Car chase for DUI warrent

A driver in Portland was recently pulled over for reckless driving. With a warrent out for his arrest for DUI convictions the driver fled the scene. Police decided to let him run, instead of escalating the situation by chasing. The Oregon Department of Transportation, ODOT followed the suspect with traffic cameras until he finally collided with another vehicle, thus ending his ride. Police also say that he threw a what looked like a small bag of crack cocaine out his window.

I found this at koin.com. Two questions here: Traffic camera or big brother? How good are thos cops at identifying samll bags of drugs at 50+ MPH?

Original Posted @ Oregon DUI News.

Drivers sue over trooper's tainted DUI arrests

If you have gotten a DUI conviction that was later thrown out, you have to read this article that I just found posted at the Seattle Times.

Trooper Keith Jordan once testified in court that he had made nearly 150 drunken-driving arrests in a year. In 2003, 65 cases handled by Trooper Keith Jordan were dismissed by Mark Roe, Snohomish County's chief criminal prosecutor, because Jordan had cut and pasted blocks of information from one report to another. In some reports, Jordan had even forgotten to change a name when he copied a paragraph, Roe said. Now at least four of those people are sueing over this.

Originally posted @ Washington DUI News

Texas Congressman Kevin Brady charged with DUI

According to an article over at USA Today, Texas Republican Brady was charged with a DUI in South Dakota. Authorities were waiting for results of a blood test to determine Brady's blood-alcohol level at the time of the arrest. The legal limit in South Dakota is 0.08. If convicted of the misdemeanor charge, Brady faces up to $1,000 fine and a year in jail, Clay County Sheriff Andy Howe said.

Xanax-using attorney cleared in Oregon DUI case

A Jackson County deputy district attorney suspected of driving under the influence of a prescription drug has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing. Matt Chancellor, who has been suspended since mid-September, will be back at work within a week, said Mark Huddleston, the Jackson County district attorney. You can read the full story at kgw.com.

Original Posted @ Oregon DUI News.

Dentists, DUIs, and Fingerprints

According to an article over at Seattle PI the state is considering weather to fingerprint all dentists, so that when they get in trouble with the law, like Driving Under the Influence, the state board can take proper action. Here is an excerpt:

"Having fingerprints on file makes it easier for states to monitor health professionals, said Lynn Thornton, enforcement chief of the California Dental Board. The California Health Department fingerprints dentists and others seeking licenses. The fingerprints on file mean the board is notified when dentists are arrested on DUI or other charges."

I don't know about you, but I think we are going a little to far to protect the public, maybe a better system would be to make the dentist pass a piss test before he/she can unlock the door of his/her office in the morning!

Originally posted @ Washington DUI News

DUI arrests drop during Oktoberfest

Over at statesmanjournal.com, I finally found an article that has a ray of hope in it when doing my google for DUI in Oregon. According to the article, "Oregon State Police reported that 18 people were arrested for driving under the influence during the four-day festival in Mount Angel, thought to be a record low in at least the past 13 years since troopers have had extra patrols in the area."

Original Posted @ Oregon DUI News.

Trooper Pleads Guilty of Fondling Women

Ten different women accused the trooper of fondling them during DUI traffic stops. In King County Court, Trooper Idland entered an Alford Plea, meaning he admits he would be found guilty if he goes to trial but officially maintains his innocence. The original story can be read at komotv.com

Originally posted @ Washington DUI News