Judge Erred In Admitting MADD Evidence In DUI Trial

Case Name: People of California v. Corarrubias . Murder Prosecution involving a DUI crash.
 Covarrubias was convicted of second degree implied malice murder for causing a traffic accident in which a person died. Covarrubias had a .20 percent blood alcohol level at the time of the crash. During his jury trial, the court admitted testimony of two employees of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), which included their own stories of tragedy related to drunk-driving accidents. On appeal, Covarrubias claimed that allowing the personal-tragedy testimony was prejudicial error
The appeals a Court agreed.  The trial court erred when it deemed the personal-tragedy testimony relevant and when it found the probative value of the testimony was not outweighed by its prejudicial effect . The tragic aftermaths of the DUI crashes experienced by the MADD witnesses and their family members were wholly unrelated to Covarrubias's charged offense, including whether he acted with implied malice. Further, the failure to exclude the evidence under section 352 of the California Evidence Code created a substantial danger of inflaming the jury's passions by engendering feelings of sympathy. However, the error was harmless under any standard because there was overwhelming evidence of implied malice. Covarrubias had already sustained three prior DUI convictions and had attended court-ordered programs and MADD victim panels as a result. There was substantial evidence that he knew the potential catastrophic consequences of drunk driving and he admitted that his cousin had warned him not to drive when they left a party drunk before the crash. 

Getting Enrolled In DUI Class Early

If you have been charged with DUI and are awaiting a future Court date getting enrolled in a a DUI class in advance of any disposition may be in your best interests.  Here is why:

1. Attendance in the class will usually allow you to stay out on your "O.R." release and not have to post bail.  The Judge will almost always order AA classes as a condition of you release pending future Court appearances and getting enrolled in the classes will substitute for the AA meetings.  Getting enrolled in an alcohol education program tells the Judge that you are being responsible and showing an act of taking the case seriously. 
2. The DMV may ultimately require you complete the program in order to get you license reinstated.  
3. The course will often be required even if the charges of DUI are reduced or dismissed.

Therefore, getting enrolled in a DUI program is a good idea, here's how to do it:

 The attorney will provide you with a list of providers, find one convenient to your residence or work.  When you show up for the appointment advise them you wish to "self enroll" in the AB541 program at a minimum.  You may be required to complete a longer term program depending on the Court orders but the AB541 is a good start, ensure the school will allow you to switch to a 6 or 9 month class should it become necessary.  Let the school know in advance that you do not have a Court referral or any paperwork because you have not been convicted but you want to self enroll for DMV purposes.

Once you get enrolled in the DUI school ask them for an enrollment certificate or a copy of the DL107 that they send to the DMV.  This is an official document that the attorney needs to present to the Court to show you are in fact attending and participating in the program.

For a list of DUI schools click here:

https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/individuals/Pages/DUI.aspx

List of Los Angeles County Classes, by city:

https://thetorranceattorney.com/dui-classes-in-los-angeles-county/

What Happens At A DMV Hearing

If you were arrested for DUI and hired an attorney chances are he requested a DMV hearing to challenge the suspension that you are facing.  The date will be set out usually a month or two to allow the attorney collect evidence and properly prepare.  If you took a breath or blood test the issues will be 1.  Whether you were lawfully arrested. 2.  Whether you were driving, and 3.  Whether at the time of driving your blood alcohol level was .08 or more.

The hearing is very informal, there is no Judge, there is no bailiff or a Court Reporter.  The hearings are currently conducted over the phone and are presided over by a DMV employee with the title "hearing officer" “Trier of Fact” and one employee called a “DMV Advocate”. The procedure is as follows:  first, the DMV will seek to identify all documents received by the police agency such as the arrest report, breath or blood results and any other documents prepared by the arresting officer.  The attorney will make any objections to the evidence such as any evidentiary defects that may affect their admissibility.  The hearing officer will usually overrule the objections and admit the documents over objection.  If a witness has been subpoenaed then they will testify and cross examined.  In most cases the DMV bases its case solely on the written reports.  The attorney will be allowed to argue that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the burden of proof and can present case law or legal reasons why the Department should dismiss or set aside the suspension.

