"But when you were available, I was Drinking Colt 45's with Lando, I was hanging out in the cantina on Mos Eisley" - Blink 182

The Mos Eisley Cantina, featured in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, presents dozens of characters from the Star Wars world that never again re-appear in the films (but may be present in the books). One such character is Muftak, a member of the Talz race, aka a big furry thing with multiple eyes. He's gotten love from both Richard Pryor and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Great Drunk Driving PSA from 1979 featuring a belligerent Talz

Richard Pryor as bartender of the Cantina

Tariq Al-Maeena

 

At our Citizens Police Academy last night, we got to put on "drunk" goggles, get behind the wheel of a converted golf cart (used as a "metermaid" vehicle in its other life) and attempt to drive through a course of cones set up in the police department parking lot.

We were told that each orange cone represented a child.  I responded that I didn't want to play that game, so I was going to pretend they were garden gnomes.  The horror of even pretending to run over a child was too much for me to handle.

I chose the easiest goggles, representing your vision if you had a blood alcohol content between .07 and .10 (.08 is the minimum BAC to be guaranteed conviction of DWI in North Carolina) and I could hardly see through them.  Things were blurry and seemed slightly shifted.  I maneuvered the course and grazed three cones.

My husband, thrill seeker that he is, chose the highest BAC, which I think was somewhere around .25.  He actually dragged three cones beneath the cart.  Later I tried those goggles on and tried to walk about three feet to him while he held out his hands for me to grab. It was like looking through a kaleidoscope.  I thought I was grabbing his right hand but when I actually touched his skin, my vision shifted and corrected itself and I was actually grabbing his left.  It was bizarre.

The police department takes these goggles and this obstacle course to the high schools and gets the students to experience what it is like to lose control and "kill" innocent bystanders.  Will it make a difference?  Will it prevent anyone from getting into a vehicle while intoxicated and destroying someone's child, someone's mother, someone's grandfather?

It was a hands-on eye-opener, that is for sure.  I am convinced that we need to go even further to stiffen penalties and implement whatever measures necessary to discourage people from putting their community at risk by driving a loaded weapon while their judgment, vision and reaction time are even slightly impaired. 

This may be an unpopular statement, but I'd like to see the law extended to seriously punish cellphone drivers, make-up putting on drivers, anyone who decides to multitask when their attention needs to be focussed on the serious job at hand.  I decided this when I saw the list of warning signs that police look for when scanning for drunk drivers, which includes: weaving, crossing the center line, turning wide, vacant stare.  I have personally witnessed many of these signs in drivers wielding a cell phone while barreling down the road.  I think you are impaired when your attention is divided, and if it is by something avoidable (you don't HAVE to answer your phone!) then you are inviting disaster.

We need to take driving much more seriously and we need to somehow force people to give a crap about the people they are endangering when they drive recklessly, whether that is being intoxicated or voluntarily distracted or even just being in too big of a hurry.  

This isn't cancer or hurricanes, people, where we don't entirely know how to make it stop.  We as a society have the power to make sure that no one ever again is killed by an impaired driver, simply by choosing, each and every one of us, never again to drive unless we have our wits about us.

Anyways, through a meeting I found one incredible person who is ready and willing to tell me his chilling story.  I don't want to give away too many details, since that's what my story is for!  But I can say that he has been in a drunk driving accident that should have killed him and why he drove while being intoxicated.  I will be interviewing with Todd shortly.

I also wanted to get someone on the other end of the spectrum's take on the situation.  I found a woman who has been hit by a drunk driver.  I'm going to be interviewing with this woman within the next week.  I can't wait to see how this has affected her.

Lastly, I had an interview with Kelli, my third story, on Monday.  I got to sit down with her in her home, with her husband and dog, 12 years after she had been arrested for driving under the influence.  It was really great to see how much she has progressed and how this had enabled her to work harder in life, to go back to school to become a nurse and live a successful life.  We had a really great interview where she re told her story of her drunken mistake.

Well, that's where I stand right now.  I'm still trying to come with another idea for my multimedia part.  I'm debating if I want to tell another story, using pictures and audio, or if I want to do pictures of these people I'm interviewing and their lives now.  Any ideas?

