For years, we have been treated to a media spectacle: a seemingly endless parade of celebrity Los Angeles DUI violators apologizing to us on TV, on radio, and in print. Although Tiger Woods’ mea culpa last Friday had nothing to do directly with the string of celebrity DUIs that have…
In last Sunday’s New York Times, writer Ryan Gabrielson reported that Southern California DUI checkpoints often spell serious trouble for unlicensed motorists. In 2009, nearly 24,000 cars were seized at Southern California DUI checkpoints — netting around $40 million for the state in fines, towing fees, and other costs. Each…
Celebrity Beverly Hills DUI arrests regularly grace the pages of our tabloid newspapers (see, for instance, DUIs involving Lindsay Lohan, Mel Gibson, Nick Nolte and, most recently, Adrian Pasdar). But the non-celebrities among us do not seem to be faring much better when it comes to avoiding the long arm…
Would the public and people suspected of driving under the influence in Burbank, Long Beach, and elsewhere in Southern California be better served if police use more accurate methods to test for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels? The Breathalyzer device has been a law enforcement staple for decades. Most people…
From Burbank DUI drivers to debris in lanes to ferocious traffic snarls, Southern California’s freeways present a gallery of challenges to drivers. Here’s a quick guide to the obstacles we frequently encounter thanks to our tangled freeway system. Rush-hour gridlock from 6 AM through 9 PM… and often on weekends.…
The problem of driving under the influence in West Hollywood is a perennial one. On weekend nights and certain holidays (especially Halloween), the surface streets in West Hollywood become extremely hazardous to both pedestrians and drivers. Here, we provide some tips for how to (hopefully) drive safer and smarter in…
The dangers of driving under the influence in Burbank have increased dramatically, thanks to the drenching rain that has doused the Southland. AccuWeather projections predict that the rain will last at least until (or through) Friday, potentially causing local flooding, traffic snarls, and changes to typical freeway congestion patterns. How…
One of most powerful Republican State Senate leaders North of Los Angeles was arrested for a DUI. Utah State Senate Majority Leader Sheldon Killpack was arrested for driving under the influence and one day later he resigned from office. The irony of the arrest is that the State Senate leader…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) monitors trends regarding fatal Southern California DUI incidences. A close look at the recent stats points to many positive developments and some concerns. Let’s consider the stats over the past 30 years to wee how the dangers of DUI in Southern California have…
Starting in 2010, any driver convicted of a Los Angeles DUI will be required by law to install an interlock ignition device (IID) in his or her vehicle. The new law is part of an ambitious pilot program being tested in seven different California counties, including Los Angeles and Tulare…