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No Driving Until You Pass Your Breath Test

According to a story from the Los Angeles Times, California drunk drivers that have been convicted of DUI may have to take a Breathalyzer test every time they want to drive their cars. That is, a bill proposes a new program that would place ignition-locking breath analysis systems into the automobiles of those individuals that have been convicted of driving while under the influence. Such a device would force motorists to have to pass a blood alcohol concentration test before their cars are permitted to start. The bill is currently awaiting approval from Governor Schwarzenegger, and is set to run… Read More

Credit Card Cop Arrested for Fraud

The Las Vegas Sun recently reported that a North Las Vegas Police detective has been arrested for allegedly using a department credit card to make personal purchases. The 39-year-old has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation is being handled. The week-long investigation that led to his arrest was prompted when the department credit card went missing. The accused detective has been charged with three counts of credit card fraud, and three counts of accepting merchandise obtained by unlawful use of a credit card, all considered felonies. If convicted of a felony crime, a person’s future is put… Read More

Prison Pop Cut Could Mean More Arrests

It was recently reported on cbsnews.com that a panel of federal judges has decreed that the state of California must reduce its prison population by as much as 40,000 inmates, all in hopes of alleviating overcrowded prisons and improving the time and attention allowed for inmate health care. The current population of about 150,000 would be cut down to about 110,000, and a plan for doing so must be made by the state of California within a time period of 45 days. An article in the Los Angeles Times article recently stated that “the governor and most legislative leaders back… Read More

White-Collar Pastor Accused of Embezzlement

The Press Enterprise, pe.com, recently ran an article that talked about a pastor that has been accused of embezzlement and money laundering. The Compton-area pastor pled not guilty to both counts. The Double Rock Baptist Church has accused the former pastor of diverting funds from church bank accounts and using the funds for personal projects in his Corona home. If convicted, the pastor could face more than seven years in prison. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office has been investigating the preacher for some time now, even searching his home in 2008 and confiscating financial records that may have aided… Read More

Jackson’s Doctor Admits to Dosage that Doesn’t Add Up

According to the Los Angeles Times, the reported levels of the anesthetic propofol which contributed towards Michael Jackson’s untimely death are relatively too low to have posed any sort of risk to the pop star. Jackson’s doctor claims to have administered a dosage of 25 milligrams to Jackson, who was dependent on the drug to fall asleep nightly. However, according to medical experts, a dosage that size taken by a patient such as Jackson, someone who was accustomed to taking the drug and had therefore built up a tolerance for it, would have little effect, if any at all, on… Read More

Commerce Man Pleads Not Guilty in DUI Crash

According to an article from examiner.com, a Los Angeles county man was recently taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence and causing an accident. The 23-year-old man is said by police to have been the cause of the accident that involved a reported four other vehicles. Though the man was not said to have been injured in the crash, a 9-year-old girl that was a passenger in the man’s car was seriously injured and died shortly after arriving at a nearby hospital for treatment. The man now faces charges including vehicular manslaughter, DUI, and child endangerment and… Read More

The Number of DUI-Charged Women Rising

A recent article in The Seattle Times reported on an alarming trend that can have an impact on motorists anywhere in the country, particularly Los Angeles, where commuting via passenger car is as commonplace as taking the subway is in New York. According to the article, the number of women arrested for driving under the influence nationwide rose 28.8% higher in 2007 than it was in 1998. Interestingly enough, the number of men arrested for DUI decreased 7.5% over the same time period, indicating that woman are now more likely to engage in reckless behavior than they ever have been… Read More

California DUI Arrests Rise, Yet Percent Convicted Drops

According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, both the number of DUI arrests and DUI convictions in the state of California rose during the time period of 2001-2007. In 2001, there were a total of 176,490 DUI arrests in California. In 2007, that number rose to 203,866. As far as convictions go, 2001 boasted 140,440 convictions of DUI in the state of California, while in 2007 there were 153,348 such convictions. Interestingly, while the number of overall arrests and convictions has risen over the years, the percentage of convictions in relation to arrests has actually dropped. In 2001, 80%… Read More

Measuring BAC is Trickly and Complicated

According to an article posted on howstuffworks.com, law enforcement officers rely on a variety of tactics and devices to reasonably determine whether or not a person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Some of the most effective methods of this determination involve devices used to measure blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level. Breathalyzers, Intoxilyzers, and Alcosensor III or IV are the three major devices that are used to determine BAC levels. Breathalyzers are the most commonly talked about type of test. This type of test relies on a chemical reaction involving alcohol to determine whether or not a person… Read More

Sobriety Checkpoints: Always Accurate?

According to the Los Angeles Police Department’s website, “the purpose of the Sobriety/Driver’s License checkpoint is to reduce the number of traffic collisions involving intoxicated and unlicensed drivers through enforcement and public awareness.” For all intensive purposes, sobriety checkpoints are a great addition to the policing of any community. Under ideal circumstances, these checkpoints can reduce the number of alcohol-impaired drivers on the road, thus making it safer for all other motorists. However, it is imperative that these checkpoints are properly maintained, and that innocent drivers are not singled out and punished for infractions relating to Los Angeles DUI offenses… Read More

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