I had enough for paying a lot of money for my SR22 insurance because of my DUI here in Los Angeles. Do I still have options of getting cheaper SR22 insurance for DUI?

Ben

Los Angeles, CA

You may have heard how drivers who were found guilty of driving under the influence (DUI) complain about the high costs of SR22 insurance. As a backgrounder, SR22 insurance is required among those who were caught for DUI. Simply put, SR22 insurance is given only to high risk individuals, and being high risk subjects them to high insurance fees. But those who need SR22 insurance for DUI should not worry since they can still get more affordable car insurance policy. Many SR22 insurance companies have been established to give lower SR22 insurance policies.

By definition, SR22 insurance is not just issued to drivers caught for DUI. It can also be issued to those who were caught for over speeding and driving without the required minimum car insurance coverage. However SR22 insurance for DUI is more expensive these days and not all car insurance companies issue DUI SR22 insurance.

However this is not to say that drivers in need of SR22 insurance no longer have options in getting a cheaper one. Specialized SR22 insurance companies have sprouted in recent years and they focus on giving lower SR22 insurance rate. There are also numerous websites that drivers can go to in search of cheap SR22 insurance rate.

Just like in buying a car insurance policy, you are encouraged to request SR22 insurance for DUI quotes first before purchasing one. This would guarantee you that you will get the best rates available in Los Angeles.

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 wonder how police officers work in Los Angeles, California in finding out those who are driving under the influence. How do police officers detect drunk drivers on the road?

Liz

Los Angeles, CA

Building upon a previous research of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), researchers did some interview with officers from across the country and developed a list of more than 100 driving cues that have been found to predict blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. The list was later on reduced to 24 driving cues during three field studies involving hundreds of officers and more than 12,000 enforcement stops. The driving behaviors identified by the police officers are divided into four categories: problems in maintaining proper lane position, speed and braking problems, vigilance problems, and judgment problems.

The cues that are presented in the four categories predict that a driver is under the influence at least 35% of the time. For example, if a driver is weaving or weaving across lane lines, the probability of DUI is more than 50%. But if you observe any of the weaving cues and any other cue, the probability of DUI jumps to at least 65%. This is how police officers in Los, Angeles, California observe motorists to find out those who are driving under the influence.

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 just want to be cautious because I often times drive myself after a little drink. What reason that an officer in Los Angeles, California could arrest me? I also want to know if I have to consent to the field sobriety tests.

Martha

Los Angeles, CA

Police officers in Los Angeles, California must have probable cause or reasonable suspicion that a person is driving under the influence before they can be asked to pull over. An officer may be able to suspect that a person is impaired by alcohol or drugs if he/she is engaging in uncharacteristic driving behaviors. These uncharacteristic behaviors could include disobeying traffic signals, making irregular stops, speeding and swerving.

If you were asked to pull over because of a DUI suspicion in Los Angeles, California, you actually do not have to consent to field sobriety tests. In many DUI cases, a police officer would not tell you of your right to refuse to submit to the field sobriety tests. But it could be in your best interest not to consent to these tests because they tend to be inaccurate and you are not obligated by law to do so.

A friend of mine was suspected to be driving under the influence of alcohol here in California. He already arrived home when the police arrested him. They said that they were responding to a call from a “concerned citizen” reporting that my friend had been driving while intoxicated. Does the state of California allow warrantless entry into homes of DUI suspects? I’m just curious because it doesn’t seem fair.

Lindsay

Los Angeles, CA

DUI law has long been prevalent with exceptions to the Constitutional limitations applied to most criminal investigations. I totally agree with you that this doesn’t seem fair. But our opinion will no longer matter because in California, the Supreme Court allows warrantless entry into homes of DUI suspects. Ruling 6-1 back in June 1, 2006, the California Supreme Court took exceptions to our Constitutional protections to a new level, allowing law enforcement officers to enter a DUI suspect’s home without a warrant to make an arrest.

The Supreme Court agreed with the prosecution’s claim that the possibility that the defendant could consume more alcohol (or have consumed more alcohol) during the delay and that the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol created “exigent circumstances”. They said that the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol would always result in “destruction of evidence”.