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DUI laws, being more of a political animal than a legal one, are something that California politicians tinker with each and every year, without fail.  This year, 2012, two measures signed into law alter DUI penalties in noteworthy ways.  Consider this our New Year’s Gift to you from our DUI lawyers Orange County.

AB 353 prohibits law enforcement from impouding a vehicle at a sobriety checkpoint if the driver’s only offense is not having a valid driver’se license.  Police must also make a reasonable attempt to identify the registered owner of the vehicle in order to release the vehicle to the registered owner or to a licensed driver authorized by the registered owner.

AB 520 allows a person convicted of alcohol related reckless driving (known as a “wet reckless”) to apply for a restricted license early if he or she complies with specified requirements, including the installation of an ignition interlock device.  If you have questions for a DUI lawyer Newport Beach, call me at (949) 682-5316.

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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.”

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have learned that The Orange County Crime Laboratory (OCCL) has received a $350,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to purchase new instrumentation for increased identification and quantitation of prescription and abused drugs for cases when driving under the influence of Drugs (DUID) is  suspected. This technology will provide more comprehensive toxicological testing of DUID case  samples. Obtaining these additional equipment funds was done in cooperation with and through the  assistance of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

In recent studies, 23 percent of all fatally injured drivers tested positive for drug involvement. In another study where drivers voluntarily allowed for testing, more tested positive for marijuana (8.4 percent) than for alcohol (7.6 percent).

If you have any questions for our DUI Lawyers Newport Beach, call (877) 568-2977, anytime.

The multi-agency crackdown from Dec. 16 to Jan. 1, known as “Avoid the 38,” involved the California Highway Patrol, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and police departments. There were no reported DUI fatal collisions.

During the 17-day holiday enforcement period the previous year, 743 people were arrested for driving under the influence, according to the “Avoid” database.

Numerous patrols and checkpoints were scheduled countywide during the New Year weekend in Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, La Habra, Westminster, Anaheim, Buena Park and Placentia.

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have learned of significant law enforcement activity geared towards obtaining the maximum number of DUI arrests before the year is out.  Even though drunken driving caused-deaths have dropped to a record low, authorities are out in full force this holiday season and have so far made nearly 600 DUI arrests, mainly due to roving patrols and numerous checkpoints.  Orange County DUI enforcement agencies have arrested more than 580 people on suspicion of driving under the influence from Dec. 16-28, according to the anti-DUI campaign known as “Avoid”.

The multiagency crackdown involves the California Highway Patrol, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and police departments and lasts through Jan. 2.

During the 17-day holiday enforcement period last year, 743 people were arrested for driving under the influence, according to the “Avoid” database.

Numerous patrols and checkpoints are scheduled across the county this weekend in Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, La Habra, Westminster, Anaheim, Buena Park and Placentia.

This push against alcohol-imp

State-by-state data for 2010 released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows a decline in drunken driving fatalities in 32 states. Compared with 2009, California and Florida saw the largest reductions — with each declining by more than 100 fatalities last year.

In California, the number of DUI deaths dropped to a record low of 791 last year, compared to 950 in 2009, said the California Office of Traffic Safety.

According to the Office of Traffic Safety, figures from the NHTSA show that statewide DUI deaths increased yearly from 1998 to 2005, but have decreased every year since 2005.

In Orange County, DUI deaths have consistently dropped between 2006 and 2010, NHTSA figures show. Last year, there were 36 reported DUI deaths in Orange County, compared to 44 in 2009.

“This marks a huge milestone in the fight against drunk driving,” said Christopher J. Murphy, director with the California Office of Traffic Safety.

Last year, the traffic safety office has allocated $16.8 million in federal funds to law enforcement agencies to conduct 2,553 DUI checkpoints, up from the $11.7 million provided for 1,740 checkpoints in 2009.

Free rides

To alleviate the dangers of drunken driving, agencies are offering free services for end-of-the year celebrations.