I agree with the jist of Mike's editorial:  Drunk drivers in Wisconsin get way too many chances to get back in their cars, drunk, and endanger the rest of us. 

www.jonpgroth.com

It’s officially fall. Football season is underway, restaurants have again reverted to indoor seating and the trees are changing colors. Along with the shedding of leaves, the end of summer traditionally sees a decrease in the number of DWIs as well.

But there are still a lot of people that booze and then get behind the wheel, whether it’s summer or not. Just take a look at Newsday, a Long Island newspaper whose online “Wall of Shame” showcases individuals caught in Nassau County while driving under the influence. The seemingly endless array of photos are of people from all walks of life, and hail from places from the Bronx to Montauk.

The first time I came across the gallery a few months ago, I was shocked. There was something about those mug shots that evoked both repulsion and compassion in me, a simultaneous need to wag my finger while giving the person a hug. I was captivated. I couldn’t stop clicking the forward button as I perused through the tough, sad and tired faces, waiting to see somebody I knew.

I didn’t. But if I did, what would I do? Call that person up and yell at them for potentially endangering my family’s lives? Link to their photo on Facebook? Scan for their face each time I’m on the Long Island Expressway? I might say I’d do that, but I probably wouldn’t. So is the whole point that I and the person in the mugshot are just, well, more aware?

As a culture, America loves scandal and public humiliation. But is it a deterrent? When I was a Peace Corps volunteer at a high school in British Guyana, caning a student in public was a regular practice for the teachers and sometimes, parents. The image of a disobedient student named Shawnomay standing in front of the class, trying to hold back tears as her mother hit her repeatedly with a stick, is burned into my brain. The next day, she was sent to the headmaster's office again.

Newsday’s “Wall of Shame” is a kind of emotional public caning, designed to humiliate those who have broken the law. It’s an unconventional public service, and one that I still have mixed feelings about. I’d love to see the statistics on whether or not this has prevented repeat offenders. It also makes me think: Would NYC, whose number of DWI arrests has increased over the past few years, benefit from putting a face to the crime?

Like audience members of that 80's Nickelodeon show Kid's Court would scream out—"Fair or Unfair!"—let us know your verdict below.

Johnny Jackson, known as Johnny J in the hip-hop and rap community, committed suicide while in prison over the weekend.  He had been serving time for in Los Angeles Count Jail for a DUI bust.  Authorities are saying that Johnny took his own life by jumping off one of the tiers in the jail house.

Remember everyone, don't drink and drive... DUI's can ruin your life and those around you.  However, if you are arrested for allegedly drinking and driving, get a DUI defense lawyer who will work to get the charges reduced or dropped and keep you out of jail.

In some states a misdemeanor offense can be raised to a felony DUI offense if a person other than the intoxicated driver sustained injuries during the accident. This of course does not apply in every state. Even in states that allow this charge, it is not always used.

In most states a misdemeanor DUI offense can be raised to a felony DUI offense if another person was killed during the accident. You should always check your state’s drunk driving laws to find out what applies.

Another reason that a misdemeanor can be raised to a felony DUI offense would be in the case of a person with multiple drunk driving offenses on their record. A person who has received multiple drunk driving offenses is referred to as a “habitual offender”.

For a person to be classified as a “habitual offender” in most states, that person will have been convicted of at least three drunk driving offenses over a specified period of time. When a person has been labeled as a habitual offender, the state has basically deemed that that person will never learn their lesson and will be punished to the full extent of the law.

There was one blight on the night. The Dodger fans who created the electric atmosphere also provided a series of violent acts towards the fans of the lowly Cubs. Fights, brawls, and insults were hurled at the Cubs fans. I was prepared for this though. Dodger fans tend to be the lowest common denominator of civilization. I have yet to go to a Dodger game where some belligerent soul wasn't hauled away in handcuffs. Last night was no different.

Nevertheless, it was exciting to see old faithful go off. I had been hoping for the Cubs to get right to the edge only to give it all away. They didn't fool around this series. Slugging lead-off man Alfonso Soriano managed just one hit between four strikeouts in the series. The infield managed to create errors at each position in game two. It was a total meltdown. No pitching. No hitting. No fielding. All in true Cubs form.

