Cavallari and Mother Involved in DUI

It appears bad behavior can run in families.  Actress Kristin Cavallari and her mother, Judith Spies, were involved in a driving under the influence (DUI) incident in Barrington, Illinois in late August.  Police accounts report that while Kristin was riding in the passenger seat at the time, her mother, who was driving, was pulled over at a DUI checkpoint at around 2:15 in the morning.  Since the car in question belonged to Kristin, who admitted to law enforcement officers at the scene that she was drunk enough to not drive, it was later impounded.  Cavallari, who gained notoriety while starring on the popular television shows "Laguna Beach:  The Real Orange County" and "The Hills," reportedly insisted to law enforcement officials at the scene that they get her some water from a nearby Subway sandwich shop while her mother was taking field sobriety tests.  Representatives for the actress have not yet released further details about the case. 

For many people, being involved in a driving under the influence arrest may be their very first brush with criminal law.  Most DUI and driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenses are felonies and can carry punishments that can seriously damage your reputation, your lifestyle and your finances.  Every DUI case is different, and punishments vary depending on the severity of each case.  More minor cases may warrant just probation, alcohol counseling and hefty court fees, but if you do more serious damage you could easily find yourself in jail.  If you have recently been charged with DUI or DWI, finding an experienced DUI defense attorney is absolutely essential.  Experienced DUI attorneys know that fighting a DUI charge actually involves two separate courts:  the criminal court system and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) court system in California.  If your DUI arrest takes place in the state of California, you and your attorney must schedule a California DMV hearing within ten days or risk losing your driver's license until the criminal court aspect of your DUI charge is completed.  Losing your ability to drive can seriously damage your life, making it difficult to get to your job everyday or even take your children to school every morning.   California DMV hearings can be extremely technical in nature and winning your case in DMV court can be difficult without a good DUI defense attorney to guide you. 

If you are facing DUI or DWI charges, call the DUI defense attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP today.  Our attorneys have decades of experience in dealing with DUI charges in both criminal courts andCalifornia DMV hearings.  We have what it takes to win and we will fight for you.