The Orange County Transportation Authority is providing free bus rides between 6 p.m. Dec. 31 and 2:30 a.m. Jan. 1.

“We encourage those out celebrating New Year’s Eve in Orange County to leave behind their cars and enjoy a free ride on the bus,” said OCTA Chair Patricia Bates, also the 5th District Supervisor. “Knowing that an OCTA bus is there to get residents home safely is something that can give everyone peace of mind this holiday season.”

Last year, there were 15,540 free New Year’s Eve boardings, OCTA officials said. Since the program began in 2002, more than 102,000 boardings have been counted.

The Automobile Club is offering its free Tipsy Tow service from 6 p.m. Dec. 30 to 6 a.m. Jan. 1, to help remove drinking drivers from the road. The service is available in the 13 Southern California counties served by the Auto Club.

To use the service, motorists can call 800-400-4AAA for a free tow home of up to seven miles. For rides farther than seven miles, drivers can expect to pay the rate charged by the tow-truck driver.

For more information on the OCTA New Year’s Eve service and to check bus routes and schedules, visit octa.net or call 714-636-7433.

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Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint in Laguna Niguel on Friday, Dec. 30 from 6:30 p.m. until 2:30 a.m.

The checkpoints are part of a grant the sheriff’s department received from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety.

Be careful out there.

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DUI Arrests in Orange County went up slightly this holiday season. From the 10 day period Dec. 16 to Dec. 25, authorities reported 476 DUI arrests in O.C. cities. There were no fatal DUI traffic collisions during that period.

The statistics were provided by the anti-DUI campaign, known as “Avoid” – involving the California Highway Patrol, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and police departments – which lasts through Jan. 2.

From Dec.17-25 last year, 408 people were arrested for driving under the influence, according to the “Avoid” database.

Throughout the winter holiday anti-DUI campaign, authorities have conducted multiple checkpoints and roving patrols.

To alleviate the dangers of drunken driving, a couple of agencies are offering free services for the end of the year celebrations.

The Orange County Transportation Authority is offering free bus rides between 6 p.m. Dec. 31 and 2:30 a.m. Jan. 1. ACCESS service is not part of this promotion.

The Automobile Club is offering its free Tipsy Tow service from 6 p.m. Dec. 30 to 6 a.m. Jan. 1, to help remove drinking drivers from the road. The service is available in the 13 Southern California counties served by the Auto Club.

To use the service, motorists can call 800-400-4AAA for a free tow home of up to seven miles.

Have questions about DUI in Orange County?  Call me at (877) 568-2977.

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Our Newport Beach DUI Lawyers have learned that the Orange County Sheriff’s Department “Avoid the 12″ DUI Task Force will be conducting DUI-roving patrols in the Cities of San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point and San Clemente on Friday, October 7, 2011.

These Multi-City DUI teams will target areas that have a high incidence of DUI related arrests and collisions.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For questions about Orange County DUI cases, contact DUI Lawyer Robert Miller at (949) 682-5316.

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Our Orange County DUI Lawyers received the following as a portion of a press release from the Costa Mesa Police Department:

At the beginning of the 2011 Federal Fiscal Year, Costa Mesa Police Department was awarded a $364,000 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program grant, aimed at reducing the number of persons killed and injured in crashes involving alcohol, drugs, distractions, speed and red light violations. The current grant ends at the end of this month and preliminary results are promising. The Traffic Safety Bureau conducted 20 DUI/Drivers license checkpoints with 24,927 vehicles going through the checkpoints and 13,168 drivers being screened.

The press release goes on to talk about the drop in the number of speed related and red light collisions (perhaps related to Costa Mesa’s decision to take down the red light camera system in the city), but neglects to point out the low arrest rate for DUI cases from checkpoints in the city (sometimes as low as 0-1%), or the substantial fees raised from vehicle impounds not related to DUI.

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

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