. So, don’t tell me because he had back surgery… if we had to let every prisoner go because they had back surgery, we’d have a lot of people out of them jails. So, it’s absolutely absurd… the only thing I ever been shocked about is he hasn’t killed anybody else.”

A legal analyst for the Fox 2 Detroit News team also found Rogers’s DUI defense preposterous: “I am outraged that he can even make such an argument… that he should be given some special treatment on a sixth drunken driving because he’s got a bad back. So, people with bad backs should get some special treatment? It’s not going to happen with this judge. It’s not going to happen with any judge. He should be in prison.”

These vitriolic responses illustrate what can happen if you concoct an absurd defense.

All that being said, you do have the right to a sound, compelling, and thorough defense; if you work with a strategic and knowledgeable Long Beach DUI criminal defense attorney, you might be surprised with the quality of your results. And you won’t need to resort to making absurd, unwinnable arguments that only earn you public derision.

The Long Beach DUI defense team at the Kraut Law Group (444 West Ocean, Suite 800 Long Beach, California 90802 Phone: (562) 531-7454) can help you understand the dos and don’ts of preparing your case. Attorney Kraut is a former prosecutor – with 14-plus years in the Deputy DA’s Office – so he knows how prosecutors think, what incentives they respond to, and how to negotiate with them. He also has a terrific rate at jury trials and a real understanding for how to build the most appropriate and successful Long Beach DUI defenses.

Continue reading "Considering an Outrageous Long Beach DUI Defense? Ex-Detroit Lion Reggie Rogers Probably Has You Beat..." »

We can all agree: Southern California would be a much safer place if drivers no longer drove under the influence in Beverly Hills or anywhere else throughout the Southland.

If no one ever got behind the wheel with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.08% or greater – no one violated CVC 23152 (a) or 23152 (b) – there would be fewer road deaths, fewer injuries, and significantly less property damage to boot.

And here is a foolproof way to ensure a future with a near zero rate of Beverly Hills DUI:

Reinstate Prohibition.

Our nation experimented with Prohibition back in the 1920s. Protests and entrepreneurial bootleggers’ games notwithstanding, alcohol consumption declined after national Prohibition laws passed. It stands to reason that, if there is enough willpower in Southern California to get similar legislation passed, we will likely see a similarly dramatic decline in alcohol consumption in our community. Obviously, we can never get to zero alcohol consumption because there would always be some people breaking the rules. But we can get pretty close.

Most people out there might write off this little thought experiment as silly. And it might be. But let's think about the possible consequences, as far as Beverly Hills DUIs are concerned. How many lives would be saved every year throughout California if alcohol was legally forbidden (and the law was enforced)? Dozens? Hundreds? Thousands? How many accidents would be prevented?

Say there was a new pharmaceutical drug that killed dozens of people every year due to its side effects: there would be no end to the clamor and uproar about how the government would need to outlaw the drug ASAP and punish anyone who continued to try to sell it or market it. And there would be a decent moral case for doing so. If you are going to be morally equitable, then you need to admit there is also a decent case for enforcing this kind of draconian Prohibition.

This hypothetical is meant to illustrate a point about Beverly Hills DUI policy: Draconian, “sweep all the pieces off the chess board” gestures might sound good in theory, depending on how you frame the statistics, but they come at a cost that is too great for (most) people to swallow. Like it or not, alcohol consumption is in some ways an intrinsic component of the American social landscape.

The solution to Beverly Hills DUI is not necessarily to throw the baby out with the bath water – to ban all alcohol consumption – but instead to come up with creative, strategic, scientifically grounded, and morally and ethically acceptable solutions to deter DUIs, make road safer, educate drivers, and generally work with every player in the system to protect people’s rights.

