In 2009, the traffic police booked 14,681 drunk motorists, while the figure was 16,450 in 2008. In 2007, since June 20 when the anti-drunk-driving campaign was launched, more than 11,000 people were found to have tanked themselves up instead of their vehicles.

The downward spin in drunk driving, if only by about 2,000 cases, has brought cheer to activists as well as the Mumbai traffic police who feel that their effort has led to this change on the streets. The 2009 data, however, points at another worrying sign. Last year, of the 23.61 lakh people, booked for an array of more than 25-odd violations, ranging from dangerous ones like drunk driving to strange ones like ’soliciting’, more than 3.76 lakh jumped signals.

With motorists refusing to stop before the white line or the red light, pedestrians are feeling worst hit, literally. After a lawyer was assaulted by a motorcyclist at a signal last year, the oldest and respected lawyers’ body—Bombay Bar Association—through its president advocate Rohit Kapadia got into the act. After studying the situation, he has now moved the Bombay high court, seeking better implementation of traffic rules, especially at signals. The petition that has also raised the issue of “dangerous” free turns and blinking lights at certain junctions, along with the need of increased fine for jay-walking and a cycling-lane, is likely to be heard
on Wednesday.

The number of drunk drivers though seemingly fewer are mainly in the younger age group. They were also, said police, more often than not speeding or driving rashly. Almost one-third drunk drivers are in the age group of 21-25 years of age and another major chunk are aged between 25-30 years. On December 31, 2009, 720 motorists were arrested for drunk driving, of whom 214 were in their early 20s.

In between chaotic traffic and honking vehicles, the police also managed to catch 5,657 people for an offence of “spilling water”, which attracts a small fine. Water tankers that criss-cross the city after filling up at old wells at Charni Road and elsewhere were the main culprits, even though at some junctions resourceful slum dwellers fill pots and pans with the same spilling water.

Former deputy police commissioner (traffic) Harish Baijal, who launched the anti-drunk-driving campaign, said, “It was the death of three persons in March 2007 by three drunk drivers that triggered the drive to clean Mumbai’s roads. The result it is showing now is due to the hard work of all the traffic department personnel who tirelessly carry out the exercise to curb the offence.” Advocate Armin Wandrewala, who bore the brunt of a motorist’s ire at a traffic signal last year, said the police could also upgrade its facility and have more cameras to spot violators.

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Goodell said Friday he met with Stallworth about a month ago, and the receiver is “in a better place than he was.” Goodell said Stallworth recognized what he did wrong and has prepared himself to return to the NFL.

Stallworth, 28, was charged with DUI manslaughter March 14 in an early morning accident that killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes, a Miami construction worker who was on his way home.

Stallworth’s blood-alcohol level after the crash was .126, well above Florida’s legal limit of .08, according to results of a blood test.

In mid-June, Stallworth was given a 30-day jail sentence, of which he served 24 days, and reached an undisclosed financial settlement with Reyes’ family. Two days after sentencing, the NFL suspended Stallworth indefinitely without pay.

Stallworth played just one season for the Browns after signing a seven-year, $35 million contract in 2008. That year he recorded 17 receptions for 170 yards in 11 games.

Monday’s release officially makes Stallworth an unrestricted free agent.

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The Kingsport Times-News reports 47-year-old Samuel Monroe Bledsoe was fired from the sheriff’s office on Monday following an internal investigation of the incident.

The Tennessee State Highway patrol report says Trooper David Osborne arrested Bledsoe on Friday after a Tennessee Department of Transportation HELP truck driver called to report a driver who was “vomiting on himself and seemed very intoxicated.”

Osborne said he had to explain one field sobriety test 18 times to Bledsoe. He performed poorly.

Bledsoe repeatedly identified himself as a Sullivan County deputy and asked to be taken home. Troopers told him they couldn’t do that.

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One thing is certain, Arizona DUI law is already mind-blowing in the amount of jail time imposed when compared to every other state in the country. For example, a first time offender must be sentenced to a 45 day jail sentence if their alcohol level is 0.20 percent or higher. Some states still don’t mandate any jail time at all for the identical offense.

In the latest legislation, Arizona Senate Bill 1069 will do several things. Most of the bill will be addressed in future articles. For the purpose of this article, we will look only at the impact the law would have on people with DUI convictions.

A little background first. In Arizona, every DUI conviction results in the the requirement of an ignition interlock device, which is a breath test machine attached to the ignition of a vehicle. The device contains a sensor that detects breath alcohol. If alcohol is present, the device prevents the vehicle from starting.

Opponents of ignition interlocks argue that it is hard to police, and the a lot of people drive without them. Right now, it is a crime to drive without one if you are ordered to have one in Arizona. However, under the new law, it would make it very risky to try.

Should 1069 become law, any person who is convicted of DUI or who refuses to submit to a blood alcohol test while they are required to have an interlock device installed will have to serve a minimum sentence of 4 months in jail.

“The danger of this law is that it’s a lot easier to allege that a person refused to take a chemical test than it is to convict them of DUI,” said Arizona DUI Attorney Stewart Bergman. “At the very least, it opens the door to potential abuses. For example, there are many cases where it’s not so clear that a person is refusing to take a test. There are medical reasons that might look like the person is not cooperating when they are, in reality, physically incapable of providing a sample. Other people just don’t understand their rights.”

Other DUI defense lawyers agree. It puts a lot of power into the officer’s hands. Allege that the person refuses, and they have an uphill battle to avoid 4 months in jail.

The law will effect everybody required to have an interlock device, even underage persons.

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And now Smith hopes the club is willing to take on another major challenge.

Smith presided over a packed house at the weekly Hamilton Rotary meeting as county and state officials talked about the need to change a long-held mind-set and the laws that govern driving drunk in Montana.