I was able to survive the gauntlet on the way home, maneuvering between cars, beer bottle projectiles and the concrete and steel of the Southern California freeways. It was at this point that the shock and awe could be seen. Not more than a few hundred feet from my house an SUV packed full of drunk Dodger fans ran a red light, collided with a mini-van, launched through the air, took out a traffic signal then a tree and came to an abrupt stop on a concrete wall topped with an iron Gothic style fence which impaled one of the passengers, left three in critical condition and the driver in prison.  The entire event could have been avoided. It was a stark reminder of the foolishness of drinking and driving.

What made it all the more depressing was standing there helpless watching as the emergency crews did all they could to save the passengers. I watched the whole event, all the way up to the removal of the vehicles. Two young men strolled up to enquire about the incident. I recounted what I'd seen and heard. Then I found out it was their friends. They never made it to the house and these two guys went looking for them. What should have been a happy night for Dodger fans came down to tragedy.

When you're young, with your whole life ahead of you, there are no "nevers." Everything seems like, "Hey, it could happen." Enter midlife and suddenly you realize that, not only is your time limited, but your possibilities have been shaped by what you've done so far. I lamented having spent so much time "partying," nice little euphemism for drinking all the time, instead of studying for the SATs, becoming a Senate page, investing, traveling to Eastern Europe, taking gymnastic classes, and so on.

Through the fuzziness of my pickeled brain, a spark of realization gathered enough oomph to make it to my consciousness. I cannot change my past but my future does not have to mirror it. I can change now, and thereby, possitively affect what comes next. I can change now. That was a powerful little message my subconscious managed to spew forth. Changing now meant not drinking anymore.

When you are in the midst of an addiction, getting out from under it seems like the ultimate goal. Once you stop drinking, the music swells and the screen goes black. It's totally post Hollywood kiss. Except it isn't.

It's the beginning of figuring out how to live in your skin because you have never had to do that before. How do you keep from jumping right out of it all day, every day. How do you face your stuck relationships, the job that stresses you out (whether you love it or hate it), the 20 pounds you've gained, the friendships you've neglected, or the children who associate you with ice clinking in a glass? How do you do life sober? All of your regrets, the problems you've ignored, the goals you never bothered to achieve. How do you look your life in the eyes without screaming and running from the room?

That is the question. I can tell you what I did -- and still do. Because after eight years of sobriety, every once in a while, I still want to get drunk. I don't want a drink. I want to get drunk. And, that, my friends, in the definition of an alcoholic. Someone who wants to get drunk every time she drinks -- whether it is once a week or every day.

The two most important components to my recovery are Alcoholics Anonymous and self care (I'll talk about self care in my next post).

AA is saving my life (an ongoing process). Some people have a problem with the Higher Power aspect of AA and some people just aren't joiners. This is not about God or whether or not you want to become a member of a club. This is about survival.

AA provides a list of people for you to call if you want to drink. The only time I made a call was my first Christmas Eve when everyone was drinking and I wanted to join them. Instead of doing those shots of Sambuca, I picked up the phone. It worked. Even though I've only made one call in eight years, I keep that list in my purse at all times. The psychological life line is enough.

AA provides meetings -- lots of them no matter where you live or travel. They are even on-line. They say that you should go to 90 meetings in 90 days when you first start out. I didn't do that, though I know lots of people who did (and do). I went to one women's meeting a week because I was comfortable with that level of participation. I did that for the first six years. Now I go when I feel like I need a meeting. But this is selfish of me because the reason people with years of sobriety go is to help newcomers. It is part of the recovery for all concerned.

During meetings, you hear people's stories. Sometimes, you feel like, blah, blah, blah. I've heard it all before. But usually, you get one gem, the thing you needed to hear to make it through the day (or the week in my case). Oftentimes for me, it is the story about the alcoholic brother who just died young because of his disease or the aunt who lost her home and now her children won't speak to her because of her addiction. It's sick. I know. But it reminds me of where I don't want to be.

