Posts Tagged ‘Huntington Beach California’

Huntington Beach DUI checkpoints “not mean to increase arrests”

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Our DUI Lawyers Orange Countyhave learned, through a press release sent to us from the Huntington Beach Police Department, that the PD believes that, even though they have a grant for DUI checkpoints, that they will not increase arrests.  As they state, “DUI/Drivers License Checkpoints are a key component of the grant. These highly visible, widely publicized events are meant to deter impaired driving, not to increase arrests.”

Image via Wikipedia

Related articles

• Orange County DUI Checkpoints: Huntington Beach, Westminster, Anaheim, Buena Park, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach. (ocduiblog.com)
• Orange County DUI arrests up this New Year’s Eve (ocduiblog.com)
• Orange County DUI Checkpoints: New Year’s Eve edition (ocduiblog.com)

Posts Tagged ‘Huntington Beach California’

Huntington Beach DUI checkpoints “not mean to increase arrests”

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Image by FrogMiller via Flickr

Our Long Beach DUI Lawyers have learned that Long Beach Fire Department Capt. John David Hines pleaded guilty this morning to a DUI and hit-and-run felony case that severely injured a bicyclist, officials said.

Hines, 38, faces a sentence ranging from probation to six years and eight months in prison. He’ll return to court Dec. 2, after undergoing a 90-day diagnostic evaluation in state prison to “determine his suitability for state prison,” according to a press release from the Orange County district attorney’s office.

As part of a court-offered deal, Hines pleaded guilty to one felony count each of driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury, driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more causing injury, hit and run with injury, and sentencing enhancements and allegations for causing great bodily injury and having a blood alcohol level over 0.20 percent.

According to prosecutors, Hines spent the morning of April 1 boozing it up at a Long Beach restaurant called Schooner or Later, then drove his truck east along Westminster Avenue in Seal Beach, where he swerved off the road and crashed into 47-year-old bicyclist Jeffrey Gordon.

Gordon was thrown more than 70 feet and landed on the shoulder of the street, according to prosecutors. The impact of the high-speed collision broke the windshield and nearly disabled Hines’ Chevy Silverado, according to witnesses who chased him, honking and screaming at him to pull over, as he drove several blocks from the crash scene to his house in Huntington Beach.

When police from Seal Beach and Huntington Beach arrived at his home, Hines reeked of alcohol, his eyes were bloodshot and the odor of urine wafted from his clothing, authorities said. The front end of his truck was spattered with blood.

His blood-alcohol level at the time was .24, three times the legal limit, authorities said. After he was booked, Hines was released on $50,000 bail and reportedly checked himself into alcohol rehab.

Gordon spent two weeks in the hospital with head trauma, severe lacerations and bruising to his head and body, internal injuries and spinal and vertebrae injuries. He continues to suffer limited physical mobility and speech and memory loss, prosecutors said.

Related articles

• Rottman pleads not guilty to DUI (hollywood.com)
• Santa Ana man charged in crash that killed nephew (latimesblogs.latimes.com)

Posts Tagged ‘Huntington Beach California’

Huntington Beach DUI checkpoints “not mean to increase arrests”

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Image via Wikipedia

Our Orange County DUI Lawyers have learned that the Huntington Beach Police have set up another Orange County DUI Checkpoint – Huntington Beach Police Department will be conducting their DUI checkpoint on Saturday night, April 23, 2011, starting at 9:00 pm.  The location of the checkpoint hasn’t been announced, but near Main Street and PCH is where most of the concern from the Police Department have been lately.

If you have questions for a DUI Specialist in Orange County, call me at (877) 568-2977.

Posts Tagged ‘Huntington Beach California’

Huntington Beach DUI checkpoints “not mean to increase arrests”

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Image via Wikipedia

Baja Sharkeez on Main Street might have to shut down its entertainment at 11 p.m. starting in March.

Police Chief Kenneth Small sent a letter to owner Greg Newman saying that because of various alcohol violations and arrests at the downtown bar late at night, police are looking to restrict the establishment’s entertainment permit.

Small said Sharkeez saw 72 drunken driving arrests in 22 months.

Newman said he thought there was some misinformation in collecting the data because his Newport Beach location did not have any violations. Newman also said he has never been fined by the state department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

However, as a result Hermosa Beach’s Baja Sharkeez is launching the South Bay Safe Streets program to combat the number of patrons who leave the bar and are arrested for driving under the influence.

Greg Newman, co-owner of the popular restaurant, found out this week that his Hermosa Beach location leads neighboring downtown bars in the number of customers who have been arrested for a DUI after leaving restaurants. Sharkeez has 51 arrests in the last two years; 31 of them were in 2010.

This news comes on the heels of a recent investigation into the number of DUI-related arrests connected to his Huntington Beach location. According to the Orange County Register, there have been 72 DUI arrests in the last two years associated with the Sharkeez in Huntington Beach.

Most of Hermosa Beach’s restaurants and bars averaged between two and five DUI arrests that were connected to their establishments through 2009 and 2010. Coming in second was Patrick Malloy’s with 13 DUI-related arrests in two years, eight of which came from 2010. Third was Caf/ Boogaloo at 12, with eight from 2010.

