A California state senator wants drunken boaters to lose their license to drive their automobiles.
Sen. John J. Benoit, R-Bermuda Dunes, introduced SB 154, which would reinstate the suspension of California driver’s license for individuals convicted of boating under the influence.
“Havasu spent eight years in DUI enforcement, making over 1,000 arrests. I have witnessed how the bad choices made under the influence of alcohol have created countless tragedies. My legislation reflects the seriousness of BUI offenses, protecting the safety of travelers on California’s streets, highways and waterways,” Benoit said in a press release.
More.
While I have no specific details of Sacramento DUI checkpoints or numbers of law enforcement officials that will be patrolling on the 4th I must warn you not to drink and drive.
Holidays, especially the 4th of July are when DUI patrols make the most arrests not only because more people drink and drive, but becuase the have their eyes wide open on these dates and their number double. If you’re drinking on the 4th make sure to call a cab(always a good idea.)
California Highway patrol officers were called to a two-vehicle accident on Highway 190 at Road 208 early Thursday morning for an accident that partially blocked the highway for several hours.
Chua Yang, 19, of Lindsay, was driving a 2001 Ford Mustang south on Road 208, just north of Highway 190, while intoxicated, at about 5:05 a.m. CHP reports. Meanwhile Roy E. Battles, 51, of Springville, was driving a 1997 International tractor-trailer rig west on Highway 190.
Yang did not stop at the posted stop sign at the intersection of Road 208 and Highway 190 and tried to turn east onto the highway, into the path of the big rig, CHP reports.
The big rig hit the Mustang, which came to rest in the eastbound lane of the highway. The big rig overturned on the south shoulder of the highway just west of Road 208.
A passenger in the Mustang, Andrea M. Massaro, 18, of Porterville, suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Sierra View District Hospital for treatment.
Yang and Battles each suffered minor injuries, with Yang taken to Sierra View and Battles not requiring immediate care.
Eastbound traffic on Highway 190 was blocked for several hours while the overturned trailer was unloaded and righted.
Yang was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs causing injury to another, and was booked at the Bob Wiley Detention Facility.
Arnoldo Placencia was planning to celebrate his eldest daughter’s 23rd birthday Thursday and to walk her down the wedding aisle in September. He and his wife, Alicia, talked about taking a big vacation for their 25th wedding anniversary in November.
But the father of five will never mark those family milestones.
Placencia, 49, was working in a construction zone in the Arden Arcade area of Sacramento County just after 1 a.m. Thursday when a driver struck and killed him, according to California Highway Patrol officials.
Nancy E. Richards, 26, of Sacramento, was driving 70mph when she veered into the construction zone at the intersection of Marconi and Howe avenues and hit Placencia, authorities said.
Richards also died in the crash.
CHP Officer Adrian Quintero said Richards’ car continued westbound on Marconi and hit a flatbed truck after striking Placencia.
Quintero said an alcohol odor was detected on Richards, but investigators are waiting for a toxicology report to determine if she was driving drunk.
Placencia’s family grieved for a man they said was a loving husband and father, caring brother, dedicated worker and devout Catholic.
“Everybody is in shock and dismay and devastated about the tragedy,” said Placencia’s 41-year-old brother, Oscar Ramirez. Placencia was the second of 10 siblings. He had five daughters of his own, the youngest 12 years old.
Choking back tears during a telephone interview, Ramirez said Placencia was the big brother who showed him the ropes, such as how to fix a car.
“He was always giving of his time, and always willing to lend a listening ear,” Ramirez said.
Placencia was good with his hands and won awards for his body work and paint designs on cars, his brother said.
“He was very funny and very warm,” said Veronica Potts, Placencia’s cousin. “He’d give you a big bear hug. You can see the kindness in his eyes when he smiled at you.”
Placencia had worked with Ahlstrom Construction for more than 25 years. His wife worried because of close calls on job sites in the past, so he was careful about his safety, according to the brother.
At the time of the accident, Placencia was on the overnight shift, supervising a crew working on contract with the Sacramento Suburban Water District. Ed Formosa, the district’s assistant general manager, said the crew was locating underground utilities where a new water main will be installed. The construction site was properly lighted and marked with signage, Formosa said.
“It’s important that when people drive in delineated construction zones to slow down,” Formosa said. “We’re very heartbroken about this incident.”
The undersecretary who oversees California parolees and adult and juvenile prisons has been arrested on suspicion of Sacramento drunk driving while in a state vehicle.
