California Highway Patrol (CHP) DUI Saturation Patrols

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), it will not be conducting any DUI Checkpoints this upcoming holiday season.  It has instead decided to focus its efforts on DUI Saturation Patrols or Roving DUI Patrols looking for DUI drivers.  According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), an increased number of officers will be on patrol looking for impaired drivers.  These saturation patrols will begin on Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at about 6:00 p.m. and end on Sunday, January 4, 2009.

Other Orange County Law Enforcement agencies have indicated that they too will be conducting DUI saturation patrols during this holiday season in addition to those being conducted by the California Highway Patrol.  Such cities include, but are not limited to, the City of Garden Grove, Anaheim, Westminster and Placentia.  Other cities, like the City of Mission Viejo, have indicated that they will be conducting a DUI Checkpoint on Saturday, January 3, 2009. 

OCSD Press Release: Traffic Safety Checkpoint in Mission Viejo

According to an “Orange County Sheriff’s Department Press Release” dated: December 30, 2008, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint in the City of Mission Viejo on Saturday, January 3, 2009 from 7:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m.

According to the Press Release, checkpoints are part of a grant the Orange County Sheriff’s Department received from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety, and are set up to target drivers who are driving a vehicle without a driver’s license or who are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  Funding of this grant was provided by the State of California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA).

Number of Young Women Drivers Involved in DUI Traffic Collisions Doubles

According to an article published in the Orange County Register on Wednesday, December 19, 2008, with statistics being provided by the Automobile Club of Southern California, the number of young women drivers involved in driving under the influence (DUI) crashes has doubled.

According to the article, “young women are closing the gender gap in the number of injuries and deaths resulting from driving under the influence.”  The article reports that the Automobile Club of Southern California found that between 1998 and 2007, the number of women drivers aged 21-to-24 involved in alcohol-related traffic collisions soared by 116%.  For men, the number jumped 39% in the same period.

Summary of New Law Changes for 2009

Just before the New Year, the Law Office of Barry T. Simons wants to provide everyone with a few new law changes that go into effect in 2009.  Some have been addressed in previous posts, but they are now being provided in a summary fashion for quick referencing:

1.     No-Text Law—Texting While Driving (Senate Bill 65)

This new law makes it an infraction to write, send, or read text based communications on an electronic wireless communication device, including emails, while driving a motor vehicle. 

Previously this was only illegal for those under 18-years of age with the passage of the hands-free law change in July of 2008; however, it has now been extended to all drivers.

2.     DUI Probationers Zero Tolerance Law (Assembly Bill 1165)

This new law prohibits a person who has been convicted of driving under the influence and is on probation from driving a motor vehicle with a blood or breath alcohol level of 0.01% or more as measured by a preliminary alcohol screening test or other chemical test.  If the driver refuses to submit to, or fails to complete the test, or if the person is found to have been driving with a blood or breath alcohol level of 0.01% or greater, the person will be subject to a license suspension by the California Department of Motor Vehicles’ and issued a citation.  Additionally, the driver’s vehicle is subject to impound.

3.     Alcohol Related Reckless Driving (Assembly Bill 2802)

This new law requires a court to order a person convicted of an alcohol-related reckless driving, (commonly referred to as a wet reckless), to attend a drunk driving alcohol program of at least nine (9) months in length if that person has a prior driving under the influence or alcohol related reckless driving conviction within the last ten (10) years.  This law change can be found under Vehicle Code § 23103.5(f)(1) and § 23103.5(f)(2).

4.     Ignition Interlock Device (IID) (Senate Bill 1190)

This new law allows courts to give additional consideration for the installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) to those offenders who have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15% or greater.  This new law reduces the blood alcohol level from 0.20% or greater to 0.15% or greater to trigger the requirement.

5.     Ignition Interlock Device (IID) (Senate Bill 1388)

This new law allows the California Department of Motor Vehicles to require any driver convicted of driving on a suspended license due to a prior driving under the influence (DUI) conviction to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in any vehicle the offender owns or operates.  This is an expansion on the previous law that required courts to impose this condition on those drivers convicted of driving on a suspended license due to a prior driving under the influence (DUI) conviction to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in any vehicle the offender owns or operates because now the authority rests solely with the California Department of Motor Vehicles and is required at the time the Department receives notification of the conviction.

OCSD Press Release: Traffic Safety Checkpoint in San Juan Capistrano

According to an “Orange County Sheriff’s Department Press Release” dated: December 16, 2008, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint in the City of San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, December 20, 2008 from 7:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m.

The Press Release advises that, traffic volume and weather permitting, ALL vehicles may be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs will be arrested.  The Press Release further encourages citizens to help keep the roadways safe by calling 911 if they see a suspected drunk driver.

According to the Press Release, checkpoints are part of a grant the Orange County Sheriff’s Department received from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety, and are set up to target drivers who are driving a vehicle without a driver’s license or who are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  Funding of this grant was provided by the State of California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA).

OCSD Press Release: Traffic Safety Checkpoint in Aliso Viejo

According to an “Orange County Sheriff’s Department Press Release” dated: December 16, 2008, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) will be conducting a DUI Checkpoint in the City of Aliso Viejo on Friday, December 19, 2008 from 7:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. 

According to the Press Release, checkpoints are part of a grant the Orange County Sheriff’s Department received from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety, and are set up to target drivers who are driving a vehicle without a driver’s license or who are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  Funding of this grant was provided by the State of California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA).

OCSD Press Release: Traffic Safety Checkpoint in Rancho Santa Margarita

According to an “Orange County Sheriff’s Department Press Release” dated: December 9, 2008, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) will be conducting a DUI Checkpoint in the City of Rancho Santa Margarita on Friday, December 12, 2008 from 7:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. 

According to the Press Release, checkpoints are part of a grant the Orange County Sheriff’s Department received from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety, and are set up to target drivers who are driving a vehicle without a driver’s license or who are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  Funding of this grant was provided by the State of California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA).