"Court Case Friday" As a new D.A. I was prosecuting a drunk driver. My expert criminalist testified in the jury trial that the defendant must have consumed at least seven drinks in order to reach his blood alcohol level. After finishing with the criminalist’s testimony, I rested my case, and the judge announced a noon recess. … Continue reading LDS Drunk Driver With a Guilty Conscience
"Court Case Friday" I had a case where a CHP officer pulled over a DUI driver on the 57 Freeway next to Angel stadium. As the officer was conducting field sobriety tests (FSTs) there was a major accident in the center divider. The officer ordered the suspect to sit on the shoulder, while the officer … Continue reading Drunk Driver “Steals” Police Car
"Court Case Friday" “Drunk Driving” (DUI) cases are some of the most tragic. They are also some of the most entertaining. Field Sobriety Tests In the “old days,” reciting the alphabet was a standard field sobriety test (FST). This FST tested mental impairment. Mental impairment occurs before observable physical impairment. Years ago, the National Highway … Continue reading DUI Drivers Versus the Alphabet
"Court Case Friday" “Drunk driving” (DUI) cases are some of the most tragic. They are also some of the most entertaining. I had a unique DUI case involving an 85-year-old woman with a very high blood alcohol level. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer spotted her weaving in the fast lane on the I-5 Freeway … Continue reading Drunk Driver: Golf Cart on the Freeway
"Court Case Friday" Most of the time, police “catch” the “drunk drivers.”* Sometimes, the cops are minding their own business and the “drunk drivers” “catch” them. Drunk Driver Crashes into Police Donut Shop I had a case where two CHP officers were sitting by the window inside a donut shop having a coffee break. It … Continue reading 4 Drunk Drivers Who “Caught” the Police
One of my first assignments in the OC DA's Office was in the courtroom of Judge Ragnar Engebretsen. Judge Engebretsen was a faithful member of the LDS Church, and a senior high councilor in his stake at the time. We had completed our work for the day, and I was gathering my case files when … Continue reading Young LDS Drunk Driver
"Court Case Friday" As a young prosecutor, I put on a felony preliminary hearing in a horrific DUI death case. The defendant was driving eastbound on Westminster Blvd. in Orange County. He was going very fast. He was also under the influence. He had a high level of alcohol in his blood. The defendant approached … Continue reading My Civilian Witness Surprisingly Turned Out to be an Expert
Marijuana and Driving Ever since marijuana became legal in California, the number of people driving under the influence of marijuana has skyrocketed. This was an unintended, but obvious, consequence of legalization. Marijuana plants contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a psychoactive drug that gives a “high.” Like alcohol, THC is a central nervous system suppressant/depressant. Like alcohol, THC … Continue reading Entertaining DUI Marijuana Cases
When I was a rookie deputy district attorney (D.A.) one of my colleagues quickly grabbed a case file and rushed off to court for his first jury trial. He wanted to make a good impression. The judge explained that the defendant waived his right to an attorney and insisted on exercising his constitutional right to … Continue reading The D.A.’s Disastrous Embarrassing False Start with a Jury
DUI cases are among the most tragic. They are also among the most entertaining. DUI Driver Pulls Cop Over Late one night, a young driver waved for a patrol car to pull over. The officer approached the young man’s car. “Officer, I’ve just come from a party where I was drinking. Could you test me to see … Continue reading More Entertaining DUI Cases
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