I have been through a lot of traveling lately that required me to rent a car. How would I know if my car insurance policy here in Los Angeles, California includes coverage for a rental vehicle?

Harlan

Los Angeles, CA

Having the knowledge whether or not you have to buy rental vehicle insurance could save you money and provide composure. Non-obligatory insurance can almost double the price of the car rental. So prior to buying the rental vehicle insurance from the rental company, you need to do a little research on your own car insurance policy in Los Angeles, California. You may opt to go over your policy with an independent car insurance agent. He/she can assess your coverage to see if you are protected in a rental vehicle.

You may also find the information through your credit card company. A number of credit card providers offer coverage without extra fee if you use your plastic to pay for the rental. But there could be limitation so make certain that you inquire for the precise explanation on what is covered.

Another option that you have is that you can bring with you the “Declarations Page” to the rental counter. The rental car company representative could ask you some things that this page could provide response. If you are not certain about something, you need to have with you the contact number of your car insurance agent so that you can get in touch with him/her immediately.

I just got my driver’s license and pretty curious about road regulations here in Los Angeles, California. What are the usual procedures if you get pulled over for drunk driving?

Samantha

Los Angeles, CA

It’s great to know that there are people who want to learn more about the consequences of driving under the influence. This is really helpful in educating young drivers especially in Los Angeles, California about driving responsibilities. In cases where one gets arrested for drunk driving, the person may be taken into police custody. The person will then undergo a process we call “booking”. During this process, the police officer usually takes the person’s personal information as well as search for criminal records if there’s any. The alleged crime information will then be recorded and personal properties may be confiscated such as keys and purse, in which should be returned upon the person’s release.

After this, the person may be placed in jail not unless a bail is already decided and paid. The bail amount may be predetermined, through predefined “bail schedule,” or the judge may set a monetary figure based on the gathered criminal records of the suspect. If granted by the court, the person may seek “own recognizance” release, where bail money is not needed. The suspect is then merely released after promising, in writing, to appear in court for all upcoming proceedings. Then, that will be the time that the person seeks legal assistance and hires a DUI lawyer to appear and defend him on court proceedings.

A DUI arrest and conviction is not a minor offense. This may actually lead to negative impacts on auto insurance that you may have. I also suggest that you can check on line websites to check for available post DUI insurance. You can check out premium rates as well as free quotations on this site.

I have a friend in Los Angeles California who was arrested for drunk driving. Prior to that, we both had signed up for an auto insurance. What would be the possible effect of his arrest to his auto insurance?

Martha

Los Angeles, CA

Most drivers like your friend may wonder what could be the impact of being arrested for drunk driving, especially in Los Angeles, California where DUI and DWI is never tolerated and observe strict policies on driving automotive vehicles. This actually does not only impact your car insurance but as well as your driving privilege. The sad truth is that drunk driving conviction may cause your car insurance company to increase their rates, or worst terminate your policy. Insurance companies formulate their premium rates with risk factors. That means, the higher the risk is, the more they charge you with premium rates. They actually base this on an individual’s driving record. This includes the number of tickets, previous DWI/DUI records and accidents that you had during your driving life.

Your friend is not obligated to report his or her drunk driving arrest to the insurance company, not unless he or she gets convicted or the driver’s license is suspended or revoked in a motor vehicle department administrative action. Your friend will likely be required to file an SR22 or formal certificate of insurance if she/he gets convicted. Because of this, it is critical to consult an insurance professional who is expert about DUI / DWI convictions after drunk driving arrest. Then I also suggest that your friend start looking for an effective and cost efficient car insurance. They offer free insurance auto quotations on this web site by the way.

I need an SR22 auto insurance after being charged with DUI here in Los Angeles, California. How long do I have to maintain it and how long will my DUI stay on my record?

Virgil

Los Angeles, CA

It’s a good thing that you are now thinking about getting SR22 auto insurance after being charged with DUI in Los Angeles, California. You need the SR22 auto insurance so that you can get your driver’s license back at the end of your suspension period. That is actually a requirement by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to reinstate your driver’s license. You have to carry the SR22 auto insurance for three years under normal circumstances. But the terms can be extended with the presence of stricter enforcement of DMV laws and lobbying against drunk drivers.

The bad part about your DUI charge is that this violation would stay on your driving record for 10 years. It would be rated for points by auto insurance companies for three years, so that would be some relief, but most preferred insurers don’t take drivers with DUI violations, so it may be a long wait until you get that kind of policy. But you can absolutely get a free online rate quote for your SR22 auto insurance from this website.

One thing that we need to worry about my daughter’s DUI case here in Los Angeles, California would be the costs that it entails. We even worry if we will get a DUI lawyer to defend her because we know it would cost us too much. Aside from the fines that she might be paying if she gets convicted, what other costs does my daughter has to worry about?

Eddie

Los Angeles, CA

Your daughter’s DUI case in Los Angeles, California, without a doubt, would cost her a lot. Aside from the fines and court fees, there are other indirect costs that would be involved whether she gets convicted or acquitted on her DUI case. One of the indirect costs includes time lost from work by going to court appearances and serving jail time. There are also some required conditions of probation such as restitution for injuries and property damage in wreck cases. Transportation costs would include bus or cab fare while her driver’s license is suspended. Occupational license costs hundreds of dollars as well.

The other things that your daughter would have to consider would be possible job loss or limitation of opportunities. I hate to mention this but marriages and other personal relationships could also be seriously and deeply wounded. So given the extraordinary impact that a DUI conviction could have, it would be crucial to obtain legal assistance. A lot of people believe that they could not afford a lawyer and simply walk into the court and plead guilty without a lawyer. But your daughter doesn’t have to do it alone because in the long run, the DUI lawyer fee may not seem so much after all.