A Beverly Hills criminal defense attorney, such as Attorney Michael Kraut of Beverly Hills’ Kraut Law Group (9107 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 450, Beverly Hills, California 90210 Phone: (310) 550-6935), can help you make progress. Mr. Kraut is a regular TV and news media analyst who specializes in Los Angeles DUI and criminal defense matters, and he is also a Harvard Law School educated former prosecutor. He brings a diverse wealth of experience (and connections) to bear to help his clients make the progress they want.

Continue reading "An Absolutely Guaranteed Way to Permanently End Beverly Hills DUI" »

This blog typically focuses on news stories, advice, and tips to help defendants charged with crimes like Beverly Hills DUIs understand their options, build better defenses, and stay out of trouble.

But considering that the trial of the late Michael Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray, has consumed more than its fair share of media oxygen, it may be useful to address this admittedly amazing and scary story in this space.

After all, Murray's trial contains many hidden lessons that can help Beverly Hills DUI defendants understand their challenges, avoid mistakes, and get help before it’s too late.

Prosecutors allege that Dr. Conrad Murray prescribed controlled substances for Jackson, such as the drug propofol, and that the doctor’s reckless care contributed to the pop star’s untimely demise. Prosecutors had been counting on testimony from a Las Vegas pharmacist named Tom Lopez, who was set to testify that Dr. Murray had received huge amounts of propofol -- the drug that allegedly killed the King of Pop. Unfortunately for the prosecution, Lopez skipped town… in a major way. He is now apparently living in Thailand.

Whether Murray received massive amounts of propofol – and handed them off to Jackson – will be pivotal to the case. According to a coroner’s report, the King of Pop died in June of 2009 due to an overdose of the lethal combination of propofol and other drugs.

In August 2009, agents from the DEA raided Lopez’s company, Applied Pharmacy Services, and “seized computers, hard drives and other documents relating to prescriptions for controlled substances written by Dr. Conrad Murray for Michael Jackson and shipping information regarding drugs that may have been sent to Dr. Murray.”

The prosecution wants to read Lopez’s testimony, but the defense is arguing that they wouldn’t have the opportunity to cross-examine Lopez, so the evidence should be kept out of the trial.

So, what lessons can drug Beverly Hills DUI defendants learn from what’s happening?

1) First of all, unexpected weirdness can emerge before, during, or after a trial.

No one anticipated that Lopez would zip halfway across the globe and cause a pivotal legal battle before the trial.

2) Traces of your crime can be found far and wide.

Likely, Dr. Murray did not anticipate that his conversations with a Vegas pharmacist would one day become the center of a legal battle. Thanks to prosecutorial investigation techniques and technology, evidence against you can come from a surprisingly diverse array of sources.

3) The quality of your Beverly Hills DUI criminal defense attorney matters.

Your legal representative’s tenacity and acumen can make a profound difference in your case. Will certain evidence be allowed or disallowed? What precision techniques will work on a jury and what ones won’t? Small nuances – differences between a “good” and “great” Beverly Hills DUI attorney – can translate into widely disproportionate outcomes. A good attorney, for instance, may be able to get you off with a two-year jail sentence. But a great attorney might be able to get the charges dismissed altogether. (Obviously, everything depends on circumstances and context.)

For help with your Beverly Hills DUI charge, connect with the team at Beverly Hill’s Kraut Law Group (9107 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 450, Beverly Hills, California 90210 Phone: (310) 550-6935). Attorney Michael Kraut is an experienced, Harvard Law School educated ex-prosecutor with the connections, legal understanding, compassion, and tenacity to serve you well.

Continue reading "Beverly Hills Drug DUI News Update: Witness in Michael Jackson’s Doc’s Trial Goes MIA!" »

From Perez Hilton on downwards, bloggers and other media players who cover stories about driving under the influence in Long Beach (and elsewhere in SoCal) love to obsess over, speculate on, and pontificate about celebrity DUI arrests. The blogosphere lights up whenever a politician in Oregon is busted for riding his lawn mower while DUI, a pop star princess is busted for a Long Beach drug DUI on a return trip from Vegas, or a football player embarrasses his franchise by hitting three parked cars in one night after partying with his pals at a fancy South Miami club.