Police Chief Greg Savelli said the numbers are collected at the time of an arrest when an officer asks the person where they are came from. Savelli said he has no intention of investigating the Hermosa Beach Sharkeez location and believes the bar’s high number of DUI arrests is due to the restaurant’s popularity.

“That’s the most popular location. It doesn’t really mean very much,” Savelli said. “I just think he runs a popular place.”

Savelli also said it’s difficult to place blame on a restaurant or bar for having connections to a DUI because a patron while driving can show signs that they might be under the influence well before they display characteristics of being intoxicated while at a bar. He said two drinks can get someone a DUI, but they could easily have more than five drinks before becoming noticeably intoxicated and a bartender would cut them off.

Regardless, Sharkeez’s owners are going to do something about it.

“It’s definitely a negative that we have this many,” Newman said. “We need to do something.”

On Monday, Feb. 21, Newman is launching a South Bay Safe Streets Program via Sharkeez.

Newman said the program aims to reduce drinking and driving in Hermosa Beach. To do that, Sharkeez will only serve single-sized drinks from midnight to close to deter excessive drinking and allow staff to monitor customer consumption more effectively. New customers will not be allowed to enter Sharkeez after 1:15 a.m. Newman said that will discourage people trying to land an extra last drink. Sharkeez will also be closing at 1:30 a.m. instead of 2 a.m. to help clear the streets earlier and allow more taxicabs to be available for its patrons.

He said staff will also frequently remind customers not to drink and drive with audio announcements, signs at the entrance and on all tables, posters and special buttons worn by staff.
Newman said Sharkeez is also teaming up with United Taxi and Yellow Cab to offer taxi vouchers for $5 off rides. Sharkeez staff will pass the vouchers out throughout the night and to customers leaving the restaurant.

Also, every two years staff members will have to take a day class to get a Mandatory Serve Safe certification to remind them of all the city and state regulations and to help deter overserving.

“We want to lead the charge in creating safer streets and a safer downtown area by reducing drinking and driving in our community,” according to Newman.

Newman said they plan to ask Savelli for the new DUI statistics in 90 days after the program has been established to see if it is working.

“We’ll find out in 90 days if it’s making a difference, if we’re in the right direction,” Newman said. “If not, we’ll add more stuff.”

Savelli said the program is a good first step.

Newman said if it works, he looks forward to other restaurants and bars implementing similar programs.

Mayor Pro Tem Howard Fishman said the statistics of DUIs in Hermosa Beach “show that people aren’t drinking responsibly” and that it’s not one restaurant’s fault.

“I’m not going to point a finger at Sharkeez,” Fishman said.

Councilman Michael DiVirgilio said he was “surprised” to see the DUI figures related to Sharkeez and that it was “disturbing.” He’s going to encourage the police, city staff and restaurant owners to work together to come up with ways to lower the number of intoxicated drivers.

“We need to have our staff lead the effort,” DiVirgilio said.

“I think in general any number is too high. We should be finding a way to drive the numbers down.”

DiVirgilio also recommended having more DUI checkpoints throughout the year and more electronic message boards on city streets discouraging drunk driving.

Newman said he welcomes any meetings between restaurant owners and the city to fight the DUI arrests.

“It’s definitely a good idea to have a meeting on this,” Newman said. “If this (program) works well, I think the city will want other restaurants doing it.”

Newman also said he’ll suggest that the Hermosa Beach Restaurant Association discuss how to fight drinking and driving at its next meeting.

“We’re about being proactive and not justifying,” Newman said. “It’s all about reducing the number of DUIs.”

Because a whopping 72 of its patrons were arrested for drunk-driving in a 22-month period, Baja Sharkeez in Huntington Beach will soon have to stop its entertainment at 11 p.m. nightly.

Meaning no deejay-ing or live performances after that. Though alcohol can still be served until 1:30 a.m., when the restaurant closes.

[Insert sound of head-scratching here.]

Huntington Beach Police Chief Ken Small sent a letter to Sharkeez owner Greg Newman saying the new hours will go into effect March 1, when the restaurant renews its entertainment permit.

This curfew of sorts comes after the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control opened an investigation on the restaurant last month.

Newman, who previously said Sharkeez was being unfairly targeted due to its popularity,  seems to be cooperating with police, though he’s asking Small if the restaurant can get a 90-day trial with the new entertainment hours. According to the Huntington Beach Independent, Newman has met with Small to share some ideas on how to help curb alcohol consumption and the problems because of it. The restaurant will stop serving large cups or pitchers of alcohol at midnight, and is in the process of partnering with a cab company to offer vouchers for tipsy customers. He’s also researching whether the restaurant can use a breathalyzer to measure customers’ blood alcohol level before they get their last drink at 1:15 a.m., the Independent reports.

Huntington Beach takes the No. 1 spot in 2009 California DUI collisions among cities of its size. The city has been scrambling to find ways to address the issue, recently voting downthe idea of posting mugshots of repeat DUI offenders on its Facebook page.

