Is One Year For Vehicular Manslaughter Enough?

Earlier this month a 19-year-old San Diego man was ordered to year in jail after driving drunk and killing a homeless man.  The incident happened in January of this year and Alec O’Keefe Rowe pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter in July.

Vehicular manslaughter is the crime of negligently driving a vehicle and directly causing the death of another human.  A vehicular manslaughter charge can result in the death of a passenger in your own car if the death was caused while breaking the law.

Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Fraser presided over the case and it was noted that in his 11 years on the bench, he’s never given probation in this type of situation.  Fraser based his decision on the intense remorse and commitment to rehabilitation by the defendant.

So the question remains…

Was the judge right or wrong to give this 19-year-old a break?

Or better yet….What if O’Keefe had hit someone who wasn’t homeless?  There was nobody in the court to represent Darin Albert Victor who was the one killed in this tragic event.  Granted, the death of Victor wasn’t premeditated, however, is one year in jail enough?

Source:  SignOnSanDiego.com

If you need help with your San Diego DUI, contact a lawyer who specializes in DUI cases…

The Biggest Misconception About a DUI Arrest

Drunk driving is a common occurrence in the United States today and many people don’t take it very seriously.  People tend to view an arrest for a DUI (otherwise known as Driving Under the Influence) as a minor traffic incident, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Many people who’ve been arrested for drunk driving attempt to defend themselves in court without a DUI defense lawyer, but come to find out that a DUI is a complex case that requires much research and investigation.  There are many questions to answer such as:  What was the chemical makeup of the defendant prior and during the arrest?  Has the breathalyzer device used been properly maintained?  Is there a chance that any medications or food the defendant ate could have affected the breath test?

Yes, a DUI arrest is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly.  Considering the long-term ramifications of a conviction such as high fines, jail time, a driver’s license suspension, mandatory attendance of an alcohol program (which costs money too!) and an increase in insurance rates, a DUI is indeed something that requires much attention – even if it’s your first DUI arrest and you have a clean record.

Find out about the top DUI mistakes…

What’s Just As Dangerous As Drunk Driving?

Early this summer the state of California began enforcing the law that prohibits drivers from talking on a cell phone.  Now you see many people with a bluetooth in their ear, but there are still people out there who either 1) don’t know about the law or 2) don’t care about the new law.  I even see people texting on their cellphone!

Texting and Driving

I’ve talked before about how talking on a cell phone is more dangerous than drunk driving.  Did you know that text messaging while driving is also more dangerous than drunk driving?  It’s amazing that people would even consider text messaging while driving.  What happened to a little common sense?

Last Friday I was involved in a car accident in which a driver hit my boyfriend and from behind while we were at a stop light.  Of course we didn’t see it coming because the hit came from behind, but we assume that the other driver was probably on her phone at the time she hit us.  My boyfriend and I suffered minor back pains.  Thank Goodness that we have a big truck that reduced the impact.  Otherwise, I think we wouldn’t be so ok.

Have you been arrested for drunk driving in San Diego?  Make sure to hire an experienced San Diego DUI lawyer.

Photo Credit: Steven Parker

MADD’s Latest Initiative: Traffic Observation Program

In the past I’ve been skeptical about some of the things that MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) has done to prevent drunk driving.  I’ve often wondered whether or not their programs are working considering drunk driving still continues to this day.  However, this time I’m going to share with you MADD’s latest initiative and then I’ll let you decide for yourself whether or not it will be effective…

MADD in Florida has started a new program called Traffic Observation Program, or T.O.P which will consist of teams of two who will be on the road observing traffic to report signs of possible impaired driving.  The observers will have specialized training that includes classroom instruction and a minimum of six hours of ride-a-long training with certified DUI officers. They will observe all traffic laws and will make no effort to stop or interact with the subject vehicles – basically all they will do is report suspected drunk drivers to the Sheriff department.  These volunteers will be patrolling at night from 10 pm until 1 or 2 in the morning.

Need help with your DUI in San Diego?  Call a professional and experienced San Diego DUI lawyer.

Related Posts:

• MADD’s New National Campaign

• MADD Unveils a Mobile DUI Command Unit in San Diego

Read more San Diego DUI news…

Source:  MarketWatch

Labor Day Weekend DUI Statistics

The three-day Labor Day weekend in the U.S. is a time of gatherings and parties.  Summer is almost over in San Diego and everyone wants to just relax and unwind.  Of course, it’s also a weekend full of traffic and drunk drivers on the roadways which means more sobriety checkpoints.  In East Chula Vista my friend and I had to drive through a checkpoint right by the entrance of Freeway 125.  Every time it’s a holiday weekend, that’s where law enforcement establishes their post. 

Anyhow, here are some interesting statistics I came across in this article over at SignOnSanDiego.com titled “Holiday highway death toll drops in San Diego“.  The article states that three people died in traffic accidents during the Labor Day weekend, which is a 50% decrease from last year. 

However, there were 120 arrests for drunk driving in San Diego over the weekend which is an increase from last year’s 107 arrests.  Across the state of California there were 1,586 drunk driving arrests which was 6 more than 2007. 

Which makes me wonder…

Are sobriety checkpoints really that much of a drunk driving deterrent?  Granted, the number of arrests haven’t increased that much, but you have to wonder if there is anything more that should be done to actually bring down those numbers.