“Driving under the influence of alcohol is pure and simple a bad choice and can lead to injuries and loss of life.  It just doesn’t have to happen.  We hope drinking drivers understand the severe consequences of this crime and think twice before getting behind the wheel.  We applaud the criminalists in the California Department of Justice who process evidence in DUI investigations and testify about their findings in court.  This all leads to better safety out on our roads.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

UKIAH – On September 28, 2022, a Mendocino County jury found Tiffany Nichole Lucero, 38, of Laytonville, of driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a misdemeanor, and driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol .08 or greater, also a misdemeanor.

The jury found true a special allegation alleging that Lucero’s blood alcohol was .15 or greater. An additional pinpoint finding was entered by the jury that the defendant’s blood alcohol was .20 or greater at the time she was driving.

The evidence presented at trial through a criminalist from the Department of Justice was that the defendant’s blood alcohol was either .26 or .25 at the time she was driving, over three times California’s admin per se limit of .08.

The jury’s finding that Lucero had a blood alcohol .20 or greater at the time she was driving requires her to participate in a nine-month alcohol and driving education program versus the normal three-month program.

The law enforcement agencies that developed the evidence leading to the guilty verdicts were the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Justice forensic laboratory in Eureka.