The California Highway Patrol reported that one person died on San Diego County roadways during the first 60 hours of the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Drunken driving arrests were down, too, according to the CHP.
Two people died on local roads during the same time period last year, according to CHP Officer Jesse Udovich.
A motorcyclist, 37-year-old Mitchell Paul Pinder of Spring Valley, died Sunday morning when he lost control of his motorcycle and hit a metal guard rail while heading east on State Route 94 west of Barrett Lake Road in Dulzura, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office reported.
There were 82 drunken driving arrests between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday, compared to 110 in 2008. Statewide, 10 people died in crashes during the time period, down from 18 last year, Udovich said.
The officer said 1,262 people were arrested for drunken driving, down from 1,416 last year.
The number of fatalities includes all law enforcement jurisdictions statewide, while the drunken driving arrests are only those made by CHP officers.
Source
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
State DUI Laws Shouldn't Apply To Pot Use
SAN DIEGO -- A San Diego attorney claims California driving under the influence laws should not be applied to marijuana usage, 10News reported.
While many have assumed that marijuana affects the ability to safely operate a vehicle, attorney Cole Casey said two federal studies do not support that.
Rudy Reyes has used marijuana for years after 70 percent of his body was burned in the 2003 Cedar fires."I constantly have pain," said Reyes.
Reyes said he has gotten behind the wheel with marijuana in his system and has been pulled over dozens of times.
"It had nothing to do with you swerving? Or running a red light?" asked 10News' Charisse Yu.
"The worse one I have yet to have is not having my little cell phone thingy on," said Reyes.
Casey represents people like Reyes, and he said while the California Department of Justice has found that marijuana impairs driving, the U.S. Department of Transportation's studies contradict this.
"There are two federal studies that have come to that conclusion that although marijuana can impact someone's short-term memory, when somebody is concentrating on the task of driving that really there was no measurable impact," said Casey.
Another study by the Department of Transportation showed that researchers found that "it appears not possible to conclude anything about a driver's impairment on the basis of his/her plasma concentration of THC."
Casey said the big problem is that THC, the active ingredient found in marijuana, stays in the body for up to 30 days.
"It's very difficult to pinpoint, 'Yes, somebody has ingested marijuana,' but are they 'impaired,'" said Casey.
While opponents said marijuana damages brain cells and respiratory systems, Reyes said other legal drugs are much worse.
"Marijuana is not where people are having most of their driving problems; most of them are alcohol," said Reyes.
In California, drivers can be arrested for driving under the influence while on any medication -- depending on how much is taken and whether it impairs driving ability.
Source
While many have assumed that marijuana affects the ability to safely operate a vehicle, attorney Cole Casey said two federal studies do not support that.
Rudy Reyes has used marijuana for years after 70 percent of his body was burned in the 2003 Cedar fires."I constantly have pain," said Reyes.
Reyes said he has gotten behind the wheel with marijuana in his system and has been pulled over dozens of times.
"It had nothing to do with you swerving? Or running a red light?" asked 10News' Charisse Yu.
"The worse one I have yet to have is not having my little cell phone thingy on," said Reyes.
Casey represents people like Reyes, and he said while the California Department of Justice has found that marijuana impairs driving, the U.S. Department of Transportation's studies contradict this.
"There are two federal studies that have come to that conclusion that although marijuana can impact someone's short-term memory, when somebody is concentrating on the task of driving that really there was no measurable impact," said Casey.
Another study by the Department of Transportation showed that researchers found that "it appears not possible to conclude anything about a driver's impairment on the basis of his/her plasma concentration of THC."
Casey said the big problem is that THC, the active ingredient found in marijuana, stays in the body for up to 30 days.
"It's very difficult to pinpoint, 'Yes, somebody has ingested marijuana,' but are they 'impaired,'" said Casey.
While opponents said marijuana damages brain cells and respiratory systems, Reyes said other legal drugs are much worse.
"Marijuana is not where people are having most of their driving problems; most of them are alcohol," said Reyes.
In California, drivers can be arrested for driving under the influence while on any medication -- depending on how much is taken and whether it impairs driving ability.
Source
Monday, September 28, 2009
San Diego DUI checkpoint cites 33
A DUI checkpoint in Chula Vista, California, has resulted in 33 citations and 25 vehicle impounds according to local police.
