Police Not Catching All Drunk Drivers
According to a recent Time.com article, police aren’t catching a large percentage of drunk drivers each day. Statistics show that there are 300,000 occurrences of drunk driving on a daily basis; however, a mere 4,000 of these end with rides in a police car.
Other notable statistics include the fact that drunk drivers kill 10,000 U.S. citizens annually. That number accounts for a third of all car accident deaths.
Some argue — including James Fell who worked at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for three decades, according to Time’s article — that there are proven methods of reducing drunken driving. Implementing more traffic stops in neighborhoods has shown to be effective in reducing drunken driving.
Another effective way to help reduce deaths from drunken driving, as proven by research, includes sobriety check points — unannounced traffic stops where drivers are randomly selected to complete sobriety tests.
Yet recent studies have shown that only 3 percent of U.S. citizens drive in areas where law enforcement conducts weekly check points. Why are they not being done with more frequency? Some have cited costs and manpower needs. Some law enforcement agencies believe their staff is more useful patrolling neighborhoods than manning a DUI check point.
Drivers in Los Angeles can also turn away from a check point without the risk of being followed by police.
However, California DUI laws are becoming stricter, even for first-time offenders. If you are pulled over for drunken driving, it is important to know your rights. You must be read your Miranda rights. Do not refuse the chemical testing, which can cause your license to be suspended for a minimum of one year in California.
Criminal defense lawyer Lawrence Wolf has been providing legal advice those accused of drunken driving for four decades. If you need legal help, please visit our website or all (310) 277-1707.
