Marin DUI Lawyer Blog

The Solano County Probation Department has received $17,000.00 in grant money from the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) in order to conduct a one year-long program aimed at curbing DUI related deaths and injuries.

Felony and repeat drunk drivers in Solano County will be targeted with specialized probation supervision measures. Grant money will also be used by the probation department to work with other Solano County Police agencies on anti-DUI efforts. Those multi agency activities will include monitoring of treatment and DUI program compliance, driving under the influence related warrant sweeps, and unannounced home searches of drunk driving probationers.

Continue reading "Solano County Gets Grant to Supervise Felony and Rpeat DUI Offenders" »

Forty seven year old Michael Helms from San Pablo and forty five year old Larry Hernandez from El Sobrante were arrested Tuesday when Detectives saw them taking a catalytic converter from a truck in Marin County. Helms and Hernandez were arrested last week in Sonoma County on possession of stolen property charges and were being watched by detectives from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Property Crimes Investigation unit.

Mr. Helms and Mr. Hernandez are suspected of stealing at least three vehicles, breaking into a truck and stealing tools, along with stealing catalytic converters. Detectives conducing the surveillance of both men followed them from Rhonert Park to a park and ride lot in Novato where they observed Mr. Hernandez saw the catalytic converter off of a pick up truck in the lot.

Police officers approached both suspects who fled but were apprehended about a mile from the park and ride lot. Mr. Helms was arrested on charges of grand theft, conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance, possession of burglary tools, and driving on a suspended license. Mr. Hernandez was arrested for grand theft, conspiracy and possession of burglary tools. Both men were booked into the Marin County Jail.

Possession of a controlled substance can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the drug, the quantity possessed and the suspects prior criminal record. Grand theft is also a wobbler offense punishable by up to three years in state prison as a felony and by up to one year in the county jail as a misdemeanor.

Continue reading "Two Suspects Caught Stealing a Catalytic Converter in Novato" »

The Petaluma Police Department reported that officers with Sonoma County's Avoid the 13 DUI Task Force arrested 80 people on suspicion of driving under the influence from the time they began their special enforcement efforts on December 17 through the Christmas weekend. Also, the CHP indicated that the, the holiday weekend crackdown on drunk driving netted six arrests.

Among those six drunk drivers arrested was 19 year old
Jaime Hernandez of Cloverdale. Mr. Hernandez was stopped around 4:20 p.m. last Saturday on northbound Highway 101 after he was observed swerving several times into the next lane. Mr. Hernandez was driving with his 4 children and was booked into the Sonoma County Jail on charges of felony child endangerment, drunken driving and driving without a license.

Having a minor under 14 years of age is an enhancement to a DUI charge pursuant to California Vehicle Code section 23572. However, the Sonoma County District Attorney could elect to charge Mr. Hernandez for the Child Endangerment charges on which he was booked. Conviction for felony child endangerment could result in a state prison sentence and mandatory attendance at a parenting class. An enhancement under section 23572 could result in additional jail time as part of any sentence for a DUI conviction.

Continue reading "Sonoma County Christmas Weekend DUI Crackdown nets 6" »

41 year old John R. Forbes of Cloverdale was arrested Monday on suspicion of DUI and hit and run. The CHP reported that Mr. Forbes rear ended another car at about 4:30 p.m. near Spencer Avenue on northbound Highway 101 near Sausalito. He was arrested around 5:00 p.m. while driving near Rohnert Park in Sonoma County.

Officers said that Mr. Forbes drove off before medics arrived to treat the other driver and take her to the hospital. The rear end collision caused the diver of the other vehicle to crash into the center divider.

The District Attorney will be making a charging determination after the CHP officers booked Mr. Forbes for felony drunk driving and hit and run. He was set to be arraigned Tuesday in the Marin County Superior Court. If he is convicted of a felony driving under the influence charge he could be sentenced to state prison for up to 3 years on a first offense and he faces the possibility of having his driver license revoked for at least 1 year and for two or more years if he has any prior convictions or DMV administrative suspensions for driving under the influence.

Continue reading "Accident on 101 in Marin County leads to DUI and Hit and Run arrest" »

45 year old Primitivo Piceno of Santa Rosa was arrested on May 30, 2010, by the CHP in Cloverdale. Police officers contacted Mr. Piceno after being notified that a driver was traveling well under the speed limit and impeding other drivers.

Responding officers found Mr. Piceno parked on the shoulder being detained by other drivers. He was apparently so drunk that was unable to speak coherently and fell to the ground while attempting to perform field sobriety tests.

Mr. Piceno was arrested and booked in to the Sonoma County jail for numerous counts including felony drunken driving and driving with a suspended license. Anyone charged with their fourth DUI in a ten year period or who has a prior felony DUI within the last ten years can be charged with a felony for driving under the influence. Mr. Piceno was charged with a felony due the number and recency of his prior DUIs.

Police officers said that Mr. Piceno had an order to drive any vehicle not equipped with an ignition interlock device installed in it. The Vehicle he was driving did not have an IID in it.

Continue reading "Marin County DUI lawyer, Santa Rosa man arrested for 6th DUI since 01'" »