Clinton E. Parish
Strategic Defense From A Former Prosecutor
One of the first things a police officer may ask you to do, if they think you are impaired by alcohol or drugs, is to take a field sobriety test. Common examples include the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, the walk-and-turn test and the one-leg stand test. But what...
Police officers responding to domestic violence calls have to make rapid assessments of the situation. Frequently, they conclude that one party is an offender, while the other is the likely victim. The party accused of starting or escalating the conflict may end up...
If you drink alcohol and then drive, there is always a risk that you could face impaired driving charges. One key factor is blood alcohol concentration, which can be measured with a breath test. For most drivers, the legal limit is 0.08%, although there are...
It’s not unusual for a discussion to quickly turn into a heated argument. Usually, emotions calm down, and life goes on. California treats domestic violence differently than some states do. For example, it isn’t limited to physical assault. There are times when verbal...
Police officers responding to domestic violence calls often have little information about the situation. They may have records from prior calls to the same address and the information provided by the reporting party. Otherwise, they depend on what they witness when...
Facing a DUI charge can feel overwhelming, especially when the consequences may include fines, license suspension or even jail time. Understanding common DUI defense strategies can help you approach the situation with clarity and confidence. Each case is different,...
It may not seem like it to anyone who has faced a DUI conviction and its many consequences, but California isn’t considered a state that’s especially tough on drunk drivers. That’s despite the fact that eight out of the ten cities in the country with the highest drunk...
Typically, if the police are going to use a DUI checkpoint, they must inform the public about when and where it will be established. Many drivers may still have no idea that the checkpoint exists, but public notification is required. This means that drivers who are...
If you hold a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) in California, a DUI arrest – even in your personal car – is a crisis for your livelihood. While a first conviction means losing your CDL for at least one year, a second DUI conviction automatically triggers a lifetime...
Domestic violence charges in California can result from allegations from a partner or family member. They can also follow an incident where concerned neighbors or strangers contacted law enforcement. Particularly in scenarios where another party makes accusations of...