Obviously, these cases are entertaining, though theories abound as to why. Some deep thinkers suggest that the whole “let’s take a celebrity down a notch or two” attitude has its roots in the nature of the American myth. Others point to more simplistic Freudian and other physiological reasons. Irrespective of why we engage in voyeurism over celebrity DUI arrests, we do it.

A better question is: Is this media coverage helping people, harming them, doing both or doing neither? Let’s take a look at each of these possibilities.

Helping People

When the blogosphere exposes the latest careless or negligent celebrity, he or she is often painted as a clown or a danger to society. In other words, you don’t want to emulate that person. Thus, one can argue that Long Beach celebrity DUI news serves as a social deterrent.

The coverage also raises discussions about the perils of DUI driving by ruminating over the punishments (jail time, license suspensions, destruction of reputation, you name it), and thus these stories can serve as cautionary tales.

Hurting

On the flipside, one could make a compelling argument that these stories cheapen the problem of DUI. Since these stories circulate so often, our impression is that this is a relatively common thing to do. If people we look up to are doing it, we can probably do it ourselves.

Then there is also the problem of celebrities “getting off” relatively easily. For every story about Lindsay Lohan being tearfully condemned to a jail sentence, you can find three or four Long Beach celebrity DUI stories about football players, politicians, pop stars, etc. getting off with a proverbial slap on the wrist. Readers might be led to believe that driving DUI is (relatively) inconsequential.

The Neutral

Some readers might think this analysis is unnecessary, that a news story is just a news story. Drivers don’t really “take their cues” from what celebrities do or do not do on the roads. And there might be some truth to this side as well.

All of the Above

We also need to consider that there might be some truth to all three positions. Depending on the circumstances –the celebrity involved, the nature of the offense, your ability to relate (or not) with the celebrity, etc. –a news story might be helpful, harmful, or neutral to you.

For practical help with a Long Beach DUI, turn to an experienced attorney: Mr. Michael Kraut of Long Beach’s Kraut Law Group (444 West Ocean, Suite 800 Long Beach, California 90802 Phone: (562) 531-7454). Attorney Kraut is a Harvard Law School educated former prosecutor who can give you powerful advice about how to deal with any charges, no matter how complex.

Continue reading "Long Beach Celebrity DUI Stories: Do They Help or Harm the Public?" »

Last week, President Obama’s uncle, 67-year-old Onyango Obama, was arrested after he nearly hit an unmarked police car. According to a police officer, Obama exhibited “red and glassy eyes, slurred speech, and strong odor of alcohol and appeared unsteady on his feet” – identical symptoms of Burbank DUI that you, or perhaps a close relative, allegedly exhibited when you were stopped and arrested.

But unlike your Burbank DUI arrest, which likely did not get much news coverage beyond the local police blotter, the president’s uncle’s DUI has received international media coverage. This makes sense, since the defendant’s nephew in this case is the most powerful man on the planet.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Obama faces more than just Burbank DUI related problems. Authorities say Obama's immigration status is far from clear. The Boston Herald reported that Obama does have a social security card and a drivers’ license, but he was initially denied bail per an immigration and customs enforcement’s detainer.

Who did Obama call after he got arrested? The White House.

(Or at least, that’s what the grapevine says. The actual White House has been mum on the subject.)

Officer Val Krishtal, who made the stop, said Obama was argumentative: “(he) would not allow me to speak and continued to interrupt me…I explained to him that I narrowly avoided striking his vehicle, and he told me he did not hear my tires screeching, so I was not being accurate.” Obama denied that he had consumed alcohol before driving. Then he changed his story and admitted to having two beers. His BAC test came back at 0.14% -- as regular readers of this blog immediately understand, that’s well over the established limit for driving under the influence in Burbank (or in any U.S. city or state) of 0.08% BAC. In fact, it’s nearly twice that limit.

