In order to curb DUI offenses, Huntington Beach, CA, police may begin posting the names of DUI suspects on the police department's website.

DUI suspects in the area have undergone this type of punishment in the past; they were listed in the local Huntington Beach Independent for years. However, the paper will no longer publish the names due to a change in policy, and the police department is considering taking on the job itself.

Huntington Beach posts among the highest number of DUI arrests of any city in California annually, and the effort to publicly list DUI offenders is about more than just shaming the suspects. Police also claim the listings draw public attention to a very dangerous and pertinent issue, hopefully keeping the public safer through constant awareness.

Huntington has been attempting to curb the problem of DUI in many unique ways this year. In addition to the public announcements, the police department began compiling lists of patrons serving DUI suspects. They issued warnings to those locations where DUI drivers admitted having their last drink of the night.

It has historically been very challenging to secure a punishment against an establishment for over-serving a patron who was later involved in a DUI accident or stop, but this does not stop police from threatening establishments under state laws that hold bars and restaurants partly responsible if a patron is later in an accident. 

California is not the only state where public DUI listings have been considered or employed. Hawaii famously used the tactic earlier this year, much to the anger of many personal liberty and defense advocates. It is uncertain what the public response to the Huntington department's use of the tactic will be, and there is no clear evidence showing it helps prevent DUI driving.