After a long day at work you decide to head to your local bar to relax with a few drinks. A couple of cocktails later and you start to think about heading home. On the way, though, your stomach drops as you see red and blue lights start to flicker in your rearview mirror.
This is likely a scary time for you. A DUI conviction could lead to jail time and expensive fines, and going to jail is a fate nobody desires. Fortunately, California has a number of alternative sentencing programs that may help you avoid spending time in jail. One such program for alcohol-related crimes is known as Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM).1 SCRAM is an electronic monitoring system that is used to detect alcohol consumption. Here is how the program works:
How Does the SCRAM Program Work?
If you have been charged or convicted of DUI or another alcohol-related crime, a judge may order you to abstain from drinking alcohol in lieu of jail time. SCRAM provides a way for the court to make sure that you are abiding by the terms of this agreement. An electronic device is worn around the ankle, and the device detects alcohol in the perspiration of the wearer.
Typically, SCRAM participation can be ordered when there are aggravating factors, such as:
- DUI with a blood-alcohol content of 0.30% or higher
- Multiple DUIs
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- DUI with a child present1
How Can I Participate in the SCRAM Program?
Participation in the SCRAM program is an issue that is argued before a judge. You will need an experienced criminal defense attorney who can successfully represent argue that you should be entered into a SCRAM program instead of going to jail.
A DUI or alcohol-related crime with aggravating factors can be a serious and complicated charge, and an experienced attorney is necessary for crafting a successful defense. Part of this defense can be arguing that you should be ordered to participate in the SCRAM program instead of going to jail either pre-trial or post-conviction.
Call the DUI Defense Attorneys at Wallin & Klarich Today
If you have been arrested for DUI, you need to contact a skilled DUI defense attorney right away. There are a number of valid arguments that can be made on your behalf to defend against these charges, and hiring a skilled defense attorney is the first step toward keeping your freedom. At Wallin & Klarich, we have been successfully defending our clients against DUI charges for over 30 years. We can help you, too.
With offices in Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, Torrance, Orange County, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, West Covina and Victorville, an experienced Wallin & Klarich attorney can help no matter your location.
Call us at (888) 280-6839 for a free telephone consultation. We will be there when you call.
1. [http://www.scramsystems.com/index/case-studies/view/san-diego-county-da-scram-program-yields-high-compliance-drunk-drivers/]↩
2. [http://dui.drivinglaws.org/resources/california-aggravated-dui-htm]↩