Obama’s arrest and possible immigration trouble raise dozens of questions, including:

• How will this impact the President, politically, if at all?
• If Obama puts up a sound defense and get exonerated – or even partially exonerated – will critics call “foul” and claim that his nephew offered subtle assistance?
• Did Obama actually call the White House after the DUI arrest?
• How might this influence President Obama’s ability to change immigration policy, if at all?

All these hypotheticals notwithstanding, you and your family want concrete answers and strategic guidance from a reputable Burbank DUI defense attorney. Michael Kraut of Burbank’s Kraut Law Group (2600 West Olive Avenue, 5th Floor, Burbank, California 91505 Phone: (818) 563-9810) will help you understand what to do and what not to do. Attorney Kraut spent nearly a decade and a half on the other side of DUI cases – fighting to put offenders behind bars and prosecute criminals. He was a very successful prosecutor, too, and racked up a terrific record at jury trials. Attorney Kraut will leverage his practical experience as well as his relationships and deep understanding of Burbank DUI law to help you resolve your situation and move forward with your life.

Continue reading "Burbank DUI Symptoms – Even the President’s Uncle Has ’Em. Will Obama be Deported?" »

If you have been charged with driving under the influence in Burbank, you are probably biting your nails, wondering what the law might have in store for you.

Meanwhile, last week, just one state away, Cy Waits, the ex-boyfriend of celebutante Paris Hilton, took a DUI plea deal stemming from a 2010 Las Vegas strip traffic stop. Waits was fined $585, ordered to attend victim impact classes, and given a suspended jail sentence of 30 days.

Not too bad.

Indeed, it could have been a LOT worse for the 35-year-old Waits. As the AP reports, “Waits was arrested August 27, 2010, after a Los Vegas police officer reported a ‘vapor trail’ of marijuana smoke lofting from a black Cadillac Escalade with Waits at the wheel. Hilton, a passenger in the vehicle, was arrested after the police said a small bag containing 0.8 grams of cocaine fell from her Chanel bag, as she reached for a tube of lip balm.”

Prosecutors originally leveled both felony and misdemeanor drug charges against Waits, but later dropped them.

Judge Kephart did warn Waits: “if you are arrested for another DUI during the pendency of this case, I don’t care if it is alcohol or drugs, you will do six months in the Clark County Jail.”

Without knowing the details of your Burbank DUI arrest, it’s difficult to predict what your outcome will be. If it was a standard misdemeanor DUI with no other complications (i.e. you didn’t injure anyone, you didn’t commit a hit and run, you weren’t considerably over the limit, etc), the penalties might be similar to those Mr. Waits faced. But you should still connect with an experienced Burbank DUI criminal defense attorney to plan your next steps.

On the flip side, if this is your second, third, or fourth arrest within the past 10 years, your Burbank DUI penalties are liable to be much more severe. You could face significant jail time, fines, fees, humiliation, and long-term problems – such as higher insurance rates, problems getting hired, loss of professional reputation, etc.

The moral is: Your decisions from here on out matter greatly.

Attorney Michel Kraut of Burbank’s Kraut Law Group (2600 West Olive Avenue, 5th Floor, Burbank, California 91505 Phone: (818) 563-9810) will help you work through your complex, scary situation and guide you toward a systematic, smart legal defense. Attorney Kraut has a fantastic track record and a nearly 100% success rate with jury trials. He has built a reputation as an aggressive, knowledgeable, strategic attorney and he has also been a regular pundit and commentator on local and national media as an expert in Burbank DUI Law.

Continue reading "Burbank DUI Penalties: How Might They Measure up to Paris Hilton’s Ex’s DUI Plea Deal?" »

Last week, Rodney King – the man whose videotaped beating ultimately sparked race riots that left 55 people dead and $1 billion worth of property damaged in its wake – was charged with DUI near Long Beach.