The checkpoint was in place from 6PM to 2AM Monday on the Eastlake Parkway. The checkpoint was part of the national DUI crackdown, "Over the Limit. Under Arrest." This national effort has granted funds through state departments of traffic safety for increased enforcement of DUI and vehicle-safety violations surrounding the Labor Day holiday.
California is one of nearly 40 states that allows DUI checkpoints. Other states, such as Texas, have determined they are violations of arrest procedures. In the Labor Day crackdown campaign, local law enforcement agencies are choosing whether to implement checkpoints or increase patrols on the road in order to step up enforcement.
Despite the high number of tickets, the checkpoint only ended in 1 arrest for drunk driving. The 25 vehicle impounds were for those drivers on the road without a valid license. Three drivers were arrested for possession of a controlled substance.
The majority of the DUI checkpoints initiated throughout the country have resulted in a high number of citations but a relatively low number of DUI arrests. Police did not issue a statement regarding the total number of vehicles checked on Sunday night, but 1 DUI arrest is likely less than 2% of the total vehicles stopped. The checkpoints are generally well-publicized, which can often lead to their lower success rate.
Chula Vista is the second-largest city in San Diego. DUI checkpoints are typically placed in high-traffic areas around bars, restaurants and other attractions. They are not typically placed directly in city centers to reduce the hassle that would put on both traffic flow and local businesses. However, it is common for 200-500 cars to be stopped on an average DUI checkpoint.
Source
The checkpoint was in place from 6PM to 2AM Monday on the Eastlake Parkway. The checkpoint was part of the national DUI crackdown, "Over the Limit. Under Arrest." This national effort has granted funds through state departments of traffic safety for increased enforcement of DUI and vehicle-safety violations surrounding the Labor Day holiday.
California is one of nearly 40 states that allows DUI checkpoints. Other states, such as Texas, have determined they are violations of arrest procedures. In the Labor Day crackdown campaign, local law enforcement agencies are choosing whether to implement checkpoints or increase patrols on the road in order to step up enforcement.
Despite the high number of tickets, the checkpoint only ended in 1 arrest for drunk driving. The 25 vehicle impounds were for those drivers on the road without a valid license. Three drivers were arrested for possession of a controlled substance.
The majority of the DUI checkpoints initiated throughout the country have resulted in a high number of citations but a relatively low number of DUI arrests. Police did not issue a statement regarding the total number of vehicles checked on Sunday night, but 1 DUI arrest is likely less than 2% of the total vehicles stopped. The checkpoints are generally well-publicized, which can often lead to their lower success rate.
Chula Vista is the second-largest city in San Diego. DUI checkpoints are typically placed in high-traffic areas around bars, restaurants and other attractions. They are not typically placed directly in city centers to reduce the hassle that would put on both traffic flow and local businesses. However, it is common for 200-500 cars to be stopped on an average DUI checkpoint.
Source
Monday, September 7, 2009
San Diego Jury: Police are Above the Law
After three days of deliberations, a jury San Diego — a militaristic community thoroughly besotted with people in state-issued costumes — acquitted police officer Frank White of felony gross negligent discharge of a firearm and a misdemeanor count of displaying a firearm in an “angry manner.”
The charges arose from a March 2008 “road rage” incident in which White shot Rachel Silva and her eight-year-old son. Silva had cut off White and backed into his car. She was shot twice in the arm and her son was hit once in the knee.
White, who was off-duty at the time and accompanied by his wife, initially claimed that he fired in “self-defense.” He later claimed that he fired his gun when Silva refused his demands to get out of her car. White never displayed a badge or identified himself as a police officer; witnesses to the shooting didn’t recognize the incident as a traffic stop or other enforcement action, but thought it was a domestic squabble.
Larry Ludlow, who has covered this case in the past, informs me: “During the trial, [White] lied several times and was caught in these lies, but the military-worshiping jurors didn’t care. They even swallowed the `fear of death’ excuse despite the difference in the size of the two vehicles — with [White's] vehicle being much larger.”
The case was also distorted by a grotesquely lenient charge: White should have been prosecuted for felonious assault with a deadly weapon, rather than “negligence.” In any case, owing to the fact that White was one of the state’s sanctified armed enforcers, he was acquitted of all charges and reinstated on the force.
