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Drunken Driving Cases on Decline Nationwide

Posted on Feb 01, 2012

According to the Center for Disease Control stats, during 2006 and 2010, the number of drunk driving cases have declined nationwide. Could the decrease in drinking and driving incidents be linked to a slow economy? Nothing else seemed to deter people from drinking and driving on the past, so is a slow economy the solution to this problem?

Driving Under the Influence on the Decline

A recent report from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) shows that driving under the influence (DUI) is on the decline not only in certain areas, but nationwide. In four years, the number of drunk drivers has dropped by more than 25 percent. There are no specific reasons for the decline, according to a CDC behavioral scientist, Gwen Berger, the drop in drunk driving incidents may be due to economic reasons; however there may be other reasons behind the decline as well.

Berger stated, “People have cut back on leisure driving due to the economic downturn.” She said that most people seem to be drinking more at home as opposed to a bar or restaurant.

Alcohol Related Fatalities Nationwide

However, despite the figures from the CDC, the number of people drinking and driving still remains high. For example, last year alone there was more than 100 million of driving while intoxicated (DWI) incidents in the country – most of the drivers were adults. So despite the decline, DWI is still a major concern, especially in states where the number of alcohol-related fatalities still remains high.

Dangers of Driving While Intoxicated

The new ignition interlocks law that is in place to deter drunk driving requires all second-time DWI offenders to install this device in their vehicles. The ignition interlocks prevent drunk drivers from operating their vehicles if they have high blood alcohol content (BAC). This new law will play a major role in helping to reduce drunk driving incidents nationwide.

Is Drunk Driving Really on the Decline?

Do you believe that there is a decline in drunk driving cases nationwide, or are drunk drivers just not getting caught? Could the figures from the CDC be incorrect?

What’s your opinion? Please leave your comments below.

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Can Community Supervision Strategies Curb Drunk Driving?

Posted on Jan 18, 2012

It is projected that approximately 15,000 fatalities related to drunk driving will be recorded this year in the country. This is disturbing news. Regardless of these shocking numbers, scores of citizens will still partake in the deadly practice of getting behind the wheel after having too many drinks. Some just don’t comprehend that by driving under influence they are placing their life, as well as the lives of their passengers and of other drivers and pedestrians in jeopardy. Some statistics state that 50 percent of all traffic mishaps happen because of drunk driving. That is why cities and municipalities are seeking to curb drunk driving through community supervision strategies.

How Community Supervision Curbs Drunk Driving

Community supervision curbs drunk driving by setting up promotions in opposition to DUI at the local level. In the course of these promotions, citizens are made aware of the dangers of DUI. They also spread awareness about the actions that can be taken to reduce incidences of drunk driving. An example of this is when communities promote the practice of designating a person to drive when a group goes to a party or a bar.

Communities Can Promote Individual Accountability to Curb Drunk Driving

Community supervision means people taking individual accountability for themselves and for their families, co-workers, friends and acquaintances. Community members must drive home the message that no one should drive after drinking. When someone is aware of anyone about to drive after drinking, they must make an effort to find transportation to take them home.

Community Supervision Strategies Can Endorse Stringent Regulations

Community supervision strategies work to curb drunk driving by endorsing stringent regulations at the local, state, and the federal levels. These measures include:

• Jail time for offenders
• Revoking of licenses
• Suspension of licenses
• Interlock devices
• Heavy fines, etc.

Communities Can Intervene To Prevent Drunk Driving

If an individual sees some drunken person behind the wheel, he must call law enforcement agencies right away and provide them with the plate number and description of the person’s vehicle. This will help communities cope with the menace of driving under the influence of alcohol and save countless lives as well.

Helping Those in the Community Who Drink and Drive

Individuals who have an alcohol problem need to find a solution for this problem. Communities can assist such people by promoting Alcoholics Anonymous and other rehabilitation programs that care for people with drinking issues. When these citizens learn to control their problem it will decrease the odds of them driving under the influence of alcohol in the future.

Community supervision strategies can definitely curb drunk driving or at least reduce the number of incidences. This menace can be curbed with community support and recommendations.

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Cecil Conner Attorneys Fight to Win a Fatal DUI Case

Posted on Jul 07, 2011

Cecil Conner’s attorneys are fighting to win a fatal DUI case that is he is facing. The attorneys have presented evidence to a judge that may get Conner a new trial. This evidence is the fact that there are recordings of Conner’s calls from county jail that were allegedly with help from defense attorney.

Possible Evidence Violation in DUI Case

The attorneys believe that prosecutors violated evidence rules when they did not give copies of the recordings to them. They must convince the judge in order to get a new trial for their client. Most of the conversations are calls the defendant made to the mother of the 5-year-old child who died in the crash that he has been convicted of.

Detail of the DUI Accident

The crash took place on May 10, 2010 in Steger, Illinois. Conner’s girlfriend was driving her 1997 Chevy Cavalier when she was pulled over by Chicago Heights Police Officer Chris Felicetti and was arrested for driving without a license. Conner who was drunk at the time was allowed to drive the car. He then smashed the car into a tree killing the child that was sleeping at the backseat of the car. After the accident, the mother of the child filed a lawsuit against Conner, the police officer that arrested her and the town of Chicago Heights.

Delay in Conner’s DUI Sentencing

Conner was convicted in February for the charges against him and was facing up to 14 years in prison for aggravated driving under the influence (DUI). However, the sentencing was delayed when his attorneys asked for a new trial because they did not receive copies of the jailhouse recordings of their client’s phone calls. However, the judge in the case said that he needed to find out if the recordings were relevant to the case or not. The judge also wants additional information about the recordings, including confirmation of whether or not they actually exist and if prosecutors have had access to them.

Illinois State Evidence Law in this DUI Case

According to the state’s laws, prosecutors must give defense attorney any statements made by his client whether the statements are relevant to the case or not. However, what is not clear is whether this law pertains to jailhouse recording that are conducted for the security of the facility.

Jailhouse Record in Will County

Since 2006, Will County Jail has recorded inmates’ phone calls with their new digital recording system. Conner made hours of phone call to the mother of the child that died in the accident. The prosecution insists that they did not listen to any of the calls but Conner’s attorney said that this is irrelevant.

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