Archive for March, 2011

Background Checks & Expungement of a San Diego California Dui / Drunk Driving Conviction

A San Diego California DUI / Drunk Driving conviction or record is considered a criminal offense and as such is a part of your criminal history. A San Diego California DUI / Drunk Driving under California Vehicle Code Section 23152 is considered a misdemeanor offense whereas felony San Diego California DUI / Drunk Driving offenses under California Vehicle Code Section 23153 involve property damage, injury/death, and/or multiple offenses.

Check with a San Diego California DUI / Drunk Driving attorney to verify. A San Diego California DUI / Drunk Driving misdemeanor conviction is eligible for expungement under California Penal Code Section 1203.4.

The benefits of clearing your San Diego California DUI / Drunk Driving record can mean many things, including expanded employment opportunities by being able to answer “no” on job applications if and when the employer or application asks if you’ve ever been convicted of a criminal offense.

By clearing the record you’ll be eligible for jobs that would otherwise exclude you based solely on the San Diego California DUI / Drunk Driving record as well as professional licenses and other civic liberties.

San Diego California DUI / Drunk Driving Expungement

After a San Diego California DUI / Drunk Driving conviction, one of the best remedies to seek is what’s known as a 1203.4 expungement which is a legal practice that can clear your San Diego California DUI / Drunk Driving record. The San Diego California DUI / Drunk Driving expungement gets the initial San Diego California DUI / Drunk Driving charges dismissed and the case dropped under specific terms described in the San Diego California DUI / Drunk Driving expungement order. The San Diego California DUI / Drunk Driving expungement can be handled by a San Diego California DUI Lawyer. Here’s how the San Diego California DUI / Drunk Driving charges can be dropped.

Originally published here.


Rick Mueller

California Early Termination of Probation and Conviction Expungement – Penal Code Section 1203.3

If you have been convicted of a crime in California, you or your legal representative may apply to have your conviction expunged under the California Penal Code Section if certain requirements are met.

If you have been granted probation and have not completed all the terms of your probation, you may still be eligible for expungement if your probation term is ended early pursuant to Penal Code Section 1203.3.

Why Should I Apply For Early Termination Of Probation?

Most people seek to apply for early termination of probation in order to have their criminal conviction expunged and set aside. There are a variety of reasons to have a criminal conviction expunged, such as when people apply for professional licenses in the State of California.

What Types of Convictions Are Not Eligible For Expungement?

Expungement depends on a variety of factors, including the nature of the offense, completion of probation, and whether jail time was required as a part of the sentence.  Some offenses are not eligible for expungement and include:conviction under

California Vehicle Code Section 42001(b) which includes sections 2800, 2801 and 2803; and
Penal Code Sections 261(d), 286(c), 288, 288a(c), 288.5 and 289(j).
Additionally, if you were convicted of an offense that resulted in a State Prison sentence, you will similarly not be eligible for expungement, but may be eligible for a Certificate of Rehabilitation from the California Board of Prisons and a pardon.

When Does Penal Code Section 1203.3 Apply?

Penal Code Section 1203.3 may be applied to for early termination of probation

You were convicted of a misdemeanor;
You were granted probation;
You completed your probation successfully to date;
You paid all of your fines; and
You otherwise completed the terms set forth by the Court.

What If You Had Problems Completing Probation?

If you had problems completing the terms your probation, applying for early termination of probation is probably not the best course of action, as your application will likely be denied. You may still try to apply for early termination and if your application is denied, you may apply again later when you have completed a larger portion of your probationary terms.

How To Apply For Early Termination Of Probation Under PC 1203.3?

You may apply for early termination of probation by contacting an attorney to prepare the documentation and file it for you, or you may go down to the courthouse where you received your conviction and ask for an early termination of probation packet. Make sure to have your case number and all of your personal information available to provide in the application. Certain fees and fines may apply and you may also apply for a fee wavier if you are unable to pay the fees.

What Is The Full Text Of Penal Code 1203.3?

(a) The court shall have authority at any time during the term of probation to revoke, modify, or change its order of suspension of imposition or execution of sentence. The court may at any time when the ends of justice will be subserved thereby, and when the good conduct and reform of the person so held on probation shall warrant it, terminate the period of probation, and discharge the person so held.