12 Steps. Yes, there really are 12 Steps and, if you are serious about quitting, you should do them. Some people do them all for the first time in a few months, some take years. They are steps you repeat throughout your sobriety. It's all explained in the "Big Book," the AA Bible. You'll probably read the whole thing at first and then use it for a pick-me-up on days when you struggle. I don't use the book as much as other people. For me the meetings and phone list hold far more power.

Get a sponsor. This seems scary but after you attend a few meetings, it will become apparent who you might be able to click with. Choose someone with a similar background and who you actually like. I chose a woman around my age who worked, was married, and had children. I figured we could relate. I was right.

Cliches. AA is full of them and at first you think, "Give me a break." Fake it 'til you make it. Just don't drink today. Meeting makers make it. Keep your own side of the street clean. But after awhile, you realize that you need a trite little line to get you back on track when you start to slide. Four years into my sobriety, my 20-year-old nephew was killed in a drunk driving crash (he was the driver -- and an alcoholic) and I wanted to drink more than I could possibly explain. For weeks, I suffered. I went to meetings, talked to my sponsor, read the Big Book, blah, blah. One day, I was eating lunch with my sponsor and she said to me, "Just don't drink today." And it was as if she had just parted the Red Sea. It was that simple. I was wallowing in my pain and trying to imagine how I would get through life with this intense heartbreak. That little cliche reminded me that I didn't have to get through my whole life without numbing the pain. I just had to get through today.

around La 2, the discotheque, are full of plastic glasses and vomit. Can we assume that police presence was missing at a well-publicised party at the dicotheque? Or couldn't they find a breathalyzer between them?

A new Ohio law took effect Tuesday that will set up a searchable online database of drunken drivers by name, birth date and address, the Columbus Dispatch (dispatch.com) reported Tuesday.

Under the law, courts must send the Ohio Department of Public Safety the records of people who have been convicted... 

Read more...

      Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi initiated a controversial anti-drunken driving campaign in late May. (1)  The Nassau police asked news organizations to publish the names and photos of people charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) over Memorial Day weekend. (2)  Some news organizations followed suit, and Suozzi deemed the display "The Wall of Shame." (3)

     Nassau County continues to release the personal information of people charged with drunk driving as an "ongoing initiative." (4)  To date, Nassau County police have arrested 900 drivers since Memorial Day weekend; the county published photos of these drivers. (5) The sole exception precludes photos of drivers, who are under the age of nineteen, from being published in the media. (6)

     To be sure, Nassau County is flush with drunk drivers and the legal ramifications have not been successful in preventing the proscribed conduct. Last year, 4,013 drivers were arrested in Nassau County for drunken-driving related offenses, including twenty-two fatal alcohol related accidents. (7)  Estimates state that one in ten drivers in Nassau County may be impaired. (8)  Thus, Suozzi is hoping that the Wall of Shame "send[s] a message" that "if you’ve been drinking, and you decide to get behind the wheel of a car . . . we’re going to make sure that their friends, neighbors and families know about it." (9)

     Some of the accused cry foul. Unfortunately for these people, no civil remedy is available to them. New York does not recognize a common-law right of privacy. (10) The sole civil remedy for a violation of a right to privacy lies in Civil Rights Law §§ 50, 51, but this limited statutory right of privacy only applies where one uses a living person’s "name, portrait or picture" for advertising or trade purposes "without first having obtained the written consent of such person." (11)

     Now, while Suozzi is not a prosecutor, given the publicity and putative effects of the Wall of Shame, one has to wonder if a zealous, publicity-seeking prosecutor could invoke a similar initiative without violating the New York Lawyer’s Code of Professional Responsibility.

     Disciplinary Rule 7-107(A) provides the general rule that a lawyer associated with a matter shall not make a statement outside of court that a reasonable person would expect to be publicly disseminated if the statement has a "substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing an adjudicative proceeding" unless a fairly narrow exception applies. (12)  Accordingly, prosecutors have "a special duty to seek justice" and a responsibility "not only to ensure the fairness of the process by which a criminal conviction is attained, but also to avoid the public perception that criminal proceedings are unfair." (13)

     Publishing photos of accused drunk drivers, along with their names and addresses may prevent prospective jurors from being impartial at the outset of the trial and may also interfere with the obligation of jurors to base their verdict solely upon the evidence admitted in the trial.

