While everyone knows that drinking and driving is a crime, many people still believe that they can go to their favorite bar, drink a few too many cocktails and then ride a bike back home. But, under California law, cycling under the influence is against the law, which means you can be arrested and charged with a crime, even if you thought you were playing it safe by going home on a bike. If this happens to you, it is important to realize that you can still fight the charges with the help of a top San Diego biking under the influence lawyer.
Consequences for Cycling Under the Influence
If you are convicted of Cycling Under the Influence (CUI), you can be penalized with a fine of $250 and, if you are a minor, your driver’s license may be suspended. While the penalties for a CUI are drastically less serious than they are for a standard DUI, the crime is still a misdemeanor, which is why it is so important to contact a San Diego CUI lawyer to help you fight the charges and keep the crime off of your criminal record.
Even a crime as minor as cycling under the influence can still make the police suspicious whenever they pull you over for a traffic infraction. This means you might end up having to take a breathalyzer or field sobriety test just because you were speeding, and if you did enjoy a drink or two, you could be charged with drunk driving when you may have otherwise only received a speeding ticket.
Fighting the Charges
It’s important to recognize that you can fight these charges and win. Your Vista biking under the influence lawyer may be able to have the charges reduced to an infraction or dropped in some circumstances, particularly if the officer failed to follow standard procedure or if she violated your rights in some manner. While many wonder if they should bother with an attorney when facing such a minor fine, it is often still worth fighting the charges to avoid having a misdemeanor on your criminal record.
Call a Vista Biking Under the Influence Lawyer
Aside from the charge of Cycling Under the Influence, bicyclists who are arrested for this crime often face other, similar charges such as being Drunk in Public, violating traffic laws on the bicycle or being involved in a hit and run accident. A Vista biking under the influence lawyer like Peter M. Liss can help you fight not only a CUI charge, but any related charges you may be facing. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a free initial consultation with Mr. Liss, please call (760) 643-4050.
Creative Commons Image by Richard Masoner
