A field sobriety test is one of many tools that officers use in Los Angeles to determine if a driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Drivers commonly assume that they are required by law to participate in these motor skills tests, but field sobriety tests are voluntary. You have the right to decline. If, however, you have already consented to a field sobriety test, you should contact a skilled Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer right away.

During a traffic stop, an officer will try to detect the smell of alcohol. Empty bottles, slurred speech, or unusual behavior are all signs of intoxication. In some cases, an officer will ask the driver to exit the vehicle and perform any number of field sobriety tests.

Increased driving under the influence (DUI) patrols in Orange County over Thanksgiving week resulted in more DUI arrests this year compared to 2011. According to a KTLA news report, between November 21 at 6 p.m. and November 24 at 6 a.m., there were 44 DUI arrests in Orange County. That number reflects a 16 percent increase from the 37 DUI arrests that occurred in Orange County during the same period in 2011. Statewide, however, arrests decreased from 903 in the year 2011 to 840 this year. Officials also say that there were no reported traffic fatalities over the holiday in Orange County.

Los Angeles law enforcement officers increase their efforts to crackdown on drunk driving every Thanksgiving. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, during an 84-hour period around Thanksgiving in 2011, 303 motorists were arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Los Angeles County. That number reflects a slight increase from the 276 driving under the influence (DUI) arrests that occurred during the same period in the year 2010. Los Angeles officers will attempt to prevent fatal DUI crashes by continuing their enforcement efforts this holiday as well.

If you plan on driving in Los Angeles County this Thanksgiving, you should be aware that any unusual behavior could result in a traffic stop and arrest. Local law enforcement agencies utilize DUI saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints throughout Los Angeles and will be on the lookout for motorists who are driving erratically, carelessly, or dangerously, as these are signs of intoxicated driving.

For the eighth year in a row, Los Angeles County has been awarded a substantial grant to implement more driving under the influence (DUI) checkpoints. According to an EGP News report, Los Angeles County’s DUI task force has been awarded $450,000 to fight drunk driving through September of 2013. The grant will allow law enforcement officers to conduct DUI saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints throughout the county.

The city of Montebello has not conducted a DUI checkpoint for a while, but officials have applied for support to begin cracking down on drunk driving. Bell Gardens has not had a checkpoint within city limits since July of 2012, but the grant should mean more frequent checkpoints in the future. Other cities, such as Monterey Park and Vernon, are expected to utilize the funds as well.

A sobriety checkpoint is when law enforcement officers block off a roadway to search for impaired drivers. In Los Angeles, it is common to see checkpoints on busy roadways near popular bars and restaurants where alcohol is served. For example, there were recent driving under the influence (DUI) checkpoints at the intersections of Hollywood Boulevard and Ivar Avenue; South La Cienega Boulevard and West Manchester Boulevard; and at Ventura Boulevard and Rubio Avenue. You can be sure that local law enforcement agencies across Los Angeles County will man a number of sobriety checkpoints this Halloween as well.

It is common practice for Los Angeles officials to set up checkpoints on holidays. You will see an increase in L.A. DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols every Memorial Day, Labor Day, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. If you plan on attending Halloween parties this year, it is important that you secure a designated driver.

If you have ever tried to get around Los Angeles or even Southern California without a vehicle, you can imagine how difficult it must be to have a suspended license. Los Angeles residents who have their license suspended often experience negative consequences financially, professionally, and socially. If you are arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Los Angeles, you may face a lengthy license suspension. The length of that suspension will usually depend on your driving record and the circumstances of the incident, such as your blood alcohol level.

A first-time drunk driving conviction could result in a six-month license suspension. It is within the court’s discretion to grant a driver a temporary restricted license during his or her suspension. A restricted license will only allow a defendant to drive to work. A full reinstatement will not be issued until after the driver completes the mandatory driving under the influence (DUI) classes, pays the DMV a license reissue fee, and provides proof of financial responsibility.

It is a common mistake for drivers to assume that they have to plead guilty or negotiate for a plea deal if they have been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. The truth is that many Los Angeles drivers have it in their best interest to fight the driving under the influence (DUI) charges they face. There are many potential DUI defenses and it is often possible to fight the charges.

An important part of building a solid defense is reviewing every aspect of the alleged incident and subsequent arrest. Arresting officers must adhere to a standardized set of procedures during a DUI roadside investigation in Los Angeles. Information and evidence wrongfully gathered by officers can get thrown out. What justification did the officer have for making the traffic stop? When was the driver informed of his or her rights? Was the officer properly trained to perform a field sobriety test?