     DR 7-107(B) describes six kinds of statements that a lawyer is ordinarily forbidden to make about a criminal matter because such statements would be "likely to prejudice" the proceeding. (14)  For example, a statement is "likely to prejudice" the proceeding when it relates to: "(1) the character, credibility, reputation or criminal record of a party, suspect in a criminal investigation or witness, or the identity of a witness, or the expected testimony of a party or witness; (2) the possibility of a plea of guilty to the offense or the existence or contents of any confession, admission, or statement given by a defendant or suspect or that person’s refusal or failure to make a statement; (3) the performance or results of any examination or test or the refusal or failure of a person to submit to an examination or test, or the identity or nature of physical evidence expected to be presented; (4) any opinion as to the guilt or innocence of a defendant or suspect in a criminal case or proceeding that could result in incarceration; (5) information the lawyer knows or reasonably should know is likely to be inadmissible as evidence in a trial and would if disclosed create a substantial risk of prejudicing an impartial trial; (6) the fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime, unless there is included therein a statement explaining that the charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty, are prohibited." (15)

    On the other hand, a prosecutor is allowed to state the following: "(a) the identity, age, residence, occupation and family status of the accused; (b) if the accused has not been apprehended, information necessary to aid in apprehension of that person; (c) the fact, time and place of arrest, resistance, pursuit, use of weapons, and a description of physical evidence seized, other than as contained only in a confession, admission, or statement; (d) the identity of investigating and arresting officers or agencies and the length of the investigation."

     While publishing photos of the accused does not appear to violate any disciplinary rule of the code of professional responsibility, one has to wonder why such an abuse of power would not be proscribed by the code? After all, such conduct on the part of the prosecutor taints the potential jury pool and proves to be embarrassing and humiliating for the accused.

________________________________________________________________________________

1 - Carl MacGowan & Alfonso A. Castillo, DWI ‘Wall of Shame' to Return, NEWSDAY, May 31, 2008, at A10.

2 - Alfonso A. Castillo, Some Arrested for DWI Decry ‘Wall of Shame', NEWSDAY.COM, May 29, 2008, http://www.newsday.com/topic/wpix-lidrunk-update0529,0,5041665.story?page=2.

3 - Id.

4 - MacGowan & Castillo, supra note 1.

5 - John Valenti, Nassau to Step Up DWI Enforcement Over Weekend, NEWSDAY.COM, August 29, 2008, available at http://www.nassaupba.org/public/public_interest/Stop-DWI.shtml (last visited Sept. 29, 2008).

6 - Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Making the Rounds to Prevent DWI-related Accidents, NEWSDAY.COM, July 6, 2008, http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-lidwi0706,0,7841085.story.

7 - Joie Tyrrell, Just a Fraction are Ever Caught, NEWSDAY, June 1, 2008, at A06.

8 - Id.

9 - Alfonso A. Castillo, 63 Added to DWI ‘Wall of Shame', NEWSDAY.COM, June 19, 2008, available at http://www.nassaupba.org/public/public_interest/blotter/63-more-drivers-added.shtml (last visited Sept. 29, 2008).

10 - Roberson v. Rochester Folding Box Co., 171 N.Y. 538 (1902).

11 - Messenger v. Gruner, 94 N.Y.2d 436, 441 (2000).

12 - N.Y. LAWYER'S CODE OF PROF'L RESPONSIBILITY, DR 7-107(a) (2007).

13 - See NYSBA Prof'l Ethics Comm., Op. 686 (1996).

14 - N.Y. LAWYER'S CODE OF PROF'L RESPONSIBILITY, DR 7-107(b) (2007).

15 - Id.

He was sentenced by Judge Mac Davis last week, September 26, 2008.  The sentence included one year in jail with work release privileges and 5 years probation.

The Journal Sentinel sent a reporter to the sentencing hearing:

Driver gets one year in wrong-way crash

Waukesha — A Richfield man who was intoxicated on Jan. 8 when he drove the wrong way on Highway 41/45 and collided head-on with another vehicle, seriously injuring the driver of that car, has been sentenced to one year in jail with work release privileges.