Twenty years ago, King was stopped by LAPD officers and then beaten to near death – the tragic beating was captured on video, and it led to the indictment of four officers involved. When three of the officers were acquitted, the verdicts touched off race riots that tarnished Los Angeles’ name for over a decade.

So how did police handle the King near Long Beach DUI stop this time?

According to news reports: relatively smoothly. CNN reported this blow by blow: "A Moreno Valley traffic enforcement unit observed King commit “several traffic violations,” although he was not cited for speeding. After questioning King, a patrol officer noted King exhibited signs of behavior that might involve alcohol or drug consumption."

King was asked to step out of the car and submit to a voluntary field sobriety test. He was “cooperative and compliant.” So no drama on either King’s part or the LAPD’s part.

Is that a sign that the LAPD has evolved or that race relationships have changed in the city?

Pundits can say what they will, but a single stop is a single stop. It’s hard to extrapolate patterns from single data points, as any good scientist would tell you.

It’s pretty amazing – given what King went through 20 years ago – that he managed to behave calmly and rationally. A Long Beach field sobriety test can be a very scary ordeal. You might be asked to engage in a series of physical and mental coordination tests, such as walk the line, finger to the nose, horizontal gaze nystagmus, counting backwards, and other balance tests. If you underperform – trip or stumble – officers might interpret your lack of coordination as a sign that you were indeed driving under the influence in Long Beach, and you could be arrested and charged pursuant to California Vehicle Code Sections 23152(a) or 23152(b).

And that’s just if you were stopped without any other complications, such as an accident, injury, hit and run, or other traffic infraction.

If you or someone you love got pulled over for Long Beach DUI, you may be bedazzled by questions, like:

• What is the best way to navigate the Southern California legal system?
• How do you build your best defense?
• How do you make sure that the police and prosecutors treat you fairly?
• How do you avoid making mistakes or giving statements that could compound your legal woes?

A Long Beach criminal defense attorney at the Kraut Law Group (444 West Ocean, Suite 800 Long Beach, California 90802 Phone: (562) 531-7454) can help you understand what to do – and, possibly more importantly, what not to do. Attorney Michel Kraut spent over 14 years as a Senior Deputy District Attorney for the City of Los Angeles (a prosecutor of crimes like DUI), and he has a fantastic track record for developing strategic, effective, and aggressive defenses for DUI clients.

Continue reading "Long Beach DUI Field Sobriety Test with Rodney King: How Did the Police Handle It?" »

You might think that people who have been arrested for driving under the influence in Burbank or elsewhere in SoCal would be able to bond over their experiences. Especially if those two people were once friends and lovers. But that’s not always the case…

As this blog reported a few weeks ago, DJ and party girl Samantha Ronson got pulled over near Bakersfield and arrested for driving under the influence while en-route to LA from the city that never sleeps. According to Gather.com, Ronson allegedly called her ex-girlfriend, Lindsay Lohan – one of the most famous faces of all-time in the Los Angeles DUI blogosphere – expecting, possibly, consolation and commiseration.

Instead, allegedly, the “mean girl star turned mean for real and lambasted her former girlfriend, taunting her, calling her names, and laughing at her current misfortune. “Wow, you turned out to be a fine example…” LiLo sneered. “You think you would have learned something from all those hours of boring lectures you gave me!”

The Gather.com article said that the conversation between the exes was “loud” and “ended with Ronson yelling that she would never call her evil ex again and then slamming down the phone.”

Obviously, this story is a bit salacious. Ronson and Lohan were, at one time, tabloid staples. But the story illustrates a deeper truth about the Burbank DUI process. Specifically, surprises abound. You might expect one person in your life to be sympathetic, but be surprised to be met with scorn and opprobrium. Conversely, you might discover resources that completely change your life for the better, such as a strategically focused Burbank criminal defense attorney (2600 West Olive Avenue, 5th Floor, Burbank, California 91505 Phone: (818) 563-9810).