In Los Angeles, California, would it really help if law enforcement officers would be tough in DUI arrests or it would not make any difference?

Nico

Los Angeles, CA

Car culture, obviously, increases in Los Angeles, California so vehicle sales have been shooting through the roof. A lot of people are owning a car and one problem with it is that the roads are not correspondingly increasing. But if this would happen, everyone will be driving like those F1 drivers on the roads. There are also those drunken motorists who drive breakneck speeds in the middle of the city. As we all very well know, drinking and driving would never go hand in hand. A motorist could be convicted for DUI if the blood alcohol level is 0.08% or more.

This would simply put tremendous social pressure on the law enforcement agencies to make the necessary DUI arrests. After all, driving under the influence is a criminal offense and could be considered a social menace. This would somehow force the law enforcement agencies to get tough on DUI arrests. In my honest opinion, getting tough in DUI arrests are being beneficial in slowly, but still, reducing the social problem.

I know that you would understand that I am hesitant to get a lawyer to defend me on my DUI case in Los Angeles, California because I feel that it will be expensive for me to hire one. Could you tell me how much should I expect to pay a lawyer to represent me in my DUI case?

Aiza
Los Angeles, CA

Every DUI lawyer has something to offer that would set him/her apart from the others. For some lawyers, it would be low fees and for the others, it would be an exceptional reputation and high skills to match. It is a fact in life that you wouldn’t have to find both traits in the same lawyer. If you are looking for low fees to help you on your DUI case in Los Angeles, California, then don’t expect the lawyer to have exceptionally high skills.

In general, DUI defense lawyers charge an upfront flat fee pretrial retainer than billing by the hour like civil law attorneys do. Some lawyers have a hybrid fee structure which would credit the retainer against the hourly billing, but most retainers would simply cover everything needed short of trial. For a big-name DUI lawyer, with a state-wide reputation, you could expect to pay $3500 to $7000 or more for a misdemeanor DUI retainer, and that depends on the location and the lawyer’s reputation. It would also vary if you have one or more prior convictions within seven years because if that is the case, you could expect to pay more. In general the retainer fee would cover both the DMV hearing and the court case, except for trial, which is generally billed additional.

Hi, I live in Los Angeles, California and I haven’t actually been arrested for DUI. But in case I will be charged for DUI and I get a lawyer, what knowledge should a lawyer have when it comes to different blood alcohol testing methods used in a DUI case?

Kate

Los Angeles, CA

If you get arrested for DUI in Los Angeles, California, you definitely have a choice of a breath, blood or urine test to find out your blood alcohol level. This is the reason why every DUI defense lawyer should have sufficient scientific knowledge in order to effectively cross-examine the state’s expert, as well as to present defense expert testimony. Mouth alcohol, absorption, interfering substances, peak and elimination of alcohol, chemistry and other scientific issues are extremely critical in representing a person accused of DUI.

Being knowledgeable on the various breath, blood and urine testing methods and their scientific principles is also required for the competent DUI defense lawyer. Every blood alcohol testing device has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Those weaknesses should be explored in front of a jury in order to provide the defense with effective assistance of counsel. In several occasions, the chemical testing machines are neither properly operated nor calibrated and this can be attacked by a good DUI defense lawyer who has enough knowledge on the information about how chemical testing machines are being maintained.

A friend of mine was recently charged with DUI here in Los Angeles, California and he doesn’t want to go to trial because he wants to have this over and done with. I heard that he is hoping to have the DUI charges reduced that’s why he is planning to plead guilty. Question is, if his DUI charge will be reduced to wet reckless, will this be considered as a prior in case he gets arrested again for DUI in the future?

Abbie

Los Angeles, CA

You gotta tell your friend that there is a lot at stake if he pleads guilty for his DUI charge in Los Angeles, California and just hope that his charges will be reduced. Yes, there are certain ways that the DUI case could be resolved without proceeding to trial. But I strongly suggest that he seeks professional legal advice first before doing anything he might regret later on. On the other hand, there are some DUI cases that plea bargaining would be appropriate and he has to remember that each DUI case is different, and there are times that admission of guilt to the DUI charge would be in his best interest.

He may have the DUI charge reduced to wet reckless which is an alcohol-related reckless driving. In several respects, wet reckless is no different from a DUI charge which means that if he gets arrested for a similar offense within 10 years, the wet reckless conviction would be considered as a prior DUI conviction. Moreover, most auto insurance companies would treat a wet reckless conviction just like a DUI conviction. But there would be some benefits of having the DUI charge reduced to wet reckless because there would be no mandatory DUI school with this charge and no mandatory driver’s license suspensions or restrictions.

I heard from my mom that field sobriety tests are used to be called something else back then. How were these tests develop and could you cite some common tests that police usually conduct here in Los Angeles, California?

Amos
Los Angeles, CA

In mid 1970’s, with the assistance and cooperation of the law enforcement community, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has conducted research that resulted in the development of a battery of three standardized field sobriety tests (FST’s). These are the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, Walk and Turn and the One Leg Stand which are commonly used by police officers in Los Angeles, California and are designed to assist them in detecting drivers who are under the influence. FST’s are formerly referred to as Improved Sobriety Tests but they are now the Standard that the Federal Government wants to be utilized.

The FST program was validated in field studies and laboratory conducted by the Southern California Research Institute. The FST’s were initially developed by the Los Angeles Police Department Training in how to conduct the tests and it is included in the NHTSA course “DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing.”