Archive | DUI / Criminal
Temecula Checkpoints Result in Two Cinco de Mayo DUI Arrests
TEMECULA — Holiday weekends are notorious for having DUI checkpoints. Last weekend was Cinco de Mayo, and many DUI Checkpoints were set up in San Diego and Riverside Counties. In Temecula, police arrested two suspected drunken drivers.
The drivers were arrested at Temecula Parkway and Old Town Front Street, according to a news release prepared by police Sgt. John Magnan.
The checkpoints, which look for people driving under the influence and also unlicensed drivers, were conducted from 9 p.m. Saturday to 3 a.m. Sunday.
At the Temecula Parkway checkpoint, 746 vehicles were screened; 20 were sent for a secondary check; 15 field sobriety tests were given; four vehicles were towed; and two unlicensed drivers were cited.
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Read Full News Article: NC Times
California Could Strike Gold with Reform of Three Strikes Law
San Diego Attorney David P. Shapiro shows reform would save state $7.5 billion in overhead.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 14, 2012 -
California’s controversial three strikes law, which punishes certain third-time felony offenders with a mandatory 25-year to life sentence, costs taxpayers billions in unnecessary expenses every year, says San Diego criminal attorney David P. Shapiro. A new article on Shapiro’s website reveals that reforming the third strike law to apply to only violent or serious felonies would cut prison costs by $7.5 billion.
“The average prison sentence in California is nine years longer than in any other state,” says Shapiro. “At the moment, third strikers make up a quarter of our prison population. We’re paying a fortune to needlessly incarcerate nonviolent offenders for decades when we should be focusing on repairing our ailing economy. This needs to change.”
Enacted in 1994, the three strikes law institutes a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years to life for any felony conviction by a person who has already previously been convicted of two violent or serious felonies. This unflinching approach to incarceration translates to lengthy prison terms for trivial crimes. These nonviolent crimes account for more than half of the total cost of the three strikes law.
“There are inmates serving 27 years for stealing a spare tire,” Shapiro says, referring to the case of Rene Landa. “That’s an enormous burden to put on the taxpayers’ shoulders, especially when you consider that California is over $300 billion in debt already. Reforming the law to be more lenient on nonviolent offenders is in everyone’s best interests.”
Shapiro asks that residents of the Golden State support the Three Strikes Reform Act of 2012. This proposed ballot initiative would limit the applicability of a third strike to violent and serious offenses only. By excluding nonviolent offenders from harsh mandatory sentences, the state would save billions in food and housing expenses while continuing to keep dangerous criminals off the streets.
Advocating legislative reform is nothing new for Shapiro, who was recognized by several international journals for his campaign for inmate rights in post-Katrina New Orleans. He has successfully represented hundreds of clients across California in a variety of DUI and criminal cases. The Law Offices of David P. Shapiro are located at 3555 Fourth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103 and can be reached at (619) 295-3555.
For more information, or to schedule an interview with David P. Shapiro, please contact him at (619) 295-3555 or email David(at)DPShapiro(dot)com
For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/3/prweb9281405.htm
$100 reward for reporting drunk drivers proposed by California lawmaker
Strapped for cash? Maybe you should start reporting drunken drivers.
State Sen. Robert Calderon, a Montebello Democrat, has proposed legislation that would give tipsters $100 if they report a drunken driver who is convicted.
And for a little poetic justice: Calderon would have the court order the drunken driver to pay the reward.
“By engaging civilians to report drunk drivers, this bill would directly and immediately lower the number of roadway deaths,” Calderon said about the bill. “Killing or injuring someone as a result of drunk driving is a horrendous crime that can easily be avoided. This bill is one step closer to ensuring that our roads and highways are safe from drunk drivers.”
In 2010, 791 people were killed in DUI crashes on state roadways, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety.
Less drinking, less crime
Speaking of drinking, it’s decreased alcohol consumption — and not tougher sentencing policies — that have led to a drop in crime nationwide, a new study concluded.
In fact, the state’s three-strikes law has contributed significantly to the state’s financial woes because more people spend time in prison, says Robert Nash Parker, a sociologist and director of the Presley Center for Crime and Justice Studies at University of California, Riverside.