Rachel Silva, on the other hand, admitted to being intoxicated and had the book thrown at her. She pleaded guilty to felony child endangerment and misdemeanor DUI charges. The only potentially positive aspect of this case is that Silva’s son will grow up with a usefully cynical attitude toward our tax-devouring “protectors.”
Source
The charges arose from a March 2008 “road rage” incident in which White shot Rachel Silva and her eight-year-old son. Silva had cut off White and backed into his car. She was shot twice in the arm and her son was hit once in the knee.
White, who was off-duty at the time and accompanied by his wife, initially claimed that he fired in “self-defense.” He later claimed that he fired his gun when Silva refused his demands to get out of her car. White never displayed a badge or identified himself as a police officer; witnesses to the shooting didn’t recognize the incident as a traffic stop or other enforcement action, but thought it was a domestic squabble.
Larry Ludlow, who has covered this case in the past, informs me: “During the trial, [White] lied several times and was caught in these lies, but the military-worshiping jurors didn’t care. They even swallowed the `fear of death’ excuse despite the difference in the size of the two vehicles — with [White's] vehicle being much larger.”
The case was also distorted by a grotesquely lenient charge: White should have been prosecuted for felonious assault with a deadly weapon, rather than “negligence.” In any case, owing to the fact that White was one of the state’s sanctified armed enforcers, he was acquitted of all charges and reinstated on the force.
Rachel Silva, on the other hand, admitted to being intoxicated and had the book thrown at her. She pleaded guilty to felony child endangerment and misdemeanor DUI charges. The only potentially positive aspect of this case is that Silva’s son will grow up with a usefully cynical attitude toward our tax-devouring “protectors.”
Source
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Former Padres draft pick Matt Bush to be arraigned for DUI
Former San Diego Padres first-round draft pick Matt Bush, already charged with assaulting Granite Hills High School students during a lacrosse practice, is set to be arraigned Wednesday on DUI and other charges.
Bush, 23, was out on bail on the assault case when he was arrested June 28 and charged with driving under the influence, vandalism, driving on a suspended license and resisting arrest, said Deputy District Attorney Samantha Greene. A judge in El Cajon postponed Bush’s arraignment on the misdemeanor charges until Wednesday so the defendant can show proof he’s in a residential rehabilitation program, the prosecutor said.
In the Feb. 4 assault case, Bush is charged with four counts of misdemeanor battery. A readiness conference is set for July 21.
The Padres designated Bush for assignment the day after the incident at Granite Hills.
Bush, drafted as a pitcher-shortstop, was with the Toronto Blue Jays until a 23-year-old woman in Florida accused him of throwing a baseball past her head and banging on her car window to scare her in March.
Bush, the overall first pick in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft out of Mission Bay High School, received a signing bonus of $3.15 million.
Bush, 23, was out on bail on the assault case when he was arrested June 28 and charged with driving under the influence, vandalism, driving on a suspended license and resisting arrest, said Deputy District Attorney Samantha Greene. A judge in El Cajon postponed Bush’s arraignment on the misdemeanor charges until Wednesday so the defendant can show proof he’s in a residential rehabilitation program, the prosecutor said.
In the Feb. 4 assault case, Bush is charged with four counts of misdemeanor battery. A readiness conference is set for July 21.
The Padres designated Bush for assignment the day after the incident at Granite Hills.
Bush, drafted as a pitcher-shortstop, was with the Toronto Blue Jays until a 23-year-old woman in Florida accused him of throwing a baseball past her head and banging on her car window to scare her in March.
Bush, the overall first pick in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft out of Mission Bay High School, received a signing bonus of $3.15 million.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Attorney: Matt Bush in rehab, pleads not guilty in DUI case
Matt Bush is out of Major League Baseball at this moment and his attorney says he's in rehab. His once-bright future now rests with the San Diego County court system.
The former local high school star and No. 1 draft pick of the San Diego Padres did not appear in court in El Cajon on Wednesday as the DUI charge against him is a misdemeanor.
But his attorney, Gregory Daniels, entered a not guilty plea on Bush's behalf at the county courthouse in El Cajon to the DUI and other charges.
Daniels told the judge in the case his client had enrolled in a residential rehabilitation program as ordered.
Bush remains free on $50,600 bail after pleading not guilty to driving under the influence, resisting arrest and two counts of vandalism. The charges stem from a June 28 incident involving a parked car in Mission Valley.
