Blog entries

Ignition Interlock Devices Expand Role in DUI Battle

DUI Attorney — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In Pennsylvania, legislation has been forwarded that could make the use of an ignition interlock device mandatory for first time DUI offenders. Ignition interlock devices are small hand-held breath testing equipment that are installed on the steering column of a vehicle. Before the interlock device will allow the engine to be started, the driver must provide a sober breath sample, or the car simply won't start. To avoid situations where a person who is drinking simply has a sober friend proviRead More...

Utah DUI Suspect Shoots Dog, Wife

DUI Attorney — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

A Richfield man, 30 year old Alan Askwith, was arrested Friday evening on suspicion of driving while under the influence, illegal discharge of a firearm, crualty to animals, obstructing justice and more. Askwith was driving south on highway I-15 between Nephi and Santaquin, when he allegedly pulled out a handgun and shot a dog sitting on the passenger side floorboards. In the process of shooting the dog in his vehicle, Askwirth also hit his wife in the leg.

After he sRead More...

Willingsboro Man Convicted of Vehicular Homicide

DUI Attorney — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Charles James, from the Township of Willingsboro, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide this past Tuesday after causing the death of Keith Buxton, 56, from Evesham on Northbound I-295. James' crashed into the disabled SUV of Michael Cericola as Buxton stood in front of the vehicle with the hood up, attempting to get the SUV back on the road again. Keith Buxton's daughter, who was standing beside the vehicle, and Cericola, her boyfriend, were both injured in the accident. James' admitted to driRead More...

Washington DUI Report

DUI Attorney — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

According to local reports, the Washington state holiday DUI enforcement released results from its campaign that ran from November 24 through January 2. Officials were unanimously supportive of the efforts to curb DUI cases in their state, with representatives from virtually all areas of Skagit, Island, Whatcom, and Snohomish counties speaking out in support of the coordinated law enforcement campaign.

In Snohomish County, 397 motorists were pulled over and arrested for driving undRead More...

Griffin O'Neal Gets His Day in Court...Again

DUI Attorney — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

On Friday, San Diego judge Eugenia Eyherabide recalled an outstanding bench warrant for troubled actor Griffin O'Neal and reset O'Neal's sentencing for February 3rd. This comes as a response to O'Neal checking himself into a residential rehab facility. O'Neal was arrested for DUI in August, and was charged with domestic violence on New Year's eve.

In O'Neal's DUI crash, police charged the son of Hollywood superstar Ryan O'Neal with six separate felony and misdemeanor counts, includRead More...

Georgia State Representative Arrested for DUI

DUI Attorney — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Local Georgia State Representative John Andrew "Kip" Smith (R) was arrested this past Friday in Buckhead, Georgia for driving under the influence. According to reports, Rep. Smith was pulled over by local Georgia police officers when he allegedly ran a red light. The arresting officer initially smelled alcohol when Smith rolled down his window, and the officer asked Smith if he had been drinking. Rep. Smith then told the officer "No," before ammending his story to include only one beer he hadRead More...

Chicago Police Officer's DUI Trial

DUI Attorney — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:04:28 +0100

In May of 2009, an off-duty Chicago police officer, Richard Bolling, was arrested for DUI and reckless homicide after hitting a 13 year old bicyclist, Trenton Booker. The teenager died at the scene, and Bolling was arrested a few minutes later as he drove the wrong way down 82nd Street. His trial began this past week, and quite a bit of controversy is surrounding the case. Prosecutors for the case have inferred that Bolling was given preferential treatment by the arresting officers thatRead More...

Florida Police Officer Charged With DUI

DUI Attorney — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Local Kendall district police officer, Fernando Villa, 32, was charged with DUI on Tuesday night after another officer found Villa passed out from intoxication inside his patrol car. Unlike most DUI arrests though, Villa was released after signing a notice that promised that he would appear in court to address the charge. Police Director, Jim Loftus noted that

"Someone along the line decided to depart from my specific directions," He went on to tell reporters that "Read More...

Colorado DUI Cases Dismissed

DUI Attorney — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

In Mesa County, the District Attorney's office dismissed eight criminal cases this past week in light of credibility questions surrounding a former Colorado State Trooper. According to reports, hundreds more cases are being reviewed, and more cases are expected to be dropped in the coming weeks. The former trooper at the heart of this investigation is Donald Moseman, who stepped down from the State Troopers Office in December after a departmental investigationRead More...

Man Hits Two Boys, Charged with DWI

DUI Attorney — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

On Thursday, a driver from Harrison Township, Robert J. Novack jr., was charged with driving while intoxicated after he struck two young boys who were crossing the street, reports say. The incident occurred as Novack was making a left on to Ohio 79 Southbound from the West Main Street onramp. The two boys, Sean Clark, 12, and Cody Flowers, 11, had just started crossing the Ohio 79 onramp at approximately 4:00 PM Thursday afternoon when Novack struck them with his vehicle.