The California Highway Patrol stopped the 47-year-old for speeding shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday near Rancho Murieta, the rural Sacramento County community where he lives. Officer Michael Bradley said his blood alcohol level exceeded 0.08, the legal limit. The CHP would not release the precise level.
Sacramento DUIs Have Big Consequences…
Corrections department spokesman Seth Unger says Kernan is on personal leave awaiting discipline, which could range from a suspension to the loss of his job. He says it is unclear if Kernan was on state business when he was arrested for Sacramento DUI.
The official is free on $1,480 bail and is awaiting a July 16 arraignment. He was appointed as one of three undersecretaries in the corrections department in November 2008.
Sacramento car accident injures boy, driver accused of California DUI
A 14-year-old boy is in critical condition after he was dragged underneath a van while riding his bike, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department said. He was dragged for about 100 feet.
The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Sacramento of drugs and operating a vehicle with a suspended license.
The collision is under investigation.
Sacramento DUI Lawyers:
California DUI Attorney- Manuel Barba
For the second Memorial Day weekend in a row, drunken-driving arrests in Monterey County more than doubled, officials said Tuesday.
During the Avoid The 18 crackdown, police officers, sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers arrested 49 motorists on suspicion of driving under the influence, up from last year’s 21. In 2007, officers made 10 DUI arrests over the holiday weekend.
The enforcement sweep, which included a DUI checkpoint in Salinas and increased patrols around the county, started Friday and ended Monday night.
Lynn says additional state grant money from the California Office of Traffic Safety allowed law enforcement agencies to increase patrol hours, and thus boost arrest numbers.
“With more units out there, we’re able to catch more,” he said.
The Tuolumne County CHP recorded seven driving-under-the-influence arrests over the three day Memorial Day weekend.
The CHP’s 78 hour Maximum Enforcement Period started at 6pm Friday and ended Monday midnight.
In addition to the seven DUI arrests, the CHP also dealt with the Saturday 5:30pm double fatality accident on Hwy 120 between the Yosemite Junction and Chinese Camp.
A 26 year old Sacramento man driving a 1995 Dodge Intrepid was killed along with a two year old girl when their car was involved in a head on collision caused by 39 year old Gregory Ruccello of Turlock who crossed over a double yellow center line in an effort to pass another vehicle.
According to CHP Officer Tom Wills 12 people have now lost their lives on Tuolumne County roadways this year. Last year there were only three recorded deaths in the county.
In Calaveras County eight arrests for driving-under-the-influence were made over the three day weekend. Calaveras County experienced no fatalities during the 78 hour M.E.P.
Tags: Memorial Day DUI
An Olivehurst man died in a head-on accident Friday night on Interstate 5 in south Sacramento County, according to the CHP and media reports.
Juan Carlos Reyes-Torres, 30, was driving a 1990 Toyota Camry north on I-5 south of the Lambert Road overcrossing at about 10:15 p.m. when Albert J. M. Hu of Stockton, who was headed south on I-5 in a 1999 Honda Accord with an unidentified female passenger, crossed the median and went into the opposite lane for an unknown reason.
Hue’s car collided head on with the car driven by Reyes-Torres,. The collision killed both Hue, 38, and Reyes-Torres at the scene, according to the CHP.
The passenger was taken to University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento with minor injuries. Her condition and hometown were not available Sunday.
The accident closed a northbound lane on I-5 for almost three hours Friday night and Sunday morning.
When Folsom police officers responded to a call involving an alleged intoxicated man and a physical altercation, they discovered that the suspect was a fellow officer.
Off-duty Officer Evan Fardanesh, 34, had been at a restaurant located along the 25000 block of Blue Ravine Road where, allegedly, he had an altercation with another patron, according to a statement issued by Folsom Police Public Information Officer Michelle Beattie.
Beattie said that the patron called 911. Upon arrival, police contacted the alleged victim, who told them that he’d placed Fardanesh under citizen’s arrest.
Fardanesh was in his vehicle when his fellow officers found him. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and battery.
Fardanesh’s blood-alcohol level was reportedly .19, which is more than twice the legal limit, according to the statement.
No injuries from the altercation were reported, according to Beattie.
Fardanesh was not booked into Sacramento County Jail when he was arrested, she said.
“He was released to a responsible party,” she said. “He didn’t receive special treatment. That is an option that is available to us (and is) something we do with some DUI arrests.”
She said the citation and release of the officer, “is the same as an arrest.”
Fardanesh, a nine-year veteran of the department, is on paid administrative leave pending an internal affairs investigation.
“(The case) has been turned over to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s office. They will determine whether or not to prosecute,” Beattie said.