National City City Council in San Diego Requires Alcohol Training

In National City, a community of San Diego, the City Council has decided to require alcohol servers in bars and restaurants to take special courses.  This training will involve learning how to spot fake ID’s, when to stop serving alcohol to a customer, and how to handle a drunk customer. Employees who serve alcohol to customers must take this free training within 90 days of hire.

Those who are in support of the ordinance say that it will help reduce drunk driving offenses, alcohol sales to minors, and violence related to alcohol.  Although a similar ordinance has been adopted in Poway, there doesn’t seem to be any reduction in DUIs in that area.

If you really want to reduce DUIs, here is what I recommend… When people purchase alcohol in a bar or restaurant, it should be mandatory that they give up the keys to their car.  When it’s time for them to leave the bar or restaurant, an employee will determine whether or not that person is ok to drive by performing a breathalyzer test.  Of course, someone would have to be the designated “key monitor”, but in the end wouldn’t it be worth it if we could save more lives?  Just an idea…

Have any other ideas to reduce DUIs in San Diego?

New DUI Program in San Diego

A recent article at SignOnSanDiego.com says that the drinking and driving problem deosn’t seem to be getting better in California.  DUI arrests in California have grown from around 15,000 to over 17,000.  How do we stop this from growing into a bigger problem?

A new DUI program has been backed by a $1.1 million state grant.  An eight-officer unit led by a San Diego probation officer will be doing unannounced visits to see if those who are on probation for a DUI are using drugs or drinking alcohol.  Also, officers will be making sure probationers are attending their court-ordered alcohol programs.  Before, probationers would have to go to a county office to have tests.

“We have to start dealing with them in different ways and with different approaches,” said William Kootsikas, regional program administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

I think that this could be a much more effective way to prevent probationers from making the same mistakes.  Keeping track of these people and perhaps giving them the motivation to try and do better can possibly help.  We’ll see…

Read more San Diego DUI information…

What Repeat DUI Offenders Need Is Real Help

Recently I found out about a man in Pennsylvania who is being sentenced from 2 ½ – 5 years in state prison for his 18th DUI arrest.  How many times does it take for one person to finally realize that there is a problem?  “I definitely learned my lesson through this whole process,” James F. Myers said.  After 18 times he’s finally learning his lesson or is he just saying that for appearances?

Just another example of how ineffective the system is in combating drunk driving.  Well, we know that a person has a choice whether or not to drink and drive.  However, if you know what it‘s like to be drunk, you know that your sense of what is right and wrong can be a little clouded.

Myers was a depressed man his attorney said.  In my honest opinion, what Myers needed was some guidance and counseling from someone who genuinely cared about seeing him get well.  It’s a shame that our justice system doesn’t realize it.  Fining people and putting them in jail seems to only makes the problem worse.   All these people are going to do is get out and keep doing the same thing.  Someone who repeatedly drinks and drives needs help with their mental state.  It should be mandatory that they see a psychologist or life coach to help them with their situation.

If you’ve been arrested for a DUI many times in San Diego, get counseling and call a professional San Diego DUI lawyer to help you with your case.  Get the help you need so that you don’t end up like James Myers!

DUI in San Diego: What to Expect

What if you’ve been convicted of drunk driving for the fifth time?  What if you’ve already killed someone before because of drunk driving and what if you’re still getting behind the wheel after drinking?  This is what happened to a woman in Washington.  She is put behind bars again – this time for a year because of her latest drunk driving conviction.  This is the harshest sentence for the state of Washington. The woman’s lawyer is supposed to help her plan to get into an out-of-state treatment program when she is released.

I’ve always found it interesting that each state has different DUI punishments.  In a court in San Diego, here are some things you can expect if you‘ve been charged with a DUI:

FIRST OFFENSE – Attend and complete a 3 or 6 month alcohol/drug program; A fine of at least $390 but no more than $1,000; A mandatory penalty assessments (no more than $1,000); A 90-day license restriction to and from work, during work and to and from DUI program following any DMV suspension (only on non-”refusal” cases); Morgue program (if underage); S.T.A.R program (if underage); Public work service (if blood alcohol level high or accident; Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) impact panel.

SECOND OFFENSE 4 days in jail (some courts allow work release); Attend and complete an 18 month alcohol/drug program; A fine of at least $390 but no more than $1,000; A mandatory penalty assessments (no more than $1,000); A 1 year license suspension (no work restriction allowed); Public work service (if blood alcohol level high or accident); Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) impact panel; Installation of ignition interlock (IID) device in some cases

THIRD OFFENSE 4 months in jail; Attend and complete an 18 month alcohol/drug program; A fine of at least $390 but no more than $1,000; A mandatory penalty assessments (no more than $1,000); A 3 year license revocation; Public work service (if blood alcohol level high or accident); Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) impact panel; Installation of ignition interlock (IID) device.

FOURTH OFFENSE 16 months, or 2 or 3 years in state prison, or 180 days to 1 year in county jail; Attend and complete an 18 month alcohol/drug program; A fine of at least $390 but no more than $1,000; A mandatory penalty assessments. (no more than $1,000); A 4-year license revocation; Public work service. (if blood alcohol level high or accident); Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) impact panel; Installation of ignition interlock (IID) device.

Contact a professional and experienced San Diego DUI attorney if you’ve been arrested for a DUI.  Get help now and save your license!

MADD Unveils a Mobile DUI Command Unit in San Diego

Recently law enforcement joined forces with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) in San Diego to unveil a mobile DUI command unit.  Funding for the newest campaign was provided by a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety. The grant includes additional money to operate DUI checkpoints.  They also propose that the unit will be used to for education and DUI warrant sweeps.

“MADD San Diego County commends the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for their commitment to preventing and enforcing DUI’s in San Diego County.  The new Mobile Command Unit, made possible through the Office of Traffic Safety, will enhance ongoing efforts like Sobriety Checkpoints that have been proven as effective tools in reducing drunk driving on our roadways.   MADD is a proud partner with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office in countywide efforts to stop drunk driving on our roadways and to keep our community safe,” said Charissa McAffee, the Executive Director of MADD San Diego.
Time will only tell if this new campaign to stop drunk driving will work.   Get more information about drunk driving and sobriety checkpoints in San Diego….