Huntington Beach May Post Names of Drunk Drivers on Facebook
The city of Huntington Beach is considering posting the names of suspected drunk drivers on Facebook because its local newspaper quit publishing these instances and the names of those accused of drunk driving, according to NBCLosAngeles.com.
Last summer, Huntington Beach began a tough campaign against drunk driving, including an increased number of police officers focused on drunk drivers, posting names of those arrested for drunk driving, and sending letters to bars if one of their patrons was arrested for a DUI. Huntington Beach has one of the highest rates of arrests for DUIs for a city its size in the state of California. In 2009, the city had 274 collisions that were related to alcohol use, and 1,687 drunk driving arrests. The idea of posting names of those suspected of DUI was suggested at a city council meeting in November. The city’s attorney is currently looking into the issue to see if there are any legal barriers.
This story is an example of how damaging a drunk driving arrest can be to a person’s reputation, particularly to someone in a public position or a position of trust. Although there are many valid defenses to a charge of drunk driving, Huntington Beach’s policy doesn’t give individuals a chance to prove their innocence before publicizing their arrest to the community.
If you have been charged with a DUI in California, contact the experienced California DUI defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf. Our lawyers will work hard to formulate a successful defense on your behalf and help you navigate through the criminal justice system successfully. Call us today for a free consultation at (310) 277-1707.
