On behalf of Matthew R. Hoff, Attorney at Law posted in Blood Alcohol Tests on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Sometimes, those suspected of a crime forget that they are entitled to specific rights. For example, if evidence is not collected accurately, a case against the defendant can be weakened. That was exactly the case in a national story. In recent news, the drunk driving case against Mark Ditka lost a piece of evidence when a judge ruled the breathalyzer test, which was administered by a police officer, could not be used in court.
Sources say that the judge dismissed the results of a test showing Ditka, the son of former Chicago Bears Coach Mike Ditka, had a blood alcohol level of 0.16. In Washington, this reading is twice the legal limit and suggests guilt for a DUI charge. According to reports, the exam may have been tainted by tobacco juice.
On behalf of Matthew R. Hoff, Attorney at Law posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Washington residents may remember the hero and heartthrob from ABC's "Lost." Dr. Jack Shephard was played by Matthew Fox, and the character served as one of the leads on this mind-bending television show. However, if you are a diehard fan, you know that drinking got Dr. Jack Shephard into trouble. Well, as it turns out, the same goes for the actor.
Law enforcement sources explain that Fox was recently arrested for DUI on Friday. Circumstances surrounding the arrest have not been reported; however, the actor was detained and later released.
On behalf of Matthew R. Hoff, Attorney at Law posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Friday, May 4, 2012
If you follow this blog, then you probably already know about Washington's efforts to crack down on drunk driving, especially on holidays that involve a lot of celebratory drinking. Well, you may recall that authorities were on the lookout for DUI offenders on St. Patrick's Day; however, they are back on this task this coming Saturday.
Statewide, law enforcement agencies plan to go after drunk drivers this Saturday, which is Cinco de Mayo. Specifically, local authorities, the Washington State Liquor Control Board and the Washington State Patrol have scheduled extra DUI officers and troopers to patrol that day. Furthermore, police plan to visit bars to ensure responsible service.
On behalf of Matthew R. Hoff, Attorney at Law posted in Blood Alcohol Tests on Friday, April 27, 2012
Did you know that Washington state ranks second in the nation for the number of ignition interlock system installations? In fact, it only takes one DUI offense to have the alcohol-detecting device put in your car for a year. For a second conviction, one must have the system in their vehicle for five years. Ultimately, with each subsequent conviction, the installation period increases.
A breath test is required to start a car with this system. Sometimes, random tests are requested while the vehicle is in motion to keep the car running. If a person fails the test while the car is running, the vehicle will start honking to attract law enforcement.
On behalf of Matthew R. Hoff, Attorney at Law posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Friday, April 20, 2012
Even if you are a victim in a car accident, as a motorist involved in a collision, you can nonetheless be charged for driving under the influence. This is exactly what happened to a local individual. Recently, a 25-year-old man was charged with DUI after a two-vehicle crash left him harmed.
The man, who is of Vancouver, was going east on Washington State Route 14 near mile post 4. While he was driving, his 2001 Jeep Cherokee moved to the right and hit the door of a 2005 Mazda Miata.
On behalf of Matthew R. Hoff, Attorney at Law posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Friday, April 13, 2012
In recent news, actress Amanda Bynes has been arrested on a misdemeanor charge for driving under the influence. Washington residents would probably recognize the actress in her recent movie appearances such as "She's the Man," "Hairspray" and "Easy A."According to reports, the celebrity got into a fender bender--with a police car.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the police car was about to turn right when the actress, who was driving a black BMW, allegedly passed and collided with the right rear portion of the cruiser. After the crash, an investigation ensued by the officer in the hit vehicle. The officer suspected that Bynes had been drinking. Subsequently, she was arrested for DUI.
On behalf of Matthew R. Hoff, Attorney at Law posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Thursday, April 5, 2012
With spring blooming, Washington baseball enthusiasts are extremely excited for the start of Major League Baseball. One team, however, is dealing with a little bit of a criminal setback. In recent news, MLB pitcher Cristhian Martinez was taken into custody this week for DUI charges. Martinez is in his third season with the Atlanta Braves.
According to sources, the baseball pitcher was weaving in and out of a lane and traveling at a low speed on the highway. Eventually, Martinez was pulled over for failure to maintain a single lane. During the traffic stop, the officer smelled alcohol on Martinez's breath. As a result, police initiated a field sobriety test. According to reports, Martinez's blood alcohol registered at 0.13 in a breath test, which is over the legal limit in most states.
On behalf of Matthew R. Hoff, Attorney at Law posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Last month, Washington residents probably read about Bobby Brown in various newspaper headlines when his former wife, Whitney Houston, passed away. However, this week, the R&B singer is in the news for a very different reason--driving under the influence.
An article reports that Brown was originally pulled over by authorities for using his mobile phone and driving at the same time. Often, simple traffic stops can lead to more serious charges. In this particular case, police transformed the routine stop into an investigation for drunk driving. Ultimately, authorities performed an alcohol breath test, and the singer had a blood alcohol level of 0.08. As a result, Brown was arrested for DUI. He was released on $5,000 bail.
On behalf of Matthew R. Hoff, Attorney at Law posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Friday, March 23, 2012
Did you know that there has been a recent change in the law for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol? Starting this June, drivers in Washington will face steeper consequences for DUI while a child is in the vehicle. The new bill came at the request of the State Patrol, and it passed this legislative session.
Currently, if the passenger is 13 years old or younger, law enforcement must contact Child Protective Services if a DUI arrest is made. Furthermore, laws currently mandate that for convicted drivers, an ignition interlock device must be put in the offender's vehicle for at least 60 days. Ignition interlocks let drivers start the car only if their blood alcohol level is below .025. The new bill, however, enhances penalties for drunk drivers carrying passengers age 16 and younger.
On behalf of Matthew R. Hoff, Attorney at Law posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Saturday, March 17, 2012
Do you have plans for this holiday weekend? In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, many of us like to enjoy a few Irish brews. Nevertheless, if you are going to partake in the drinking festivities, make sure you that you do so responsibly. According to sources, local Washington law enforcement agencies will start sending out additional officers to patrol for motorists who are driving under the influence in Clark County. The enforcement program starts Friday and will last through this Sunday.
Sources say that various police departments around the state will participate in extra DUI patrols, focusing on local roads. These patrols are part of the Clark County Target Zero Traffic Safety Task Force. Overtime shifts for these officers will be funded by the state.
