April 2009 - Posts

• Reaction to CEO of MADD Heading Federal Agency

  I posted a few days ago about the recent appointment of Chuck Hurley, the CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, as head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  See Ex-CEO of MADD to Set Vehicle Safety Standards.  One inevitable consequence:  You can expect ignition interlock devices (mini-breathalyzers) installed as standard equipment in all vehicles in [...] Posted Apr 28 2009, 04:20 PM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• Does Marijuana Affect Driving Ability?

  It is against the law to drive while under the influence of marijuana. It has always been assumed that cannabis, like alcohol, impairs the perception, coordination, reflexes and judgment necessary for the safe operation of a motor vehicle. And, of course, there have been governmental studies addressing the question: Does marijuana impair driving? Interestingly, however, the [...] Posted Apr 23 2009, 09:41 AM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• Ex-CEO of MADD to Set Vehicle Safety Standards

  I commented a few days ago that Chuck Hurley, the CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, had been appointed to head the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — the federal agency that, among other things, sets safety standards for auto manufacturers.  See  Ignition Interlocks Coming – as Standard Equipment.  And MADD’s latest gimmick they claim will "literally [...] Posted Apr 18 2009, 09:26 AM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• Who Will Guard the Guardians?

  In today’s "Physician, heal thyself" department, a look at drunk gun-toting cops: Alcohol a Growing Problem in the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, Report Says Liquor-related arrests of department employees have nearly tripled since 2004, watchdog agency finds. Baca and unions are at odds on new policy barring drunk deputies from carrying guns. Los Angeles, CA.  Apr. 16 – [...] Posted Apr 16 2009, 11:09 AM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• New Bill Presumes Innocence in DUI Cases…Expected to Fail

  I’ve posted ad nauseum about the disappearance of our Constitutional rights in drunk driving cases.  See The DUI Exception to the Constitution.  One of the more notable examples is the disappearance of the presumption of innocence.  See  Whatever Happened to the Presumption of Innocence?.  Typical of this is the automatic license confiscation and suspension by the [...] Posted Apr 12 2009, 10:17 AM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• Ignition Interlocks Coming…as Standard Equipment

  I’ve commented in the past about MADD’s love affair with ignition interlock devices (IIDs) — what the National President of MADD has characterized as the way to "literally wipe out drunk driving in the United States".  See New MADD Goal: All Cars Equipped with Breathalyzers.  And I’ve posted news stories about the automobile manufacturers gearing up to install these costly and ineffective [...] Posted Apr 09 2009, 09:35 AM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• Public Reacts to Police Blood Draws

  I’ve posted in the recent past about the growing practice of allowing police to forcefully draw blood themselves from citizens suspected of drunk driving.  See  Blood Draws in the Back Seat by the Dashboard Light,  Forced Blood Draws by Cops Spreading , Would You Want a Cop Taking Blood from You? and Forced Blood Draws: Citizen Backlash? Despite the [...] Posted Apr 06 2009, 10:38 AM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• Professional Courtesy

  What would happen if you were arrested for drunk driving?  What if you were arrested for DUI after crashing your car – twice the same day?  A long stretch in the local jail?  Not if you’re a prosecutor… Calif. Prosecutor Drops DUI Charges Against Nevada Prosecutor Baker, CA.  Apr. 1 – A Nevada prosecutor pleads guilty to reckless driving and won’t [...] Posted Apr 02 2009, 11:32 AM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog