DUI Arrests Up This Holiday Season

DUI Arrests Up This Holiday Season

A task force set up in Los Angeles County to curb drunk driving during the holiday season racked up 1,500 arrests from December 16 through Christmas Day.

Last year, during the same ten day period, just over 1,250 people were arrested for the alleged driving under the influence violations.

More checkpoints and specially assigned law enforcement personnel are sure to be up throughout the next week and over New Years Eve so take extra precautions.

It is important to obtain legal representation as early as possible if you are arrested for DUI. If you or someone you know has been arrested for alleged driving under the influence in Los Angeles County, Beverly Hills, the Mid City area or anywhere else in Southern California, contact attorney Ross Erlich at (818) 783-5700 as soon as possible.

Posted in DUI

Los Angeles County Thanksgiving DUI Arrests Rise During 2011

DUI arrests were up this Thanksgiving weekend 7 percent when compared to this same time a year ago, CHP officals reported.

As of this past Saturday, there had been a total of 200 DUI arrests made in Los Angeles County, compared to just 182 a year ago. While no deaths were reported in Los Angeles County so far this year, the CHP noted that 14 deaths have been reported throughout the state since Thursday.

If you have been arrested for DUI in Los Angeles County or the Mid City area, contact Attorney Ross Erlich as soon as possible to set up a free consultation and to protect your rights and license privileges before it is too late. Attorney Ross Erlich handles matters in the Los Angeles Metro Courthouse, the Beverly Hills Courthouse and all other courts in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties

Posted in DUI

Lindsay Lohan Back at Airport Courthouse Today

Lohan Gets Jail Time at Airport Court, Again.

Good news for Lindsay Lohan, she gets to stay out of jail – for now. Lohan was due back at Airport Courthouse today to face Judge Stephanie Sautner for her probation violation hearing stemming from her failure to remain current with court-mandated probation terms and conditions.

Lohan admitted the violation to Judge Sautner who decided that Lohan must serve 12 working days at the Los Angeles County morgue and attend four, 45-minute therapy sessions by December 14. Lohan will have to keep up the counseling and additional morgue days thereafter. Furthermore, Judge Sautner ordered Lohan to serve 30 days in county jail, starting November 9. Lohan will likely only serve a handful of days, at most, due to overcrowding at county jail.

Lohan is not making things easy for her defense team, who seem to be keeping Lohan’s criminal exposure to a minimum, while having to juggle multiple obligations to the court as terms of her probation.

If you have been charged with a crime and have violated probation as a result, it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible. There may be options to minimize additional terms and conditions of your probation if steps are taken before your court date.

If you would like to speak to Attorney Ross Erlich regarding any case at Airport Courthouse or anywhere else in Los Angeles County, please contact the office at (818) 783-5700 or ross@4criminaldefense.com.

No Vacancy

The Los Angeles County jail system could run out of vacancy as early as next month due to the new practice known as “realignment.”

The State of California, under direction from the United States Supreme Court, has instituted this new policy of realignment to deal with the overcrowding in state prison. Under this new approach, as many as 8,000 state prisoners – those with non-serious and non-violent convictions – will be transferred and serve their sentence in county jails.

Considering this new influx of state prisoners into county jails, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is looking at ways to deal with the increase in population, including electronic monitoring, house arrest and other non-custody alternatives. Another strategy the Department is considering is having those charged with drug offenses enter into a sober living or other substance abuse education programs instead of in jail custody.

It comes down to simple math. With funding for only an additional 1,800 beds, inmates will be released earlier and have more options to earn custody credits.

If you have been charged with a crime in the City of Los Angeles, near LAX airport or in Beverly Hills, it is important to contact Attorney Ross Erlich for a free consultation and to discuss what your options are. Due to the overcrowding in County Jail, there are many, less severe, options to resolve your case and obtain a favorable result for you.

Southern California Drug Take Back Day

So Cal Drug Take Back Day

For those of you who are looking to do some Fall cleaning, all Southern California residents will be able to take your old prescription medication to nearby local government buildings or police departments this Saturday, 10/29/11, for disposal.

A large percentage of drug abuse cases, drug arrests and accidental drug-related incidents come from unused prescriptions from family or friends that lay around the house.

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times noted that, according to The Partnership for a Drug Free America, estimates that 2,500 U.S. teens each day use prescription drugs to get high for the first time.

To find you local take back collection site, visit the Drug Enforcement Agency’s website.

Possession prescription drugs without a valid prescription, can subject you to criminal charges under both the Penal Code and Health and Safety Codes. Because Los Angeles City and County are serious about enforcing drug-related offenses, they take these charges seriously.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a drug-related offense, it is important to contact an attorney immediately.

Contact Attorney Ross Erlich at (818) 783-5700 for a free consultation and for other drug-diversion resources.