Free DUI Lawyer In California

Reader’s Question:

My husband and I are under the same car insurance policy here in Santa Clarita, California and we are getting a divorce. I was never interested in going over the policy so I don’t know anything about any coverage. What are the important things that I need to know about car insurance here in California before I get my own policy?

Neha

Santa Clarita, CA

If you will purchase your own car insurance in Santa Clarita, California, you should have bodily injury and property damage coverage. For bodily injury to a single person, you need to have a minimum coverage of $15,000; for bodily injury to two or more people in one accident, you must have $30,000 minimum coverage; and for property damage for a single accident, you need to have $5,000 minimum coverage. It is recommended that you buy more than the minimum amount of coverage so that you will have sufficient protection.

You also need to know certain coverage limitations of your car insurance policy. There could be some instances that your coverage does not apply, such as the following:

–Bodily injury or property damage that happened when the car is used while carrying people or property with a fee.

–Any injury or property damage that is brought about by an intentional act.

–Any injury or property damage on an automobile that is owned by a named driver on your policy but the automobile is not listed in the policy.

–Property that is owned by, leased by, or in the control or possession of an insured individual.

Reader’s Question:

Is it true that even if the person is not driving, but was found sleeping in the car and believed to have consumed alcohol, can be charged with DUI in California? How could this happen if the person was not actually driving?

Abby

Carson, CA

Yes, a person who is not really driving but has consumed alcohol and has slept in the car can be charged for DUI in Carson, California. If he/she is in control of a motor vehicle and in possession of the keys, it will be treated as drunk driving. In this case, it isn’t really ‘driving under the influence’ in its literal sense, but it’s gonna be ‘operating a motor vehicle under the influence.’ Even those who have slept in the back seat and may have potentially driven the car can be cited for DUI. But if the keys were not on the person at all, there may be ways to beat the DUI charge.

But in any DUI case, the court should find that there are reasonable grounds to believe for the police officer to believe that the person was operating a vehicle while under the influence. In finding out if a person has actual physical control over the vehicle, such that as person may be charged with DUI, the courts would look at where the person was seated in the vehicle and if the vehicle engine is running. In many DUI cases that the person was found sleeping behind the wheel and the engine was running, courts have upheld DUI convictions.