John D. Cimermancic, 26, pleaded guilty in July to injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle and was sentenced Friday by Waukesha County Circuit Judge J. Mac Davis.

According to the criminal complaint, the crash occurred about 11:40 p.m. Jan. 8 on Highway 41/45 at County Line Road in Menomonee Falls.

Two vehicles crashed head-on in the northbound lanes of the highway.

What the Journal Sentinel didn't report was some outrageous comments by John Cimermancic's attorney.   This attorney said he didn't believe that prison does much as a deterrent.  I just don't get this comment.  Look at Mark Benson for example.  He wasn't supposed to be on the road.  His license was revoked.  That didn't stop him from driving?   If he was in prison would we be talking about how he killed a mother and her kids? 

The same goes for this case.  John Cimermancic should NOT have been on the road.  He didn't have a license and didn't own a car.  He borrowed his girlfriend's car and got drunk and drove the wrong way on the highway.  Prison is a deterrent in the sense that it takes a multiple drunk driver off of the road.  That in itself deters drunk driving.  It should be said that in September of 2007 John Cimermancic was charged with drunk driving.

Judge Davis was thoughtful and, at least it appeared to me, that he was concerned about the victim in this case.  He said that impact on the victim is very substantial and that nothing we can do will make the victim whole.  Judge Davis disagreed with Cimermancic's attorney, saying there is more protection of the public if the defendant is in prison. 

But Judge Davis points out, if Cimermancic is out working there is the potential for the victim to be compensated sooner rather than later.   

Cimermancic is now a felon.  He can't vote.  Can't own a gun.  Must maintain sobriety.  Must attend AA or some other program.  Must maintain full time employment.  Loses his driver's license for 2 years.  And he must pay restitution starting immediately.

As a father I feel badly for the family of the John Cimermancic.  He was pretty badly injured also.  He is an Iraq war veteran.  He suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.   According to Judge Davis he has a better chance of successful rehabilitation because of his family support. 

All in all this is a terrible situation. Was the Judge's decision on sentencing correct?  Let me think about it.  Ask me when my kids turn 16. I'm sure I'll have a different opinion then.  

www.jonpgroth.com

 Jon Groth is a Wisconsin Personal Injury Attorney handling cases throughout Wisconsin and most recently in Kansasville, Marinette, Milton and Wauwatosa.

     So unfortunately Miss Heather Locklear was arrested over the weekend for DUI citing not alcohol, but prescription drugs. Whenever this happens don't you just want to slap people and say what the hell were all those bitch fights and makeout sessions on Melrose Place if not to pay for a fricken CAB, or be it a limo. Even though it is extremely upsetting that people never learn I do find one thing about this extraordinarily HILARIOUS . . .

HER HAIR

     Beotch is the spokesperson for LOREAL HAIR COLOR, yup hair color and her roots look like they been a growing for while now. So Heather what the hell lady (your not looking anywhere in the neighborhood of worth it). Get your crap together, stop injecting crap in your face and go to the salon. Maybe even throw in a pedicure because if your roots look like that (WTF) then what do your feet look like? This would be like if Julianne Moore was arrested and all of a sudden had more lines and wrinkles on her face that a shar pei (cute little puppy). Anywho time for me to get to work and stop being Beotch Mc'Beotcherson. Have a good day all!

Till next time,

HG

Heather Locklear was arrested Saturday evening in Santa Barbara on suspicion of drunk driving. According to People.com, a witness spotted Locklear driving erratically around 4:30 p.m. and called the police. The California Highway Patrol responded to the call and found Locklear sitting in her car on the side of the road. She was arrested and taken in for questioning and alcohol and drug tests. According to CHP spokesman Tom Marshall:

"Alcohol was ruled out as a factor, but based on the officer's observations, we believe Locklear was under the influence of prescription medication."

And yet another celebrity gets busted for driving under the influence. This time, it was Heather Locklear. (By the way, doesn't Heather look great in her mug shot, even with the raccoon eyes? She just turned 47. Talk about a MILF). I don't know for sure but I bet that Heather is loaded with cash. Which begs the question, "Why the hell are you driving?"

