As Long Beach drunk driving criminal defense lawyers, we were interested to see a comment from the defense lawyer for Lindsay Lohan, the starlet who was recently sent to jail for violating probation on a DUI charge. Lohan, 24, was arrested in 2007 for drunk driving and cocaine possession. Like many first-time offenders, Lohan was sentenced to alcohol classes and probation, but had trouble attending the classes because of her work. She also missed a court date and triggered the automatic reporting mechanism on a court-ordered alcohol monitoring anklet. After sharp criticism from the judge in her case, Lohan was sentenced to 90 days in jail for violating probation and another 90 days in a rehabilitation clinic.
Lohan's failure to meet her legal obligations has been widely reported in the mainstream and celebrity press. According to a July 8 article from Reuters, she has missed seven alcohol education classes in the last 27 weeks. Her defense lawyer blamed work for keeping Lohan away, and said Lohan was still substantially in compliance and would have finished the classes by July 15. In addition, Lohan famously missed a court date in Los Angeles because she was attending the Cannes Film Festival; she claimed she didn't make it back because someone had stolen her passport. Last month, the SCRAM bracelet Lohan has been sentenced to wear, which monitors alcohol consumption by analyzing the wearer's sweat, reported that she had been drinking in violation of a court order. She claims she was not drinking.
Our Newport Beach DUI criminal defense attorneys have some sympathy for that last argument. SCRAM bracelets work on roughly the same principal as breathalyzer testing, and like breath tests, they have scientific flaws. One is major: A SCRAM bracelet measures any type of liquid or gaseous alcohol coming off the wearer's skin, not just alcohol excreted in sweat. That means certain bath products, like perfume or mouthwash, could cause a false positive -- as could spilled alcohol. If this happened to Lohan, the probation violation case against her would be substantially weaker. Missing classes is not good, but as Lohan's attorney pointed out, it's a common problem for DUI offenders who have to balance those classes with jobs and other obligations. And it's not hard to believe that, with the media watching, the judge in Lohan's case would have made a harsh ruling to avoid being accused of going easy on her because of her fame.
Howard Law, P.C. defends people from all backgrounds -- not just celebrities -- who are facing a charge of driving under the influence in California. In fact, the consequences of a DUI can have severe negative effects on an ordinary person's life. A drunk driving conviction can cost thousands of dollars in fines, fees and other costs, and that's separate from the immediate increase in auto insurance rates that defendants can expect. A conviction often means your driver's license will be revoked as well, which can interfere with your ability to get to work, find a job or meet other obligations. Our Escondido intoxicated driving criminal defense lawyers help clients fight these charges, starting right away by filing paperwork that could save their licenses. We coordinate defense of your license with defense of the underlying DUI case.
If you're accused of drinking and driving in California, you should call Howard Law, P.C. right away to learn more about your rights and your options. To set up a free consultation, please send us a message online or call 1-800-872-5925.