Parker details those findings in “Worse Policy After Bad: How and Why California’s ‘Three Strikes’ is a Complete Failure as Crime and Economic Policy, and What to Do About Either,” which will appear in an upcoming issue of “California Journal of Politics and Policy.”
“Political leaders, activists, law enforcement personnel and elected officials in California believe the state’s three-strikes law is the cause of this magnificent decline in violence,” Parker said.
“That is not the case. Three-strikes has had nothing whatsoever to do with the drop in violent crime.”
Musical chairs
We hear the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department isn’t done yet with its promotions and shuffling in desert cities. For now, though, here’s a recap on who’s running your police departments.
Capt. Frank Taylor — a one-time Coachella assistant police chief — is taking over the Thermal sheriff’s station. That means he’ll act as police chief for Coachella and La Quinta.
He replaces Raymond Gregory, who was promoted to chief deputy and will move March 22 to Riverside to oversee corrections.
In Palm Desert, Lt. Bill Sullivan takes over as assistant police chief. He replaces Andrew Shouse, who was promoted to captain and will move to the sheriff’s station in Blythe.
In Indian Wells, Lt. Coby Webb will now serve as the assistant police chief.
Written by Kate McGinty | The Desert Sun | Read Article
If you have been charged with a crime, contact Oceanside DUI Lawyer and Criminal Defense Attorney, Richard Duquette.
Contact me HERE or give me a call: 760-730-0500. I offer a FREE no obligation consultation and look forward to helping you with your DUI or other criminal legal matter.
New DUI Law Takes Effect Jan. 1, 2012
Starting January 1, 2012, a new DUI Law takes effect for repeat offenders. Abc.com
The new law allows a judge to punish a repeat DUI offender with a suspension of up to 10 years after a third conviction.
Read the Full Article at abclocal.go.com – Click Here >>
Also, as I mention in a previous post, California to Stop Towing Unlicensed Drivers, if you’re pulled over at a sobriety checkpoint and your only offense is that you don’t have your drivers license, your car will NOT be towed.
Here is another article on these two new DUI Laws – Click Here >>
If you have been charged with a crime, contact Oceanside DUI Lawyer and Criminal Defense Attorney, Richard Duquette.
Contact me HERE or give me a call: 760-730-0500. I offer a FREE no obligation consultation and look forward to helping you with your DUI or other criminal legal matter.
California to Stop Towing Unlicensed Drivers
Starting Jan. 1, 2012 a new law takes effect in California that prohibits police officers from impounding cars at sobriety checkpoints if a motorist’s only offense is being an unlicensed driver. Thousands of cars are towed each year in the state under those circumstances, hitting pocketbooks of unlicensed drivers and illegal immigrants especially hard.
Read full article here.
If you have been charged with a crime, contact Oceanside DUI Lawyer and Criminal Defense Attorney, Richard Duquette.
Contact me HERE or give me a call: 760-730-0500. I offer a FREE no obligation consultation and look forward to helping you with your legal matter.
New 2012 California Motor Vehicle Laws: Be Informed
The California State Legislature approved a number of new motor vehicle laws which, unless otherwise noted, take effect January 1, 2012. These New Motor Vehicle Laws Pertain to:
Vehicle License Fees (VLF)
Registration Fees
Booster Seats – requires children under the age of 8 (unless at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall) to be properly restrained in a booster seat in a vehicle’s backseat.
Vehicle Purchases
Drunk Driving
Two measures signed into law alter DUI (driving under the influence) penalties in noteworthy ways. AB 353 prohibits law enforcement from impounding a vehicle at a sobriety checkpoint if the driver’s only offense is not having a valid driver license. Police must also make a reasonable attempt to identify the registered owner of the vehicle in order to release the vehicle to the registered owner or to a licensed driver authorized by the registered owner. AB 520 allows a person convicted of alcohol-related reckless driving (“wet reckless”) to apply for a restricted license early if he or she complies with specified requirements, including the installation of an ignition-interlock device.
Read the full article here.
If you have been charged with a crime, contact Oceanside DUI Lawyer and Criminal Defense Attorney, Richard Duquette.
Contact me HERE or give me a call: 760-730-0500. I offer a FREE no obligation consultation and look forward to helping you with your legal matter.
