More Scrutiny for DUI Repeaters

Would closer monitoring of drivers convicted of repeated Los Angeles DUIs make the roads any safer? It probably couldn’t hurt. The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration says that “Drivers with prior DWI convictions are also overrepresented in fatal crashes and have a greater relative risk of fatal crash involvement…Intoxicated drivers with prior DWI convictions had 4.1 times the risk of being in a fatal crash as intoxicated drivers without prior DWIs. Another study showed that fatal crash risk increases with the number of prior DWI arrests.”

California’s Tulare County is going to monitor drivers with multiple DUI convictions more closely in an attempt to avoid DUI and drug-related crashes, according to an online article in the Porterville Recorder. In 2015, DUI-related crashes in the County killed 20 people and injured 298.

The California Office of Traffic Safety has given the County $168,301 as part of its Intensive Probation Supervision for High-Risk Felony and DUI Probation program. With these funds, the county is launching a DUI Probation Supervision Program to “quickly and aggressively” respond to felony DUI offenders. Probation officers will monitor their assignees by:

•    Maintaining a “hot sheet” that notifies patrol and traffic officers to be on the lookout for repeat DUI offenders and/or anyone convicted of a DUI who is driving on a suspended or revoked license.
•    Conducting unannounced home searches.
•    Conducting random alcohol and drug testing.
•    Checking to ensure that offenders are complying with court-ordered DUI education and treatment programs.

In California, prosecutors may charge a driver with a DUI felony offense if he/she causes an accident while DUI that causes someone great bodily injury, has four or more previous DUI convictions or has a previous conviction for a felony DUI.

Under California Vehicle Code 23152, the consequences for a felony DUI can include up to three years in prison, up to $1,000 in fines and loss of driving privileges for four years.

Please call the experienced Los Angeles DUI lawyers at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers for substantial and skilled assistance with your case and a free, private consultation.