Holiday Drinking in California? Not a Good IDEA

DUI Attorney — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

DUI arrests over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend increased in 2011, according to police reports issues this past week. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials noted that 171 arrests for DUI were made, which was a 16 percent jump from the same holiday weekend in 2010.

CHP officers in Rancho Cucamonga, whose patrol area stretches from the Los Angeles County line to Fontana, made 37 arrests for DUI in their area over the weekend, which indicated a significant 37% increase from 2010Read More...

Getting MADD in Pennsylvania

DUI Attorney — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization (MADD) presented a report in the nation's capital last month, noting that lawmakers in Pennsylvania aren't doing nearly enough to crack down on first-time DUI offenders. MADD is pushing hard to get PA to pass legislation mandating that an ignition interlock device be installed in vehicles of first-time DUI offenders. The controversial interlock ignition device requires a driver to pass a breathalyzer test before it allows the vehiclRead More...

Texas DUI Offenders test Alcohol Monitoring System

DUI Attorney — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Smart Start, Inc., the leading manufacturer of ignition interlock devices, has introduced a new product called the SMART START IN-HOM breath alcohol monitoring system. This comes as state and government officials are pushing for harsher penalties for alcohol-related incidents. The new systems, 6,000 in all, had been distributed to test markets in Texas and Michigan last year in the latest stage of viability testing. Having come out with rousing approval from officials, the product has begun sRead More...

Bussing Under The Influence

DUI Attorney — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

A New Jersey school bus driver was arrested for DUI on November 10, after students texted their parents, telling them that their bus driver, Carole Crockett, was swerving all over the road, dozing off, and was most likely drunk. Rightfully concerned, the parents called the Westampton Middle School, who in turn contacted the local police. Crockett was located at another local school, attempting to load up more kids, and tested for DUI. At the time this story posted, there was no evidenceRead More...

Georgia Police Chief Resigns Over DUI

DUI Attorney — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:17:43 +0100

Jeff Baker stepped down as Morrow’s police chief late Thursday afternoon, just a few days before he was slated to meet with the town’s city manager, Jeff Eady. Speculation was that the purpose of that meeting was for Baker to be fired for his DUI arrest two weeks ago. Baker emailed his resignation letter to Eady, before delivering a printed copy of the letter to city officials on Friday.

The former Morrow police chief was arrested last month by Clayton County police, afRead More...

Kansas DUI Trailers Added

DUI Attorney — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

A grant of almost $30,000 was awarded to the Kansas Department of Transportation this past week. This grant pays for a new DUI trailer, two new generators, and various safety equipment, such as traffic cones and safety lights. These new tools will be used to assist law enforcement who are involved in DUI check lane operations."

The new trailer was unveiled on Friday during the annual "Drunk driving. Over thRead More...

A Good IDEA For Fighting California's DUI Problems

DUI Attorney — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The California Highway Patrol has reportedly received federal funds in order to launch its statewide Impaired Driving Enforcement and Apprehension (IDEA) campaign, as well as maintenance of the program. The overall goal of this campaign is to utilize enhanced enforcement and an increased amount of public awareness to help reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents and to minimize the number of people being injured or killed in those crashes.

In 2009, the number oRead More...

Flipping over DUIs

DUI Attorney — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

A 20-year-old man from Round Road, Wisconsin, was charged with driving under the influence at around 4:30 a.m. on Oct. 31 near the intersection of Route 41 and Gage. Local police reported that the man lost control of his vehicle and drove off the road, where his vehicle rolled over onto its side. The man was rushed to the Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and released. Police didn't note the blood alcohol of the injured driver,&Read More...

Nebraska Tough on Drunk Drivers

Greg Nelson — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:17:48 +0100

According to the Omaha World Herald, Nebraska received the highest rating on a recent report ranking states on their efforts to combat drunk driving. The ranking uses five criteria, including the use of sobriety checkpoints, requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk driving offenders and creating enhanced penalties for individuals who drive drunk with children in the car.

These Leg Irons Are Made For Walking...

DUI Attorney — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:31:58 +0100

29-year old Blaise Melofchik, of Scranton Pennsylvania was apprehended last week, one day after he walked out of a Northern Pennsylvania hospital. Melofchik had been arrested for driving under the influence. Police reports noted a suspicion of drug use that contributed to Melofchik crashing into a parked vehicle.

Despite being in leg irons after his arrest, Melofchik was able to walk out of the hospital where he was being treated. Hospital sources have no iRead More...