Dina Taurasi, a basketball star for the WNBA's Phoenix
Mercury, was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol on Thursday of
last week in the early morning hours.
Phoenix police initially
pulled Taurasi over for speeding, but when the officer approached Taurasi's
car, he or she smelled alcohol.
Taurasi
was given several field sobriety tests, then driven to a mobile DUI van where
she gave a
blood sample.
Taurasi was
cited by police then released.
Phoenix authorities have
not released her
blood sample results, and WNBA officials have not yet
commented on the case.
While Phoenix law may differ
somewhat, Los Angeles
laws regarding driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol are quite
stringent. Los Angeles law enforcement agencies
vigorously prosecute DUI cases and penalties for a driving under the influence
conviction get more severe with every case.
In general, for a first offense with no prior criminal history, a DUI
conviction might garner probation and a suspension of driving privileges. Other factors such as speeding or how much
higher your blood alcohol concentration is than the .08% legal limit might
increase the penalties. Having a prior
history of driving under the influence convictions virtually ensures a jail
sentence of some length, as well as court-ordered alcohol counseling. Each DUI case is different, though and each
sentence is based on a number of individual factors. While the majority of driving under the
influence cases in Los Angeles are classified as misdemeanor offenses, multiple
prior driving under the influence convictions, having a blood alcohol
concentration of more than .20% or the injury of another person while driving
under the influence could potentially bump your case up to a felony classification,
making jail time a much more likely outcome.
Your defense options, however, are not as limited as you might
believe. Field sobriety tests are not
always as accurate an indicator of a driver's sobriety as Los Angeles law enforcement would have you
believe. Breath analysis has likewise
been proven time and again as an unreliable method of determining a person's
blood alcohol concentration.
If you have been cited with driving under the influence of
either drugs or alcohol in Los Angeles,
call the attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP today. Our combined 50 years of experience in
defending against DUI charges will fight for you.
