Maralee Eriksen Attorney at Law

DUI Checkpoint Set for Thursday in Folsom The Folsom Police Department will operate a DUI checkpoint at an undisclosed location on Thursday, August 24, looking for drunk or drugged drivers. According to the Department, the deterrent effect of DUI checkpoints is a proven resource in reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol or drug involved crashes. Research shows that crashes involving an impaired driver can be reduced by up to 20 percent when well-public...ized DUI checkpoints and proactive DUI patrols are conducted routinely. Drivers caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, and other expenses that can exceed $10,000. Funding for the checkpoint is provided to the Folsom Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more info: www.meriksen.com See more

A holiday reminder: make plans for safe driving to/from your holiday festivities. DUI can be a costly and dangerous mistake. If you or someone you know is arrested for DUI in Placer or Sacramento county, get a good lawyer on your side right away. More info at www.meriksen.com. Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Do you know someone who has a DUI conviction by plea bargain or by trial? An expungement may relieve some of the burdens of a criminal record. For more info, visit: www.meriksen.com

Game Day reminder, my friends: March Madness, not March Sadness. There are often extra DUI patrols out around major sporting events, some thanks to grants from NHTSA and Cal OTS. There are 7 law enforcement agencies covering Placer County alone. Please stay safe. Go Jayhawks! www.meriksen.com

People make mistakes, and sometimes people put off dealing with a mistake. A DUI arrest is something that needs to be dealt with right away. Here’s why. In California, a DUI arrest results in two separate legal proceedings: the criminal court case and the DMV civil administrative case. There may be a third separate proceeding if you hold a professional license. The DMV has jurisdiction over whether a driver's license is suspended or revoked. The DMV's suspension or revo...cation of a driver's license is mandatory after a DUI conviction, in addition to any jail time or fines imposed by the court. Individuals arrested for DUI are required by the state to request an Administrative Per Se ("APS") hearing through the DMV within 10 days of the arrest. Failure to do so results in an automatic driver's license suspension. This is one reason why people shouldn’t put off contacting an attorney for help. For more information, visit www.meriksen.com . See more

Recently someone asked me, what do you do as a DUI lawyer? If a blood alcohol test result is over the legal limit, is there really any possible defense? Here's what I said. I guide clients through the criminal court process, and the separate civil DMV process, which can otherwise be overwhelming or scary. In most cases, I can appear before the judge on my client's behalf, saving the client time and potential embarrassment. Failed blood alcohol tests do not automatically ...mean the case is lost. For my clients, I conduct a legal review of the case for defenses, even if the blood or breath tests were failed. Depending on the particulars of the case, defenses can be rooted in U.S. Constitutional law or California law. Defenses can also be based on the complex rules and regulations governing the blood and breath test administration and machinery. Defenses can be used to try to negotiate a better position for the client, such as a reduction of the charge, a dismissal of the charge, or more favorable terms in a plea bargain. Or defenses can be presented at trial to give the jury a way to find reasonable doubt. If consulted quickly after an arrest, I can request a hearing before the DMV, helping avoid an automatic suspension of driving privileges 30 days after an arrest. I can also appear at the DMV hearing on my client's behalf and use information from that process to help with the criminal court case. Under our professional rules, lawyers are not able to guarantee results in a case. However, I bring my experience as a long-time trial lawyer and former prosecutor to bear in my clients' cases. I strive to provide compassionate, quality legal representation, along with excellent customer service. More information is available at www.meriksen.com

Game Day Reminder, my friends- There are often extra DUI patrols out around major sporing events, some thanks to grants from NHTSA and Cal OTS. There are seven law enforcement agencies covering Placer County alone. Please stay safe. www.meriksen.com