The attitude with which you face your Burbank DUI charge can make all the difference. If you look at what’s happened to you – and the possible penalties you face – with a “woe is me” attitude, that’s not resourceful or productive, nor is it even entirely true.

This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t face up the reality, acknowledge the possibly paralyzing legal situation you are in and take positive and powerful action to fix your problems. But your arrest and charges can lead to self-growth and the cultivation of new and resourceful perspectives on your life. Yes, you might face surprising setbacks even after the surprising arrest. Like an ex-boyfriend, girlfriend, family member, or friend being far less than sympathetic and rubbing salt on your wounds.

But you also have the opportunity to change things and transform your life for the better. Connect with Burbank’s Kraut Law Group to discuss your case in confidence with Harvard Law School-educated former prosecutor Michael Kraut and begin the process of constructively and resourcefully navigating your future.

Continue reading "Burbank DUI with Alcohol and Mean Girls: Lindsay Lohan Thrashes Ex-girlfriend Samantha Ronson after Ronson’s DUI Bust" »

The Beverly Hills DUI process is no trip to the candy store.

But when young adults, like That’s So Raven star Orlando Brown, drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the penalties and other consequences can be stark and very, very serious. Last Friday night, law enforcement officers pulled over Brown for driving without a license plate while his pregnant girlfriend was in the car. Police investigated and noticed the odor of alcohol on Brown, so he was subject to a field sobriety test. Allegedly, the results were not good.

Police booked Brown at the Hollywood station around 12:30 in the morning and released him early Saturday after he posted $15,000 in bail. The 23-year-old actor/rapper now faces some serious legal difficulties, as well as possible branding troubles. After all, Brown is a product of the Disney TV empire. And Disney is extremely protective of its brand. It wants its stars young, wholesome, and untainted by unsavory allegations – especially trouble like Beverly Hills DUI.

So what does someone like Brown do to fix the situation? And how might his solutions parallel or diverge from the solutions “ordinary people” use, who will also do things like fail Beverly Hills DUI sobriety tests?

The Parallels

The law doesn’t care whether you are a celebrity, teen heartthrob, or ordinary Joe. If you violate California Vehicle Code Section 23152(a) or 23152(b), you are in for a rough ride, including jail time, lost/suspended license, many weeks of alcohol school (mandatory), court costs and fines, and generally a lot of other trouble.

The law, however, is very interested in your past record – what happened to your behavior during and after the accident and/or arrest, and your attitude and level of contrition going forward. If you have a criminal record, it will also come into play. Brown, for instance, got pulled over in 2007 for driving with his lights off, and the police discovered marijuana in his vehicle. Whether that’s an issue in this case isn’t clear. But bad criminal behavior – or even bad driving behavior – will impact your chances for a successful defense against DUI charges.

The Differences

The biggest difference between a celebrity Beverly Hills DUI and an “ordinary Joe” DUI is probably attitudinal. In other words, the attitude with which you approach your DUI situation really matters. If you are imbued with self-confidence, hope, compassion, a sense of remorse, and a sense that you are life is going to be okay despite the bad news – that’s the right attitude to have. Because when you think positively and resourcefully, you will be more likely to connect with other resources that can help you, such as an experienced and extremely competent Beverly Hills criminal defense attorney. Attorney Michael Kraut of Beverly Hills’ Kraut Law Group [9107 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 450, Beverly Hills, California 90210 Phone: (310) 550-6935] is standing by to provide a free and confidential consultation regarding your DUI arrest. Attorney Kraut is a Harvard Law School-educated former prosecutor. He wields his experience from both sides of the law (prosecutor and defense attorney) to tremendous effect for his clients.

Continue reading "What Scary Beverly Hills DUI Penalties Await That’s So Raven Star Orlando Brown? (Kid Star Busted for DUI with Pregnant Girlfriend in Car? Yikes!)" »