At the time, Bush was free on bail after facing misdemeanor battery charges in connection with an alleged assault in Febuary. It was after that case that the Padres designated him for assignment, removing him from the club's 40-man roster.
He was traded to Toronto, where shortly afterward, Bush was accused of an altercation with a woman in Florida and he was released by the Blue Jays.
Source
The former local high school star and No. 1 draft pick of the San Diego Padres did not appear in court in El Cajon on Wednesday as the DUI charge against him is a misdemeanor.
But his attorney, Gregory Daniels, entered a not guilty plea on Bush's behalf at the county courthouse in El Cajon to the DUI and other charges.
Daniels told the judge in the case his client had enrolled in a residential rehabilitation program as ordered.
Bush remains free on $50,600 bail after pleading not guilty to driving under the influence, resisting arrest and two counts of vandalism. The charges stem from a June 28 incident involving a parked car in Mission Valley.
At the time, Bush was free on bail after facing misdemeanor battery charges in connection with an alleged assault in Febuary. It was after that case that the Padres designated him for assignment, removing him from the club's 40-man roster.
He was traded to Toronto, where shortly afterward, Bush was accused of an altercation with a woman in Florida and he was released by the Blue Jays.
Source
Monday, July 20, 2009
Ex-Padre Bush pleads not guilty to DUI, other charges
EL CAJON — Former Padres No. 1 draft pick Matt Bush entered a not guilty plea Wednesday to drunken driving, resisting arrest and two counts of vandalism stemming from his June 28 arrest.
Bush's attorney showed proof that he had entered a residential rehabilitation program for alcohol abuse – a requirement for his continued release on bond by San Diego Superior Court Judge Evan Kirvin.
Bush's arrest last month was the latest in a string of alcohol-related incidents. The latest happened after police received a call about 1:40 p.m. June 28 about a man throwing objects at passing cars while standing outside his vehicle on Camino de la Reina near the San Diego Union-Tribune building in Mission Valley. Police said he had hit at least one car with his belt buckle.
After getting into his vehicle, he backed into that same car, causing damage, police said. He was arrested in a parking structure of nearby Fashion Valley Mall, taken to jail and booked on assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, driving on a suspended license, vandalism and driving under the influence.
A July 21 trial readiness conference is scheduled for this case and four misdemeanor assault charges stemming from an alleged assault against Granite Hills High lacrosse players Feb. 4. Witnesses said he appeared intoxicated in that incident too. The Padres designated him for assignment the next day.
The former Mission Bay High standout then was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, who released him April 1 after another alleged drunken incident in Dunedin, Fla., where Bush had been pitching in the team's minor-league organization.
In that incident, someone had drawn markings on his face at a party, according to a complaint made with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. He blamed a 23-year-old female, and she accused him of throwing a baseball past her head and banging on her car window to scare her, according to the sheriff's office.
The Florida state attorney's office said Wednesday they had decided not to file charges in that case.
Source
Bush's attorney showed proof that he had entered a residential rehabilitation program for alcohol abuse – a requirement for his continued release on bond by San Diego Superior Court Judge Evan Kirvin.
Bush's arrest last month was the latest in a string of alcohol-related incidents. The latest happened after police received a call about 1:40 p.m. June 28 about a man throwing objects at passing cars while standing outside his vehicle on Camino de la Reina near the San Diego Union-Tribune building in Mission Valley. Police said he had hit at least one car with his belt buckle.
After getting into his vehicle, he backed into that same car, causing damage, police said. He was arrested in a parking structure of nearby Fashion Valley Mall, taken to jail and booked on assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, driving on a suspended license, vandalism and driving under the influence.
A July 21 trial readiness conference is scheduled for this case and four misdemeanor assault charges stemming from an alleged assault against Granite Hills High lacrosse players Feb. 4. Witnesses said he appeared intoxicated in that incident too. The Padres designated him for assignment the next day.
The former Mission Bay High standout then was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, who released him April 1 after another alleged drunken incident in Dunedin, Fla., where Bush had been pitching in the team's minor-league organization.
In that incident, someone had drawn markings on his face at a party, according to a complaint made with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. He blamed a 23-year-old female, and she accused him of throwing a baseball past her head and banging on her car window to scare her, according to the sheriff's office.
The Florida state attorney's office said Wednesday they had decided not to file charges in that case.
Source
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