“We’re in the midst of a terrible situation in this state,” Smith said. “I don’t believe that there’s a single Rotarian here who wouldn’t do whatever they can to help save lives by working to keep drunk drivers off the road.”

“This is not a once-in-a-while thing,” Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman said. “We’re dealing with these on a daily basis.”

There’s need for a grass-roots effort from people across the state to work together toward changing a mind-set that drinking and driving is acceptable, Montana Highway Patrol Capt. Tom Hamilton told the group.

People need to voice their support for tougher laws to their legislators. And, just as important, Montanans need to look each other in the eye and not be afraid to tell their family members, neighbors and friends that they are ashamed when those folks get behind the wheel and drive drunk, Hamilton said.

“It’s a societal problem,” he said. “We need groups like the Rotary and the Kiwanis to take an interest and let their voices be heard.”

***

Every year, about 230 people lose their lives on Montana’s highways, Hamilton said. About 90 of those deaths are alcohol-related.

“It’s becoming clear to all that we need some change in our driving-under-the-influence legislation,” said Ravalli County Attorney George Corn. “There’s not going to be one silver bullet. We’re not going to be able to pass one law and fix this problem.”

To make a change that matters will require a comprehensive approach that includes better education, more access to rehabilitation programs and tougher deterrents, Corn said.

An interim state legislative committee is reviewing Montana’s DUI statutes and considering alternative penalties or new technologies that could go a long way in keeping drunks off the roadways.

The committee meets again next week in Helena.

Corn said a variety of ideas being considered could make a real difference, including requiring people with their first, second and third DUIs to check in with law enforcement on a regular basis for a breath test.

“That would create a big fork in the road for many people,” Corn said. “It wouldn’t be about just going and seeing a judge and serving 24 hours anymore. They would have to come in and blow. … A lot of people aren’t going to want to go down that path.”

Corn also would like to see the state find a way to fund a local probation officer for misdemeanors.

The first three DUIs on a person’s record are now considered a misdemeanor. The fourth is a felony.

A misdemeanor probation officer would ensure that offenders complete the programs and follow the conditions of their sentences required by the court. The officer’s wages could be paid from a portion of the fines collected in each county.

Currently, Corn said most of those fines are delivered to Helena.

Corn said there also needs to be a DUI public education drive similar the successful methamphetamine campaign that makes driving drunk socially unacceptable.

***

Sen. Jim Shockley, R-Victor, said funding will be tight during the next legislative session and it will be challenging to find money for any new programs.

“It’s about money,” Shockley said. “About 8 percent of the general fund is corrections.”

While people want to solve this issue of drinking and driving, there aren’t many who want to see their taxes go up, he said.

Shockley puts drunken drivers into two different classes.

One has hope for rehabilitation. The other includes those with multiple DUI convictions who decided a long time ago they will not change.

For the latter, Shockley said the state should consider creating a low-cost holding facility where those repeat offenders can be warehoused.

Both Corn and Shockley have seen the Legislature reject proposals that would stiffen DUI laws during past sessions. Both were hopeful that this time might be different.

“I believe we’ve reached a tipping point, if everyone can just keep the pressure on,” Corn said.”

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – A Jefferson County jury has awarded a former stripper $100,000 in a lawsuit in which she claimed the club that employed her failed to stop her from driving home after her on-the-job drinking. Patsy Hamaker of Bessemer was injured in a wreck after leaving work at The Furnace on Oct. 17, 2007. She said she can no longer dance because of her injuries.

Hamaker said the club disregarded its own safety rules when it let her drive home that night. Attorneys for the club argued that employees tried to keep Hamaker from driving away.

The Birmingham News reported that the jury award made Tuesday is for compensatory damages. No punitive damages were awarded.

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Remember, police cannot setup a DUI or sobriety Checkpoint unannounced so check your local news if you intend to avoid the bother. Some found on Google News Include:

• Lake Tahoe, NV Checkpoint
• Buffalo Grove Checkpoint
• Denver DUI Checkpoints

Have a Great SBS and GO SAINTS!

The funds will be allocated to enforcement of existing traffic laws through selective enforcement efforts, often called saturation patrols. Part of this enforcement includes a DUI checkpoint scheduled in the area this Friday.

DUI checkpoints cost a lot of money to put on. The roads must be closed down and secured. In addition, officers at a checkpoint are often paid overtime due to the high number of officers required to run the checkpoint effectively. Though the cost is high, most police departments expect to make the money back through citations.

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A House committee is looking a package of bills that would change a number of laws, including the use of ignition interlocks on cars for anyone convicted of drunk driving.

“Right now, to get one of those devices, you either have to be a ’super’ drunk driver, a person driving two or more times the legal limit or a second (time) or more convicted drunk driver,” says Kurt Erickson, president of Washington Regional Alcohol Program.

State lawmakers will consider impounding the car of anyone caught driving on a DUI-suspended license.

The state also wants law enforcement to collect and report data on the last place a person had a drink before being arrested.

“It might be a cry for more [restaurant] server training or some time of intervention to make sure that stops from happening,” says Erickson.

The committee also will look to strengthen underage drinking laws.

If you have already been charged with a DUI in VA you will want to hire an attorney. A lawyer specializing in Virginia DUI’s will get you the least possible penalties.

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Jim Nugent recently made the request amid concerns some people accused of drunken driving were waiving their right to a jury trial in hopes of getting a lighter sentence from a judge.

And prosecutor Andrew Scott says a recent jury trial resulted in the most substantial sentence he’s seen in a drunken driving case.

Officials say tolerance for drunk drivers in Missoula is decreasing following a year high-profile drinking and driving cases and deaths.

This would indeed make Montana DUI charges all the more serious.

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