“This legislation has the potential to save hundreds of lives in California. We have the technology that can help prevent drivers from getting behind the wheel after drinking, and we should be using it for first time offenders,” said Feuer. “I´m optimistic that the Governor will agree.”

Currently, California courts have the discretion, but are not mandated, to require the installation of an IID for first-time and repeat DUI offenders. Under AB 91´s pilot program, an ignition interlock device installed on the offender´s vehicle replaces the restricted license. With an IID installed, an offender is allowed to drive anywhere, but cannot start his or her vehicle if the IID registers any alcohol on the driver´s breath.

California taxpayers will not bear the costs associated with the IID; rather, the offenders will be required to pay. The pilot project would begin on July 1, 2010 and would extend to January 1, 2016. By July 1, 2015, the Department of Motor Vehicles would have to report to the Legislature on the pilot project´s effectiveness in reducing the number of first time and repeat DUI offenses.

Firefighters were the first on scene. They called the police when they suspected the officer had been drinking.

“There are over 1,100 men and women in this department and we’re all human. However we do expect our officers to hold themselves to a higher standard,” Sgt. Konrad Von Schoech said.

“What I can tell you is that a thorough and concise administrative investigation will be conducted by the Sacramento Police Department. And at the conclusion of that investigation, appropriate action will be taken,” Von Schoech said.

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Officers say they tried to pull over a truck that had been driving erratically on Interstate 80 near Antelope.

The driver ended up crossing the median leading officers on a chase of speeds up to 100-miles an hour.

The driver crashed.

He and a passenger were transported to a hospital.

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A Placer County judge declared a mistrial Friday in the case of an off-duty Sacramento County sheriff’s sergeant DUI who was accused of driving drunk when he was pulled over by a Roseville police officer in October 2007.

Sgt. Christopher D. Guerrero was not arrested or cited at the scene on Douglas Boulevard near Harding Boulevard, even though authorities said he performed poorly in a field sobriety test and had a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit. He was charged days later, after the incident leaked to the new media.

Jurors deliberated for about two days on the misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence and driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 or higher. They split 4-8 on the first count and 5-7 on the second, both in favor of not guilty.

The Placer County District Attorney’s Office will decide by June 16 whether to request a new trial.

Guerrero, 42, said he “feels good” about the jury outcome but “felt villainized” in initial news reports.

Jury foreman Rex Miller said, “Practically everyone on the jury felt that the defendant was guilty, but we felt the evidence in the trial did not substantiate that.”

Jurors primarily had questions about a preliminary test that showed Guerrero had a 0.16 blood-alcohol level. Miller said those results weren’t validated by a blood test or the breath test machine used at county jails or police stations.

Jurors also questioned the accuracy of a police report, Miller said.

Defense Attorney Michael Bowman said the report was written four days later, mostly from memory because the Roseville officer destroyed his notes after exercising his discretion to let Guerrero be driven home by a bystander.

In closing arguments, prosecutor Kyle Jibson said Guerrero had been observed going 45 mph in a 25-mph zone. He had bloodshot eyes, an unsteady gait and said he’d had five beers that night, the last one an hour before he was pulled over, Jibson said.

On a videotape, jurors heard Guerrero apologizing profusely and pleading with the Roseville officer to “cut him a break,” Jibson argued.

Two days after the incident, Guerrero, a 20-year veteran with the department, apologized in an e-mail to his supervisor for his “lack of judgment,” the prosecutor said.

“I don’t normally make a habit of driving in such a state,” Guerrero wrote. “I take full responsibility for this, and I know you guys have a job to do.”

Bowman said his client was only trying to “smooth things over” with the apologies and wasn’t impaired because he was not slurring his speech or stumbling during the stop.

A sheriff’s deputy and sergeant in another vehicle allegedly yelled at the Roseville officer not to arrest Guerrero and threatened a “war.”

Guerrero and the other two officers underwent an internal investigation. Sheriff spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran said all three remain with the department.

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The two crashes happened at the intersection of Greenback Lane and Walnut Avenue around 1:00am this morning..  The deputy was dispatched to help deal with a crash where an alleged drunk driver had slammed into a power pole.

That’s when another alleged drunk driver came through the intersection and slammed into the deputy’s patrol car.  Witnesses say the deputy flew out of his car but got up quickly and walked away with only minor injuries.

The driver of the second vehicle was transported with minor to moderate injuries.

The driver involved in the first crash into the power pole was found and taken into custody just a few blocks away.

Crews worked for several hours to repair the sheered off power pole and restore electricity to nearby businesses.
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If you are looking for a Sacramento DUI Lawyer be sure to visit the California DUI Lawyers Directory.

Robert Basinger, 22, was driving along Folsom Boulevard in his 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee in March at excessive speed with no lights on when he collided with Mary Sekul’s 2002 Mazda 626.

Sekul, a 59-year-old teacher, was pronounced dead at the crash scene. Basinger was taken to a local hospital for treatment of moderate injuries.

Basinger’s blood alcohol content was later determined to be more than three times the legal limit.
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