Mr. Fakhimi is devoted to representing clients charged with  DUI and other drug and alcohol related offenses.  As a member of many nationally recognized organizations devoted to DUI defense, Mr. Fakhimi stays abreast of the most recent changes in DUI law as well as the science behind DUI cases.  He has conducted lectures on a variety of DUI issues and stays proactive in the DUI legal community. 

Mr. Fakhimi has an in-depth understanding of the proper use, maintenance and functionality of the leading breath-alcohol device used by California law enforcement agencies.  He has uniquely acquired the Police Officer Standardized Training Certification (POST CERTIFIED) in the use and maintenance of this device by the leading expert in the field.

Mr. Fakhimi serves on the legal committee of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).  He is also a member of the National Collegel for DUI Defense (NCDD), the California DUI Lawyers Association (CDLA), and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL).


DUI OVERVIEW

The effect of alcohol on an individual is determined primarily by two factors: the amount of alcohol consumed and the rate at which it is absorbed by the body. Other contributing factors include gender, body weight, alcohol tolerance, mood, environment and the amount of food consumed.

From the first drink, alcohol affects coordination and judgment. Even with a BAC well below .08 percent, a person's reaction time slows. The risk of being in a crash begins to increase between a BAC of .04 and .05 percent and increases rapidly thereafter. By the time a driver reaches a BAC of .06 percent, he/she is twice as likely to be involved in a fatal crash as a non-drinking driver. By the time a driver reaches a BAC of .08 percent, he/she is 11 times more likely to be killed in a single-vehicle crash than a non-drinking driver.

The only way to rid the body of alcohol is time. Fresh air, coffee, showers and food cannot help a person sober up. It takes about one hour for the body to metabolize one drink. Each of the following has a comparable amount of alcohol and counts as one drink: one 12-ounce mug of beer, one 5-ounce glass of wine or a one 1.5-ounce shot of hard liquor.

A DUI conviction is a permanent part of an offender’s driving record.

The offender may lose work time.

The offender will be required to complete an alcohol and drug evaluation and an alcohol/drug remedial education course or substance abuse treatment program before his/her driving privileges are reinstated.

The offender must meet the requirements of the Secretary of State’s Department of Administrative Hearings prior to obtaining a restricted driving permit.

The offender’s vehicle may be impounded or seized.

An Ignition Interlock Device (IID) may be installed in the offender’s vehicle as a condition of driving relief.

The offender will be subject to high-risk auto insurance rates.

The DUI criminal charge is prosecuted and adjudicated in the courts. This charge is separate from the statutory summary suspension, which is an administrative process. A person convicted of DUI who lost his/her driving privileges because of a summary suspension will have that time credited to the minimum driver's license revocation period.

Full driving privileges are lost for a minimum of five years if a driver receives a second conviction for any of the following: DUI; leaving the scene of a personal injury or fatal crash; reckless homicide, or any combination of these offenses in a 20-year period. If a driver receives a third conviction for any of these offenses, regardless of the length of time between convictions, full driving privileges will be lost for a minimum of 10 years. If a driver receives a fourth or subsequent conviction, his/her license will be revoked permanently. If a driver is convicted of DUI in another state, your state of residence driving privileges will be revoked.