In many cases the client will be advised to be available by phone.  The reason for this is that there is no right against self incrimination at a DMV hearing and therefore the hearing officer can question them about anything relevant to the case.  If there is a defect or some evidence lacking in their case the DMV can "fill in the gaps" by questioning the licensee.  For example, if the officer failed to include information in the documents that is crucial to the case the DMV can get that evidence from the client.  Further, they can put the client in a tough position by questioning them about the number of drinks they had consumed.

  In some cases it is vital to the defense that the client testify, but most of the time, the attorney will focus on making the DMV meet their burden of proof and not shift the focus to whether the client is credible or not.  For instance, if there was some error in the procedure, a regulation was not followed or the officer made some mistake, this will be dwelled upon.  The attorney may also call witnesses to support the argument in the case.

At the conclusion of the hearing the DMV will render a decision.  In some cases, the hearing officer may take the matter under submission and send out a written decision of their findings.  This can sometimes take weeks but the client will be able to continue to drive pending a decision.

The Death Of Two People In DUI Accident Results In 2 Strikes

Even though in many cases the death of an innocent person in a DUI accident was not intentional, California law deems the crime to be a strike for future enhancement purposes.  In this case the Court holds that two deaths and two manslaughter convictions equals two strikes under the 3strikes law.  Here are the facts:  In 1986, Rusconi pled guilty to two counts of vehicular manslaughter. The convictions grew out of a single drunk driving offense in which Rusconi hit and killed two bicyclists with her car. A subsequent conviction for driving while intoxicated resulted in Rusconi receiving a 25-years-to-life Three Strikes sentence. After she was found ineligible for Proposition 36 resentencing, she appealed, claiming her single act which resulted in two vehicular manslaughter convictions could not be counted as two strikes.

The Court Upheld the lower courts ruling.  In People v. Vargas(2014) 59 Cal.4th 635, the Supreme Court held that where a defendant's single act committed against a single victim results in multiple serious felony convictions, only one of those convictions may be used as a strike in a later prosecution. Vargas does not assist Rusconi, however, because her single criminal act resulted not only in multiple offenses, but also involved violent injury to multiple victims, circumstances to which the holding in Vargas does not extend. An offender who injures more than one victim is more culpable than an offender who injures only one victim. Thanks CCAP.

What Is A Restitution Hearing?

If you have resolved a DUI case that involved a traffic accident the Court has a duty to ensure that any damages are taken care of and any victims are compensated for any loss that may have incurred. If there was insurance involved they will usually pay the other side and make the parties whole.  Nonetheless, the Court will often set a restitution hearing to ensure that there is no outstanding loss.

A couple of things may happen at the hearing:

1. The Court can order a specific amount to be paid if the victim shows up and presents a legitimate bill for loss.  The defendant has a right to challenge the amount of the loss if it is unreasonable.  
2. If the victim does not show up then the District Attorney will usually request that the matter be taken off calendar.  What this means is that no restitution will be ordered.  The Court will maintain jurisdiction which means they can recall the case and order restitution at a later date.

The Court can also Determine that no restitution is required because there was no third party loss.
In any event, an appearance will be required either by the defendant or the attorney.

What Can I Expect At My First Court Appearance?

The first Court appearance on a DUI case is called an arraignment.  The purpose of this Court date is to allow the person accused, in legal terms a "defendant", to enter a plea to the charges filed by the local prosecutor.  The charges are contained in a document that is called a "complaint" and it is filed with the court that is closest to where the arrest took place.

The possible pleas that could be entered are guilty, not guilty and no contest.  If you have hired a lawyer to fight the case he or she will probably recommend pleading not guilty.  Why is this the best option?  We'll, in most cases the attorney will want to review all of the evidence such as the official police report, the breath or blood test records and any other evidence the state has.  In many cases, when the evidence is investigated there may be errors that occurred such as violations of the state regulations pertaining to testing or there may be a violation of your constitutional rights such as some illegality surrounding the arrest or the reason the officer pulled you over in the first place.