Posts Tagged ‘Huntington Beach California’

Huntington Beach DUI checkpoints “not mean to increase arrests”

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Image via Wikipedia

Posts Tagged ‘Huntington Beach California’

Huntington Beach DUI checkpoints “not mean to increase arrests”

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

The Huntington Beach Police Department conducted a sobriety checkpoint on Saturday, January 15, 2011, on Beach Boulevard at Speer Street.  DUI checkpoints are a major money maker .  The statistical data for the evening was:

• Vehicles through the checkpoint – 1570
• Vehicles screened for DUI – 528
• Field Sobriety Tests administered – 42
• DUI Arrests – 11
• Other Criminal Arrests – 0
• Unlicensed/Suspended citations – 10
• Vehicles impounded – 6
• Other citations – 8

The checkpoint began at 9:30 pm and ended at 3:00 am.   The next checkpoint is tentatively scheduled for a weekend in February 2011.

I also was tipped off to a Long Beach Police Department DUI Checkpoint, in the East Part of the City of Long Beach, starting at 9pm on January 22, 2011.  If you have questions for a DUI Specialist Orange County, call me at (877) 568-2977, anytime.

Posts Tagged ‘Huntington Beach California’

Huntington Beach DUI checkpoints “not mean to increase arrests”

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Police in one Orange County city may post the names of people arrested for drunken driving on Facebook.

Huntington Beach Councilman Devin Dwyer suggested the plan at Monday’s council meeting, the Los Angeles Times reported. He said the local newspaper no longer lists DUI arrests and Facebook would serve as a substitute.

Lt. Russell Reinhart said the police department is considering Dwyer’s suggestion.

“I didn’t think public shaming for driving under the influence was such a bad idea,” Dwyer said. “I would use any tool necessary to bring down the numbers of drunk drivers.”

A report released in July said there were 1,687 arrests for DUI in Huntington Beach in 2009 and 274 crashes where drunken driving was a contributing factor. Local officials say that is one of the worst records in the state for a city with a population of just over 200,000.

The city is planning a drunk-driving campaign, with more police officers assigned to make traffic stops. Other steps include posting the names of those arrested on the city Web site and sending letters to bars whose patrons have been arrested.

Posts Tagged ‘Huntington Beach California’

Huntington Beach DUI checkpoints “not mean to increase arrests”

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Our Orange County DUI Lawyers have learned that the Huntington Beach Police Department has been awarded a new traffic safety grant for a year-long anti-DUI program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on roadways. Additional enforcement measures in place to combat impaired driving are coming as a result of a recent $156,021 grant awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety to Huntington Beach. If you have questions for our Newport Beach DUI Lawyers, call me at (714) 568-1560, anytime.

Posts Tagged ‘Huntington Beach California’

Huntington Beach DUI checkpoints “not mean to increase arrests”

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Our Newport Beach DUI Lawyers have learned that the Huntington Beach Police Department has been awarded a new traffic safety grant for a year-long anti-DUI program aimed at increasing Orange County DUI arrestsadways. Additional enforcement measures are coming as a result of a recent $156,021 grant awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety to Huntington Beach.

DUI checkpoints are big business, and grants from the Federal and State government are just part of the story.  DUI Checkpoints are not nearly as effective as saturation patrols, but they continue because that’s where the money is at. As I blogged about yesterday, the Costa Mesa Police Department received a grant for officer salaries and overtime for DUI checkpoints, that was $335,000 of the total $360,000 grant.  And, as UC Berkeley has found, impound fees from unlicensed drivers can mean tens of thousands in income to a police department.

If you have questions for a DUI Specialist Orange County, call me, anytime, at (714) 568-1560.

Posts Tagged ‘Huntington Beach California’

Huntington Beach DUI checkpoints “not mean to increase arrests”

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Huntington Beach Considering Posting Names of Suspected Drunk Drivers on Website

Our Orange County DUI lawyers have learned that the Huntington Beach Police Department may soon post the names of drunk drivers on its website, as part of its attempt to cut down on DUIs.

The Huntington Beach Police Department submitted a report to the City Council which outlined proposed tactics for reducing DUIs. Among the proposed tactics are posting the names of those arrested for DUIs online, in order to send a message that the city is serious about enforcing its DUI laws. However, critics of the proposal point out that suspected drunk drivers should be considered innocent until proven guilty.

The city typically makes 1,700 DUI arrests each year, which is the third-highest in California for cities with similar populations. Huntington also has the fourth-highest number of alcohol-related traffic accidents for its population. According to officials, Huntington Beach’s DUI problems are concentrated in the downtown area, which is very popular with tourists. About 19 percent of the city’s liquor licenses are issued to businesses downtown.

In March, the Police Department began keeping records of where individuals arrested for DUIs have had their last drink, and notifying those businesses’ managers that they may have served their customers too much. The Police Department located two particular restaurants in the downtown area that are suspected of over-serving customers, although both restaurants deny the charges and claim they take measures to prevent drunk driving.

Our Orange County DUI lawyers can help if you have been arrested for a DUI in Orange County.  Call us at (714) 568-1560 anytime, 24 hours a day.