Posts Tagged ‘DWI’

A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy has been accused of driving under the influence after he caused a DUI-related accident.  38-year-old Richard J. Patterson of West Covina was off duty when he crashed the motorcycle that he and his wife were on into another vehicle on the 405 freeway.  Patterson was taken to the local hospital for a hip injury while his wife was hospitalized with a knee injury and abrasions to the arms and hands.

After investigation, it was determined that Paterson’s blood alcohol level was at 0.15 percent two hours after the accident occurred.  Paterson’s arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday where he faces charges of driving under the influence causing injury and driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more causing injury.  If convicted, Paterson could be facing probation and up to three years in state prison.

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Many cities throughout Southern California set up multiple DUI sobriety checkpoints during weekends and holidays. Costa Mesa, however, is choosing to conduct fewer checkpoints in favor or more DUI saturation patrols.  By doing so, arresting officers are able to target more drunk drivers on any given night without having to announce the time and location prior to its commencement.

Unlike DUI sobriety checkpoints which are structured, DUI saturation patrol officers are able to roam the cities, ensuring the safety of motorists without having to make a big scene. Most motorists are able to research the DUI checkpoint locations and oftentimes, avoid a certain location knowing a checkpoint is scheduled to occur.  The city of Costa Mesa believes that by reducing the amount of DUI checkpoints and relying more on DUI saturation patrols, officers can be more effective in arresting those who have been driving under the influence.

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A 35-year-old Stanton man has been arrested for driving under the influence after he caused a fatal DUI accident that took the life of a 50-year-old man.

The accident occurred at 5:15am on Saturday morning in the 500 block of Beach Boulevard in Anaheim when the driver of a 2000 Chevrolet S-10 pickup, Alexandro Cedillo, failed to notice a pedestrian crossing the road.  Unfortunately, the pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.  Cedillo stopped and stayed until officers arrived and he was arrested on suspicion driving under the influence and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

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A former O. C. Newport Beach City Attorney was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after causing a solo DUI-related accident.

At 7:30pm on Friday, 53-year-old David Hunt of Santa Ana was driving in a parking lot five minutes away from his office at the west end of Ford Road near Mesa View when he hit a parked vehicle.  Once officers arrived at the scene of the accident, they had Hunt perform a DUI field sobriety test before he was arrested.  At around 2:10am, Hunt was released on his own recognizance and officers declined to provide the results of the tests and blood alcohol level.

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A 17-year-old Orange County boy has been arrested and booked on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, causing a collision and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.  The teen was driving a van northbound near the 1600 block of Harbor Boulevard near Disneyland at around 4am when he allegedly struck two homeless women who were walking at the crosswalk.

According to the investigation, one woman was thrown a considerable distance into the southbound lanes while the second woman came to a rest in the left-turn lane of the northbound lanes.  Unfortunately, both women died at the scene of the accident and the teen was arrested and booked at the Orange County Juvenile Hall on several counts including a California DUI.

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A fatal DUI accident in Riverside County has resulted in an Orange County man being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and manslaughter.

The accident, which occurred at 3:35am on Saturday morning, took the life of 20-year-old Joseph Castro, from Santa Ana and injured two teenage girls, a 19-year-old from the city of Orange and a 16-year-old from Santa Ana. The driver of the vehicle, 22-year-old Victor Martinez from Santa Ana, was allegedly traveling at high speeds when he crashed into a dirt embankment along the side of the road. Martinez was then arrested and booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of driving under the influence as well as manslaughter.

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Voters upset at last week’s failure of Proposition 19 (to legalize marijuana) can take heart– in a quiet move shortly before the election state lawmakers decriminalized possession of less than 28.5 grams of marijuana. Senate Bill 1449, effective January 1, 2011, makes possession of marijuana a mere infraction, giving the offense the same legal weight as a traffic ticket. Unlike a traffic ticket, however, where fines can exceed $300, marijuana possession carries a simple $100 fine as a penalty. First time offenders may still be sent to a drug diversion and have the charge dismissed.

The maximum penalty prior to this legislation was $100 fine, but the crime was charged as a misdemeanor, which meant defendants charged with the offense had a drug criminal record. Many lost their jobs or government benefits as a result. Because it was a misdemeanor, it meant defendants were eligible for a public defender and a jury trial as well. In approving the legislation, Governor Schwarzenegger explained that the “only difference is that because it is a misdemeanor, a criminal defendant is entitled to a jury trial and a defense attorney. In this time of drastic budget cuts, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement, and the courts cannot afford to expend limited resources prosecuting a crime that carries the same punishment as a traffic ticket.”

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It is not illegal to drink and drive. It is illegal to drive if your blood alcohol content is at a concentration of .08 or above. It is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs such that you can’t operate your car with the caution and care of a sober person. Unless you have previously been convicted of a DUI offense, however, it is typically not illegal to drive after a couple of drinks. This article is aimed at those drivers—those who drive after having had some alcohol, but are nevertheless afraid that they could erroneously be prosecuted for driving under the influence.

Before You Drive

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Getting arrested for a DUI or DWI in Orange County can be one of the scariest moments of your life. In the confusion of having to perform field sobriety tests, take a blood alcohol test and being taken to jail, you may not have noticed the pink sheet that the officer gave you if and when he confiscated your driver’s license. That pink sheet of paper serves as your temporary license and has an important warning: “You must call the DMV to schedule a hearing within 10 days of your arrest”.

Why is this so important? When you are arrested for a DUI or DWI, there are two agencies that prosecute you– the state (meaning the District Attorney’s office or City Attorney for those living in Anaheim) and the DMV. The state can impose penalties such as jail, fines, classes, community service and probation. The DMV imposes an additional penalty- it tries to suspend your driver’s license.

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