(b) The exercise of the court’s authority in subdivision (a) to revoke, modify, change, or terminate probation is subject to the following: (1) Before any sentence or term or condition of probation is modified, a hearing shall be held in open court before the judge. The rosecuting attorney shall be given a two-day written notice and an opportunity to be heard on the matter, except that, as to modifying or terminating a protective order in a case involving domestic violence, as defined in Section 6211 of the Family Code, the prosecuting attorney shall be given a five-day written notice and an opportunity to be heard.  (A) If the sentence or term or condition of probation is modified pursuant to this section, the judge shall state the reasons for that modification on the record. (B) As used in this section, modification of sentence shall include reducing a felony to a misdemeanor.  (2) No order shall be made without written notice first given by the court or the clerk thereof to the proper probation officer of the intention to revoke, modify, or change its order.  (3) In all cases, if the court has not seen fit to revoke the order of probation and impose sentence or pronounce judgment, the defendant shall at the end of the term of probation or any extension thereof, be by the court discharged subject to the provisions of these sections.  (4) The court may modify the time and manner of the term of probation for purposes of measuring the timely payment of restitution obligations or the good conduct and reform of the defendant while on probation. The court shall not modify the dollar amount of the restitution obligations due to the good conduct and reform of the defendant, absent compelling and extraordinary reasons, nor shall the court limit the ability of payees to enforce the obligations in the manner of judgments in civil actions.  (5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the court from modifying the dollar amount of a restitution order pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 1202.4 at any time during the term of the probation.  (6) The court may limit or terminate a protective order that is a condition of probation in a case involving domestic violence, as defined in Section 6211 of the Family Code. In determining whether to limit or terminate the protective order, the court shall consider if there has been any material change in circumstances since the crime for which the order was issued, and any issue that relates to whether there exists good cause for the change, including, but not limited to, consideration of all of the following:  (A) Whether the probationer has accepted responsibility for the abusive behavior perpetrated against the victim.  (B) Whether the probationer is currently attending and actively participating in counseling sessions.  (C) Whether the probationer has completed parenting counseling, or attended alcoholics or narcotics counseling.  (D) Whether the probationer has moved from the state, or is incarcerated.  (E) Whether the probationer is still cohabiting, or intends to cohabit, with any subject of the order.  (F) Whether the defendant has performed well on probation, including consideration of any progress reports.  (G) Whether the victim desires the change, and if so, the victim’s reasons, whether the victim has consulted a victim advocate, and whether the victim has prepared a safety plan and has access to local resources.  (H) Whether the change will impact any children involved, including consideration of any child protective services information.  (I) Whether the ends of justice would be served by limiting or terminating the order.

(c) If a probationer is ordered to serve time in jail, and the probationer escapes while serving that time, the probation is revoked as a matter of law on the day of the escape.

(d) If probation is revoked pursuant to subdivision (c), upon taking the probationer into custody, the probationer shall be accorded a hearing or hearings consistent with the holding in the case of People v. Vickers (1972) 8 Cal.3d 451. The purpose of that hearing or hearings is not to revoke probation, as the revocation has occurred as a matter of law in accordance with subdivision (c), but rather to afford the defendant an opportunity to require the prosecution to establish that the alleged violation did in fact occur and to justify the revocation.

(e) This section does not apply to cases covered by Section 1203.2.

Originally published here.


DUI Partners

How Can A DUI Defense Attorney Get You Off The Hook

attorneys.speedreadingtest.info How Can A DUI Defense Attorney Get You Off The Hook? There are many ways a DUI defense attorney can get your charge expunged. If this happens, you wont have to face a conviction, a jail or probation term and you can just go on with your life. Driving while impaired is a very serious offense. Its immoral and its very, very dangerous. You could have seriously hurt yourself or others and somebody could have died. However, whats done is done and now its time to find the best DUI attorney you can find to hopefully get you out of the mess youre in. When you visit with a DUI defense attorney, dont hold anything back. Give complete details of that day and be as honest as you possibly can. The first thing a DUI defense attorney is going to do is go over that fateful day with a magnifying glass to look for anything that can be used against the prosecution. Its All In The Details Recount that day as best you can. Start with when you got behind the wheel. You can even go further back to describe how much you had to drink and who you were with. These things may be hard to remember since you were impaired after all, but you should try as hard as you can. Tell your attorney about the time the officer pulled you over, what the weather was like, what time it was, who, if anyone was around to witness it and then describe the traffic stop as best you can. The traffic stop is very important. Most of the time, a DUI case is thrown out and the charge expunged