Once I plead not guilty does this mean I have to go to trial?  No, a defendant can change their plea at any time and most cases are resolved prior to a jury trial.  The attorney can often develop arguments and defenses that will allow them to negotiate a favorable deal such as a reduction of the charge or a reduction in the possible sentence imposed.  For example, in many drunk driving cases a key issue is the lawfulness of the initial stop, the attorney will want to carefully review the reports to determine if a motion to dismiss is appropriate based on a violation of the 4th Amendment.

Why can't my attorney get to see all of the evidence before the arraignment and be able to resolve the case at that stage?  Although in many cases counsel will receive some reports before the first a Court date, under California law a defendant is not entitled to full disclosure of the evidence until he or she is "arraigned" therefore although some reports may be acquired prior to the initial appearance, the DA does not have to provide everything until the arraignment.  Even at that stage some evidence may not be available.  For example, a blood result may not be reported by the laboratory for sometimes 60-90 days.  It is obviously prudent to wait for the results of that test before deciding whether to plead guilty or no contest.

What will be the next step after the arraignment ?  A subsequent Court date will be scheduled, usually called a pretrial, or it's possible that the arraignment will be continued to allow the attorney to review the discovery provided by the DA.  You will be contacted at a future date to discuss the case and go over your options.

Do I need to be there at the first appearance?  Generally no.  Unless the case is a felony, the law allows for attorneys to appear on behalf of their clients unless the judge orders it.  What are the circumstances where a judge can order a personal appearance?  When public safety requires the judge to set bail or impose conditions of the defendant's release.  For instance, if the accused has prior DUI convictions or is on probation then a judge can set bail an remand a defendant.  The judge can also require the defendant to attend AA meetings or enroll in an alcohol education program as a condition of his or her release.

Getting A Restricted License After A Second DUI In California

The mandatory suspension for a second dui in California is 1-2 years, however there is a way to obtain an early reinstatement of your driving privilege via an IID restriction.  What is this?  Well, it is a method to get a license after 90 days if your DUI involved alcohol, no drugs, and you were not on probation, took a chemical test and meet certain conditions.  Here is what you will need to do:

1. Get enrolled in the SB 38 18 month DUI program.  The classes must be started after the arrest date of the current case.  Sometimes the offender will start the school early, that is ok as long as you file the enrollment certificate with the DMV after the court conviction. Click here for a full list of DUI Schools in California
2. Make sure you have an SR-22 filed with the DMV.  An SR22 is nothing more than an official proof that you have the minimum required proof of insurance mandated by the DMV.  You cannot simply send in the little card you got from the insurance company, that will not be sufficient.  The proof must be sent in by the insurance company in order to comply with CA law.  Many insurance brokers can provide an SR22 even if you do not currently own a car or if you do and want additional coverage.
3. Install an ignition interlock in the car you will be driving.  This IID is mandatory and must be installed even if you do not own a car.  This allows you to drive anywhere you want as long as it is installed.  There is no restrictions for employment only or any other limitations.  For more information about this, go to our IID Facts Page.
4. You must pay a re-issue fee to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.  This fee  ranges from $140 to $240 dollars and must be submitted in order to receive your original license.
5. Ensure you have no outstanding tickets or "holds" on your license such as tickets you never paid or any FTA or failure to appear, back due child support, etc.
6. Make sure you understand that you will receive two letters from the DMV regarding the court and administrative disposition.  The first letter will often be from the local driver safety office which states the suspension is fir one year, how ever this will be superseded by the mandatory action flowing from the court conviction which will state the suspension is for two years.  The court action trumps the APS sentence and the time for the 90 days starts when the court conviction takes place, not sooner.  If you have any questions regarding the process contact Matthew