West Hollywood DUI Lawyer

If you are arrested for a West Hollywood DUI or if you are facing charges for a DUI in West Hollywood, then the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers and West Hollywood DUI Defense Attorney Michael Kraut can aggressively defend you.  As a former prosecutor, Mr. Kraut has lectured to law enforcement on DUI law and criminal procedure.  He now uses those experiences and knowledge to defend you.

West Hollywood DUI cases are handled at the Beverly Hills Courthouse.  The charges are usually filed under Section 23152(a) and 23152(b) of the California Vehicle Code.  Virtually all DUI cases in West Hollywood begin when a person is arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department which are located at a substation within the City of West Hollywood.  A DUI can be charged if a person is driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both.  It is important to know that a person can be charged with a DUI for using medical marijuana.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has made DUI enforcement a major priority.  Since the City of West Hollywood is only 1.9 square miles, the Sheriff"s Department can concentrate its efforts in certain areas. As the weekends approach, the Sunset Strip changes from a regular thoroughfare to a concentrated DUI enforcement area.  There are dozens of bars on the Strip and for that reason, it is not unusual for pedestrians and drivers alike to observe sheriff deputies conducting traffic stops of suspected West Hollywood DUI drivers.  These stops can occur either because a peach officer observes a driver committing a moving violation such as weaving in and out of lanes, speeding, failing to stop for a traffic light or an other violation that gives a deputy reasonable suspicion that the person is Driving under the influence in West Hollywood.  The other way a driver is stopped with when he or she enters a West Hollywood DUI checkpoint.  The checkpoint must comply with very strict rules handed down by the California Supreme Court. 

Once the driver is stopped, then the law enforcement officer will engage the person in conversation.  During that brief encounter a officer may smell alcohol on the driver's breath.  Usually at this point he driver will be asked to step out of their car.  If the driver stumbles out of the car or needs assistance standing, then the deputy will take the DUI investigation further. 

The officer will then ask the person to take Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs).  These tests are used to judge the level of impairment.  If a person preforms well on these tests the officer does not have the legal right to demand that the person take a DUI chemical test.  The test is either a DUI breath test or a DUI blood test.  If the officer violated the law and still demands the driver under goes a DUI chemical test, then a top rated West Hollywood DUI defense attorney will be able to file very specific motions to exclude the chemical test.  If the court grants the motion, then the DUI charges will be dismissed.  Therefore, it is critical to engage the services of a DUI defense attorney. 

Michael Kraut is a former senior trial attorney with the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office.  When he was a prosecutor, he trained the Deputy Sheriffs on criminal law and procedure. Because Mr. Kraut trained these law enforcement officials, he knows what type of evidence will be used by the prosecution when they attempt to convict you of driving under the influence if alcohol or drugs in West Hollywood.

Contact West Hollywood DUI Defense Attorney Michael Kraut for a free consultation with your DUI or criminal case.  Mr. Kraut maintains a West Hollywood DUI blog site that will assist you in your research on DUI issues.

Additional West Hollywood DUI Resources

West Hollywood Sheriff's Substation

West Hollywood City Hall

Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office - Beverly Hills Branch