DUI checkpoints lead to hundreds of DUI arrests in southern California. In most situations, the police must have probable cause to believe that you’ve broken the law before they can pull you over, but checkpoint procedures are not like most situations. At a checkpoint, probable cause isn’t needed for an officer to approach your vehicle to see if you are intoxicated. If you’re arrested in southern California for DUI, at a D.U.I. checkpoint or anywhere else, contact an experienced Los Angeles DUI defense attorney immediately and get the legal help you’re going to need.

The signs of intoxication that an officer looks for at a checkpoint or during any other suspicion-of-D.U.I. stop include the odor of alcohol on your breath, slow or slurred speech, a lack of coordination, red or watery eyes, and “fumbling” for your driver’s license or registration. While no guarantee can ever be made regarding any particular case, if you’re arrested for DUI for any of these reasons, the right attorney can probably present an effective defense on your behalf.

Signs must be posted near checkpoints to alert approaching drivers. Drivers arriving at a checkpoint may believe they must pass through it, but that’s simply not true. California lets drivers avoid a DUI checkpoint so long as the driver obeys all traffic laws. Don’t give the officers any probable cause to stop you; making an illegal U-turn, for instance, almost assures that you’ll be stopped. Smartphone apps that alert drivers of nearby DUI checkpoints are also now available.

Speak at once with an experienced D.U.I. defense attorney if you are arrested for D.U.I. at a D.U.I. checkpoint or anywhere else in southern California. A good DUI defense attorney will compile evidence and examine witnesses on your behalf while seeking to discredit the prosecution’s case. Don’t hesitate. If you are charged in southern California with DUI, at a DUI checkpoint or in any other situation, call an experienced Los Angeles DUI defense attorney as quickly as possible.

Diabetes and DUI

One of the reasons why so many people are against DUI checkpoints is because law enforcement officers can easily make a mistake and believe that someone is exhibiting signs of being under the influence when they are completely innocent. One condition that sometimes causes symptoms similar to being under the influence is diabetes.

It’s happened before. A diabetic driver suffering hypoglycemia – low blood sugar – could be arrested for and charged with DUI. The symptoms of driving under the influence of alcohol are similar to the symptoms of hypoglycemia. If you are wrongly accused of DUI in the Los Angeles area, get legal help at once. Arrange to speak immediately with an experienced Los Angeles DUI defense attorney. The symptoms of hypoglycemia may include thick or slurred speech, disorientation, weakness, fatigue, impaired vision, and even an unusual breath odor. It’s not hard to see why a police officer could mistake hypoglycemia for intoxication.

If you’re stopped for suspicion of DUI and you suffer hypoglycemia, you probably won’t perform well if you submit to the field sobriety tests. You can decline to take the field sobriety tests, but do so politely, and expect to be arrested anyway. Breathalyzer tests may also be inaccurate for people suffering with diabetes. Breathalyzers cannot always distinguish between alcohol and acetone when someone is having a diabetic reaction. A breathalyzer may measure high levels of alcohol where there is none. Let’s be clear; if you experience hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis, or ketosis while driving, you can be a danger to yourself and others, and persons with diabetes who also have a history of not controlling their blood sugar can lose their driving privileges. However, you should not have to endure criminal charges or penalties if you did not violate the law.

Although it’s most common for diabetes sufferers, hypoglycemia is a condition that can affect almost anyone. If you suffer from hypoglycemia or any medical condition that could impair your ability to drive safely, it’s probably best not to drive at all. Still, if you face a DUI charge in the Los Angeles area for any reason, get the legal help you need right away and speak immediately with an experienced Los Angeles DUI defense attorney.

Could the End of DUIs Be Near?

It’s inescapable; the fully-automated, computer-driven car of the future isn’t that far away. At least some driverless vehicles will be on some California roads by the end of this decade. By 2030, it’s conceivable that DUIs, auto accidents and injuries, and traffic tickets could literally be history. High-tech companies like Google have joined every major automobile manufacturer to perfect the driverless car and to get it on the street as quickly as possible. Until that happens, however, we’re stuck here in the present, where some people still drive while they’re intoxicated. If you’re charged with DUI in or near the Los Angeles area, you still need to get legal help right away and call an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense defense attorney.

Soon, driverless cars will take you wherever you want to go. Computerized scanners will monitor nearby vehicles and routinely make safety adjustments. How will automated vehicles impact traffic and DUI laws? DUI laws would simply be relics on the law books in a world where you can tell your car to drive you home. In a fully-automated and computerized traffic system, everyone’s safety will be improved by the end of high-speed police chases, and the police will be able to stop a suspect’s car with a simple electronic signal.

So, in maybe ten to fifteen years, the crime of DUI will be only a memory. If you’re facing a DUI charge now, however, you’re going to need legal help from a good DUI defense lawyer. Don’t plead guilty, don’t try to act as your own attorney, and don’t risk your future; a good DUI lawyer can develop an effective defense strategy and bring your case to its best possible conclusion. If you’re charged with DUI in Los Angeles or anywhere in southern California, consult immediately with an experienced Los Angeles DUI defense attorney.