Huntington Beach police may identify drunk drivers on its website

[alp227]

Source: Los Angeles Times

The Huntington Beach Police Department is considering posting the names of drunk-driving offenders on its website as part of a stepped-up strategy to address the problem downtown and citywide.

In a report submitted to the City Council this month, police said drinking and driving is a "significant problem" in Surf City and suggested that publicly posting names sends a message that police are cracking down.

"It's not a wall of shame we're looking to put up," said police Lt. Russell Reinhart. "Public awareness of the problem, and scope of the problem, is one way of addressing any public safety concern."

The Police Department considered publishing the names of those arrested for drunk driving after the Huntington Beach Independent newspaper stopped publishing a weekly list of offenders in December, according to the city report. The Independent decided to drop the standing feature after a change in editorial policy.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hb-dui-20100730,0,6102613.story

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So, let's see. California has a statewide sex offender registry. It also proposed an animal abuser registry. And now one city wants a drunk driver registry too. What a trend right here!

[msongs]

1. posting their pics without being convicted, only arrested under an allegation? ugh nt

[Tempest]

10. You don't get arrested for DUI unless you fail a sobriety test

If you fail a sobriety test, you deserve to be publicly shamed.

Even if it stops just one person from driving again drunk, it would be worth it.

[AngryAmish]

12. No

Everyone has a right to refuse a sobriety test. 5th amendment and whatnot. You can still be arrested if you refuse.

You know what elae may stop "even one person from driving drunk'? Executing the children of drunk drivers.

[michreject]

15. 5th Amendment doesn't apply

Driving is a privilege not a right. When you apply and accept a drivers license, you agree to the terms. Implied consent is one of the terms you agree to in order to get the license.

[AngryAmish]

17. Thankfully, yours is a jurisprudence that exists only in your mind

Back in reality, 5th Amendment certainly applies in every interaction with the police.

You refuse the test, you can have your driving privileges suspended and/or revoked - with court review.

If you refuse, the police can go get a warrant to take blood or urine. To get a warrant a judge must find probable cause to do such things. Then the police can then grab you, hold you down, stick a needle in your arm and draw your blood out.

But you always have the right to refuse to cooperate with police.

[michreject]

18. You just proved my point

When it comes to DUI, you cannot refuse a test to see if you're drunk. Either you do it voluntarily or they will make you do it. Either way, you will do it.

Thanks.

[Ter]

19. They can't make you do it, you can refuse

You will still get arrested if you refuse, but you will get in less trouble than if you take it and fail. So if you know you're gonna fail, refuse.

[michreject]

20. If you refuse the breath test

They will take you to a hospital and take your blood, whether you agree to it or not. It implied consent.

http://www.dui1.com/dui_lawyers_driving19.htm

Under an implied consent law, any person who operates a motor vehicle in the state is deemed to have consented to a DUI chemical test.

[Ter]

22. Not in NY they don't

Not sure where you live, but NY doesn't do that, and rightfully so.

[michreject]

24. You're right

The court views it as a admission of guilt and based on that, immediately suspends your license.

http://www.newyorkcriminalattorneyblog.com/2008/03/new_york_dwi_what_happens_if_y_1.html

Essentially, any person who operates a motor vehicle in New York is be deemed to have given consent to a chemical test of, among other things, his or her breath for the purpose of determining the alcoholic and/or drug content of that person’s blood.

[MikeW]

26. heres what happens to you in NY if you refuse

If you are lawfully arrested for a DWI and refuse to submit to a BAC test, you will be subjected to mandatory civil fines and license suspensions. The penalties for refusing to take a BAC test are in addition to the standard penalties for DWI. Even if you are acquitted of DWI charges, you will still face these penalties:

■Chemical Test Refusal: Mandatory 6 month license suspension and $300 civil fine
■Chemical Test Refusal Within 5 Years of a Previous DWI Related Offense: Mandatory one year license suspension and $750 civil fine

[MikeW]

25. sorry but your wrong ...

In many states mine included. Breathalyzer refusal results in an automatic DUI conviction and license suspension for 6 months.

To many people in here are so called "lawyers".

[Tempest]

28. Most states allow for forced blood tests

If you refuse a field sobriety test.

[Tempest]

27. In most states you can be forced to take a test

Whether a field sobriety test or a forced test at a hospital.


The second part of your post is asinine and not worth commenting on.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

13. "Even if it stops just one (blank) from (blank), it would be worth it."

There are lots of ways those blanks can be filled in.

About thirty years ago, one local paper used to run the names of people arrested for DUI. They were mostly men well into their adulthood, not kids, as I think the paper had been thinking would be the case. After a few months, they stopped. Maybe they heard from a few defense attorneys.

[Hepburn]

14. People suffering from diabetes complications have wrongfully been arrested for DUI...

...so, no, this is NOT a good idea.

[Tempest]

29. The reason is from a lack of police training

We had the same thing happen in my town with guy who suffered a stroke.

It came down to a lack of police training, admitted by the police chief, in recognizing health problems vs. inebriation.

[mbperrin]

23. Didn't even know this was controversial. Here's the listing to everyone

currently in jail in my home county, whether tried or not.

http://www.ectorcountysheriff.us/Inmates.html

Been around about 10 years.

[ixion]

2. Our society is utterly insane

I no longer recognize this country.

[Downwinder]

3. Won't be able to restrict internet access, with all of the registries.

[bora13]

4. coming next...

a pay per view show of smog offenders belching up the freeway on ramps.

[davidinalameda]

5. it's public information

maybe it will make some people think twice about trying to drive while intoxicated

[LAGC]

6. I don't see what the big deal is.

Our local county sheriff already has a web-site where the name and mug-shot of every single person who is arrested is posted.

Not to mention all the sex offenders.

Drunk drivers kill people. I wish people would quit taking this crime lightly.

[Downwinder]

7. It will only get worse. alcohol is the drug of choice for PTSD.

[snooper2]

11. I check out the Wasilla Police Reports every once in a while, interesting read

Never know when Bristol might pop up in one of them :P

http://www.cityofwasilla.com/index.aspx?page=102

[boppers]

8. Not much of a deterrent.

http://www.bustedpaper.com/

[Dr.Phool]

9. The St. Pete Times has a feature on the front page of it's site called Mugshots.

It's continually (Every few minutes)updated with the mugshots and charges of everyone arrested for anything in the four county area in the last 24 hours.

There's hundreds up there, and you can sort by county. On Monday, they had the mug of the wife of the Mayor of New Port Richey, charged with domestic battery, for allegedly slapping her husband in a bar, in the presence of a deputy.

[jberryhill]

16. PerpBook - Just Start A Social Networking Site For Criminals

You know, I've always wondered whether sex offenders use the public sex offender registries to hook up with one another.

Figure... everybody else who got busted for possession of child pornography can find everyone else who got busted for the same thing.

That seems oddly convenient for them.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

21. But will they post the Bankers son's picture?