ADAM IS WELL KNOWN FOR HIS TENACIOUS APPROACH TO CHALLENGING IMPAIRED DRIVING CHARGES AND HE HAS ENJOYED TREMENDOUS RESULTS FOR HIS CLIENTS.
Orléans trucker charged with drunk driving on Highway 401
It’s a wonder that an Orléans trucker nabbed by the OPP’s traffic patrol didn’t kill anyone.
Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, who mans the OPP’s highway safety division Twitter account, reported Sunday that the unnamed 29-year-old had been spotted behind the wheel of a fully-loaded transport truck that was slowing traffic, weaving and cutting off other vehicles on Highway 401 in Toronto.
Retired Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Chris Lewis likely spoke for everyone else on the road when he tweeted a succinct question: “How many innocent lives jeopardized by this complete moron???”
Most people who get more than one DUI do not get arrested while awaiting the outcome of their first offense.
However, a small but persistent group of habitual offenders remain.
At least 1,400 people were charged with more than one DUI in Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia in 2016, according to an analysis of court records conducted by The Sentinel.
Nearly 100 of those people were charged with more than two, The Sentinel found.
Each time they get behind the wheel intoxicated, the outcome can be catastrophic.
“It truly can cause some of the most horrific crashes and deaths,” said David Drumheller, traffic safety resource prosecutor for the Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Association. “You can be out with your family driving home from the movies completely law abiding, and next thing you know you’re hit by a drunk driver and your life is changed as you know it.”
In recent years, a new approach to dealing with intoxicated driving has begun to take hold.
Traditional methods focus on the driving aspect of impaired driving by doing things like revoking a person’s driver’s license or requiring the driver to install an ignition interlock that tests for alcohol on the driver’s breath before allowing the vehicle to start.
In some areas, the focus has shifted to the other part of the equation — drinking.
Should Ontario overhaul how it charges drunk drivers?
The head of Mother’s Against Drunk Driving is calling on the Ontario government to overhaul how it charges people caught driving drunk and to implement partial decriminalization, a change the province appears open to considering.
Andrew Murie, CEO of MADD Canada, told Ontario Today on Thursday that partial decriminalization of driving under the influence charges reduces deaths caused by drunk driving.
Drunk driving to be largely decriminalized in Alberta in 2018
B.C. drinking and driving deaths down significantly
Since British Columbia introduced decriminalization legislation in 2010, police officers have been offering people caught driving under the influence for the first time — as long as they have not caused damage to property or injured anyone — the option of choosing administrative sanctions or criminal charges.
In a few years, the number of road deaths related to impaired driving had fallen dramatically.
“The focus of that program is solely on things that might rehab and reduce recidivism, where the criminal code focuses more on a punishment,” Murie said.
“Immediately behaviour changed [in B.C.],” he added. “People were continuing to go out and purchasing alcohol, but when it came to the actual act of driving their behaviours changed.”
Processing administrative sanctions is also much quicker than processing criminal charges and sending someone to court, so the change is saving money in courts and in police services, he said.
The driver had a blood-alcohol content nearly double the legal limit and a tenuous relationship with consciousness when his car slammed into the back of a parked fire truck on San Francisco’s Bay Bridge.
Still, he became maybe the first to add a technologically advanced new entry to the list of drunken driving excuses.
He wasn’t driving, the man told the highway patrolman Monday morning. The car was.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver explained that his Tesla electric vehicle “had been set on autopilot,” obviating the need for him to be in control of the vehicle or, well, sober.
He was wrong, of course, and was ultimately jailed under suspicion of driving under the influence. But as word of another Tesla autopilot crash spread, the case of car as designated driver became an interesting thought exercise for anyone with more than a passing interest in vehicles that drive themselves.
If Elon Musk and other forward-thinking automakers have their way, there will soon be a time when there is no more drunken driving, because cars never have to wonder whether they’ve had one too many vodka martinis.
But until we all have our own computer-controlled, two-ton chauffeurs, we’re left with an increasing number of cars with a raft of features that make them semi-autonomous — vehicles that are safer and smarter, if not particularly geniuses.
Carmakers are transparent about that caveat emptor quality of their vehicles.
Woman unfit to care for horse after DUI while riding
by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Posted Dec 30, 2017 2:17 pm EST Last Updated Dec 30, 2017 at 3:00 pm EST
BARTOW, Fla. – A Florida judge says a sheriff’s office must retain custody of a horse whose owner was charged with drunken driving while riding the animal.
In a report by The Ledger , Polk County Judge Sharon Franklin said 53-year-old Donna Byrne was unfit to care for the horse. Franklin also said Byrne must complete treatment for alcohol addiction.
Byrne was arrested Nov. 2 after riding her horse down a highway. Police said her blood-alcohol level twice Florida’s legal limit.
Byrne’s attorney, Craig Whisenhunt, says he will revisit the custody issue at a Jan. 11 hearing regarding additional pending charges of disorderly intoxication, animal endangerment and culpable negligence.
Whisenhunt questions whether the charges applied to Byrne, saying she had not been disorderly and was a pedestrian under the law.
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Information from: The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.), https://www.theledger.com
Florida man dials 911 to report his own drunk driving
The Associated Press
Published Saturday, January 6, 2018 2:46PM EST
Last Updated Saturday, January 6, 2018 2:48PM EST
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Florida authorities are sharing the details of an unusual 911 call on New Year’s Eve, from a man who said he wanted to report himself drunk-driving.
Polk County Sheriff’s officials say the dispatcher kept him talking while directing officers to the scene.
When the dispatcher asked Michael Lester where he was, he said, “I’m too drunk. I don’t know where I’m at.”
And when she asked what he’d been doing all night, he said “I don’t know, driving around, trying to get pulled over, actually.”
“I’m driving on the wrong side of the road,” he said later.
The operator repeatedly urged him to park his truck and wait for officers to find him. Unfortunately, he chose the wrong spot.
Randy Travis loses bid to block naked DUI arrest video
By Kristin M. Hall, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NASHVILLE — A federal judge has denied a request by country singer Randy Travis to stop the state of Texas from releasing footage of him naked and ranting during a 2012 DUI arrest.
The ruling on a request for a preliminary injunction issued Thursday paves the way for the Texas Department of Public Safety to release the footage on Friday, which was requested through open records requests.
Travis’ family has been in a long legal battle to stop the release of the footage that went all the way to the state Supreme Court, which denied his petition. Travis filed a federal lawsuit in September in Texas arguing that that the footage should be considered private under health record privacy regulations. But the judge said he did not show a substantial likelihood of success on the claims.
Norwegian billionaire tobacco heiress given $38,750 drunk-driving fine
A 22-year-old Norwegian student has been handed a 250,000-kroner ($38,750 Canadian) fine for drunken driving — but can still count herself lucky. Katharina G. Andresen is reportedly Norway’s richest woman, a tobacco heiress with a fortune estimated by Forbes at $1.57 billion. Fines for drunken driving in Norway are based on the defendant’s income. Newspaper Finansavisen reported that Oslo City Court said the penalty could have been up to 40 million kroner ($6.2 million) if based on Andresen’s assets.
Justin Bieber’s head of security arrested for DUI after crash injures cops
Justin Bieber’s head of security Mikey Arana has been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) after a car crash that injured two Florida police officers on Thursday. The Miami-Dade County Police officers’ injuries meant they were taken into hospital, with one having to be airlifted. Both have now been released from the hospital, police officials confirmed on Twitter.
Toronto Launches Innovative Campaign to Curb Drunk and Drive Incidents
In a groundbreaking initiative, the city of Toronto has launched an innovative campaign aimed at reducing the number of drunk and drive incidents. This campaign is a direct response to the growing concern over the safety of Toronto’s roads and the wellbeing of its citizens.
The campaign, spearheaded by the city’s law enforcement agencies, includes a series of public service announcements, educational programs, and stricter law enforcement measures. It is designed to heighten public awareness about the dangers of drunk driving and to encourage responsible behavior among drivers.
As part of this initiative, the city has collaborated with a number of legal firms specializing in drunk and drive cases in Toronto. These firms will provide legal advice and support to those charged with drunk driving, helping them understand the serious consequences of their actions. This partnership signifies the city’s commitment to enforcing the law and holding offenders accountable.
Additionally, an online resource center has been created to provide comprehensive information about the campaign and the city’s efforts to curb drunk driving. This drunk and drive resource center offers a wealth of information, including details about the laws surrounding drunk driving in Toronto, the penalties for offenders, and advice on how to avoid drunk driving incidents.
The campaign also includes a significant increase in police patrols and random breathalyzer tests, particularly during peak times for drunk driving incidents such as weekends and holidays. This increased law enforcement presence is intended to act as a deterrent, discouraging people from getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.
City officials have expressed optimism about the potential impact of this campaign. “We believe that this initiative will make a significant difference in reducing the number of drunk driving incidents in our city,” said a spokesperson for the city. “We are committed to ensuring the safety of our citizens and will continue to explore innovative strategies to achieve this goal.”
However, the city also emphasizes that the success of this campaign depends on the active participation of its citizens. Toronto residents are encouraged to take advantage of the resources provided and to make responsible decisions when it comes to drinking and driving.
The city’s efforts are a testament to its commitment to public safety and the wellbeing of its citizens. This innovative campaign serves as a model for other cities grappling with similar issues and underscores the importance of proactive measures in preventing drunk driving incidents.
For more information on the campaign and to learn how you can contribute to making Toronto’s roads safer, please visit the campaign’s official website.
In conclusion, the city of Toronto’s groundbreaking campaign against drunk driving signifies a major step forward in enhancing road safety and public well-being. With the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies, legal firms, and the public, this initiative aims to foster a culture of responsibility and awareness. The campaign’s comprehensive approach, which includes public service announcements, educational programs, stricter law enforcement, and an online resource center, underscores the city’s dedication to this cause.
The city acknowledges that the success of this campaign is not solely dependent on law enforcement and punitive measures, but also on the active involvement of its citizens. The campaign encourages Toronto residents to utilize the resources provided, make informed decisions, and contribute to the overall safety of the community. This proactive, community-centric approach sets a precedent, providing a blueprint for other cities facing similar challenges.
Through this campaign, Toronto is not just enforcing laws, but also instilling values of responsibility and safety among its citizens. The city’s commitment to public safety and its innovative strategies to combat drunk driving are commendable. The campaign serves as a powerful reminder of the collective responsibility we all bear in ensuring the safety of our roads and the well-being of our fellow citizens.