I just don't get it. I don't even like driving while sober. You can rest assured that if I had the cash, I would have someone drive me anywhere I needed to go. Need to hit Taco Bell? Get the driver. This seems like a really easy solution to a never ending problem yet, for some reason, it doesn't happen.

You might think, "well, if they are impaired, that is why they show poor judgement." True, but the other thing that rich folks have is an "assistant". You know, the gofer that meets every whim they have. Need some Chunky Monkey at 4 in the morning? Have the assistant do it. So, in my mind, if the assistant is worth a damn, they will prevent the stupidity from happening.

I do understand that a complete nut ball like Mel Gibson just can't be stopped. Even if you tried to stop him, you would have to listen to his "I hate the Jews" speech and who wants to put up with that...again? But Heather Locklear? She seems so nice. Plus, she used to be a cop on TJ Hooker so she knows the law better than the average citizen. (By the way, if all cops looked like Heather Locklear, the streets would be full of criminals and drunk drivers). Hell, William Shatner is a way bigger drunk and you don't see him driving around.

I guess the fact that Heather is still alive at 47 after having dated Tom Cruise and Scott Baio is quite the accomplishment in and of itself. (Tommy Lee probably didn't help the cause either). I just don't understand why she doesn't have a chauffeur to drive her around. I have no beef if she wants to load up on Percocet or Darvon and cruise around...Just don't get behind the wheel.

And you professional athletes, same goes for you and strippers. Stop going to the clubs! Rent a floor at a hotel and have your fun there. You know you are going to get shot, beat or stabbed when you leave the club so why bother? Only Mike Tyson should be hitting the clubs anymore. Everyone knows he is crazy and broke so no one will bother him. He is the new Leon Spinks. (I always loved Leon).

Worst case scenario, call me and I will drive you around. I can't promise I won't forget to pick you up because my memory isn't as good as it used to be. But who cares? I will have your car so you won't be able to get in trouble anyway. (This offer does not apply to Mel Gibson, Carrot Top or Paris Hilton. I don't want to sit on her seats... Ewwww)

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,427365,00.html

TAXMANWAKEFORD - 707-758-2030 CALL NOW

Following are common procedures when a law enforcement officer has reason to suspect a driver is intoxicated.

Reasonable Suspicion to stop

There are several situations in which the officer will come into contact with a driver, some examples are:

• The driver has been involved in an automobile accident; the officer has responded to the scene and is conducting an investigation.
• The driver has been stopped at a sobriety checkpoint (also known as roadblocks).
• The police have received a report, possibly from an anonymous citizen, that a described car has been driving erratically. The officer should verify the erratic driving before pulling the driver over. In some cases, the driver will no longer be in the vehicle.
• The officer on patrol has observed erratic, suspicious driving, or a series of traffic infractions indicating the possibility that the driver may be impaired. This is by far the most common reason for stopping a suspect.
• A police officer has stopped a vehicle for a lesser traffic offense, notices the signs of intoxication, and begins the DUI investigation.

The following list of DUI symptoms, from a publication issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (DOT HS-805-711),^[5] is widely used in training officers to detect drunk drivers. After each symptom is a percentage figure which, according to NHTSA, indicates the statistical chances through research, that a driver is over the legal limit.

If the officer observes enough to have a reasonable suspicion to legally justify a further detention and investigation, he will ask the driver to step out of the vehicle.

DUI Facts & Fiction: Urban Myths

Although an increased accident risk might seem surprising at first, two strands of literature on consumer behavior suggest potential explanations—smokers driving longer distances to a bordering jurisdiction that allows smoking in bars and smokers driving longer distances within their jurisdiction to bars that still allow smoking, perhaps through non-compliance or outdoor seating. We find evidence consistent with both explanations. The increased miles driven by drivers wishing to smoke and drink offsets any reduction in driving from smokers choosing to stay home following a ban, resulting in increased alcohol-related accidents.

The increases are between 10 and 19 percent. The paper, by Scott Adams and Chad Cotti, is here.