Archive for February, 2011
Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer under fire
February 28th, 2011 | 
Author: Are Jerry Dyer’s days as Fresno police chief about to end because two of his top deputies say he’s often a boor, and at times a racist?
Published Feb 26, 2011.
Read more: The Fresno Bee
Posted in 
Drunk Driving: It’s Not Worth It!
Drunk driving is a serious, punishable offense and should not be taken lightly. If you live in the state of California pay close attention to the following information, because it could be vital to you or someone you know and love.
Why would a Police Officer Pull You Over
A police officer can only pull a person over if there is a reason for suspicion. For example, if a car is weaving into other lanes or driving in other irregular patterns an officer has the right to suspect that driver is under the influence of alcohol or another substance. Another way a person can be arrested for a drunk driving is if they are stopped at a sobriety check. At these checks, police choose cars at random to conduct alcohol screenings. The police officer might ask the driver to perform a physical field sobriety test such as walking a straight line, or may ask the driver to consent to a blood alcohol test.
Penalties as a Result of Drunk Driving
If you or someone you know is caught driving drunk in the state of California they could be facing penalties such as community service, traffic school, suspended license, high fines, probation, or even imprisonment. If it is the first offense, that driver is facing up to 6 months suspended license, $1,000 dollars in fines and up to 6 months in jail. All penalties are ultimately up to the judge however influencing factors of a judge’s decision include circumstances surrounding the arrest, the driver’s blood alcohol results, and any local polices that may have been violated in the area and time of the arrest.
What Happens After the Arrest?
Being arrested for a DUI can be an overwhelming, confusing, and scary time. The first thing anyone should do if ever arrested for drunk driving, is to contact an experienced DUI attorney. A DUI defense lawyer will walk a defendant through the process, explain to the defendant all their legal rights in detail, and may even represent the defendant at their DMV hearing.
Bonilla and Cintean is a Sacramento based law firm that has worked on hundreds of DUI cases and have the credential’s needed to defend anyone facing a DUI charge. Attorneys at Bonilla and Cintean are dedicated to making sure their clients are prepared and are provided with all information regarding the laws and processes of being charged with a DUI. If you or your loved one needs a Sacramento DUI lawyer call Bonilla and Cintean.
Originally published here.
Ashley
Surprising Survey: Americans Support Stricter Rules of the Road
Americans overwhelmingly support policy changes to reduce traffic fatalities, including tougher restrictions on DUI drivers, as well as increasing the use of red-light cameras, tougher enforcement of seatbelt laws and more sobriety checkpoints.
Most people surveyed by The Center for Excellence in Rural Safety at the University of Minnesota expressed support for increasing the use of radar and automated cameras at intersections to stop drivers from speeding and running red lights. Respondents also support the installation of ignition interlock devices in the vehicles of drivers convicted of drunken driving.
Interlock Ignition Devices
The use of ignition interlock devices is spreading, now including California. Sacramento, Los Angeles, Alameda and Tulare counties are conducting five-year pilot programs of the devices. In these counties, first-time DUI offenders will have the devices installed at their expense in their vehicles. The devices typically cost about $100 to install and have a monthly maintenance fee as well.
A driver must blow into the device which then tests the driver’s breath for alcohol content. If alcohol is detected, the device prevents the vehicle from starting. If the driver is allowed to start the vehicle, random tests will be administered while the vehicle is being driven.
If a driver has an unallowable amount of alcohol in their breath, the device alerts authorities who will then contact the driver for possible sanctions that could include fines, loss of driving privileges and time in jail.
Across the nation, states are reporting that recidivism among DUI drivers with ignition interlock systems in their vehicles is much lower than for drivers without the devices.
Red-light Cameras
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says 22 percent of all traffic crashes in the U.S. are caused by drivers who run red lights. The collisions kill an estimated 800 people per year and cause more than $7 billion in damage. This is why so many cities are turning to red light cameras for enforcement of traffic laws in intersections.
The camera systems are simple: cameras are connected to triggers and controlled by a computer. When a driver sets off a trigger by running a red light, a camera is activated, capturing an image of the offending vehicle and its license plate. The owner of the vehicle then receives a traffic ticket in the mail.
While there is some controversy over whether red-light cameras reduce accidents, there’s no doubt that they generate income for the cities purchasing them in increasing numbers.
Seatbelt Law Enforcement
Seatbelts were one of the first safety devices in cars, and are still one of the most effective. The old saying is true: seatbelts save lives.
According to research by James Madison University, about half of all traffic fatalities could be saved if they wore seatbelts, sparing about 17,000 lives needlessly lost each year.
A number of states have followed California’s lead and are now making seatbelt violations a primary offense, meaning that police officers can now pull over motorists who aren’t wearing the safety belts or who have passengers not wearing them.
Safety First
We urge all our readers to obey the rules of the road, drive defensively and always make sure you and everyone in your vehicle buckles up.
If you or a loved one suffer an injury due to someone else’s negligence behind the wheel, contact a personal injury attorney. An experienced personal injury lawyer will assess your case and help you understand your legal options.
Originally published here.
McClellan Law Firm