Pressly Pleads Not Guilty to DUI

Actress Jaime Pressly pled not guilty in a Los Angeles County courtroom last week to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI).  Pressly, best known for her work on the television comedy "My Name is Earl," was arrested for DUI in Santa Monica in early January after local law enforcement officers spotted her committing a traffic violation.  After being pulled over, officers at the scene noticed signs of what they describe as intoxication and Pressly was given a breath analysis test where her blood alcohol concentration was reportedly 0.22%, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08% in Los Angeles.  The actress was promptly arrested and spent the night in jail before being released on $15,000 bail the next morning.  Pressly reportedly faces up to six months in jail if found guilty of drinking and driving, especially with such a high blood alcohol content.  The actress won an Emmy for her comedic turn as Joy Turner, the ex-wife of the titular character in "My Name is Earl" in 2007 and was also nominated for a Golden Globe for her work in 2008.  No word yet on when her trial is scheduled to begin.

As any Los Angeles DUI defense attorney knows, chemical testing is not as fool-proof as many prosecuting attorneys claim it is.  More and more information comes to light each day proving that results from chemical testing are only as valid and reliable as the people and machinery that handles each and every sample, which is probably why Pressly pled not guilty.  An experienced  Los Angeles DUI defense attorney knows that breath analysis machines, commonly referred to as "breathalyzers," can be fickle.  Many different models require a thorough cleaning and recalibration after each use, or else residue from each use can accumulate throughout a law enforcement agent's shift and lead to falsely high readings, especially as the night wears on.  A skilled  Los Angeles DUI defense attorney can also tell you that even blood tests, for years hailed as the most reliable method of determining a defendant's blood alcohol concentration, have come under fire in recent years after scores of mistakes and incidents of mishandling of samples were discovered in laboratories all over the country.  Even in a laboratory setting, machinery needs to be cleaned and well-maintained, and lab assistants must constantly use attention and care in properly handling and labeling each individual sample that comes through their facility. 

If you have been charged with drinking and driving, call the Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP today.  Our Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys have decades of combined experience in defending people against DUI charges of all types.  Call us today 1-877-781-1570 to consult with a skilled and experienced  Los Angeles DUI defense attorney about your case.