Casino Related DUI Crashes Prompt CHP to Increase Enforcement
According to an August 4 report in the Los Angeles Times, the California Highway Patrol’s Oceanside Division has won a wealth of resources to combat San Diego DUI on State Route 76. Police statistics show that a 38 mile stretch of Route 76 near the casinos has proven particularly dangerous over the past three years -- it's witnessed over 300 injuries and 13 deaths related to driving under the influence in San Diego.
The State Office of Highway Safety earmarked the money (more than $260,000) to establish additional sobriety checkpoints as well as patrols for DUI. These measures should go into effect starting in September and will last through March 2011.
Obviously, police efforts to rid San Diego highways of drivers who flagrantly violate DUI and DWI laws can and do save lives. Additional patrols and checkpoints might act as a deterrent. But it’s also key to look “outside the box” at other factors that can influence driver behavior. For instance, the proximity of the freeway to the casinos seems to have a provocative effect.
Perhaps if the casinos implemented better policies to deter drunken visitors from driving, the result could be a win-win-win. The casinos could win because they wouldn’t have to deal with bad press relating to DUI crashes nearby. Law enforcement officials would win because they could reduce San Diego DUI arrests along this deadly stretch of road. And drivers would win because fewer people would drive under the influence to begin with. The point is that, to create effective policy to staunch southern California DUI events, a less reactive and myopic approach may be called for.
If you or a family member has been charged with an Oceanside DUI, you'll likely need sound legal representation. Find out more about the services of Attorney Stephen R. Brodsky. Since 1988, Attorney Brodsky and his associates have battled hard on behalf of CA defendants, and they’ve delivered results time and again. Call 1-800-GOOD-ADVICE or email Attorney Brodsky through his website, WWW.CRIMINALATTORNEYSANDIEGO.COM.com, for a free, completely confidential consultation.
