Search results for category: Foreign DUI News

DUI Conviction Keeps International Couple Separated

Canada refuses entry to man with prior drunk driving conviction.

Many do not realize that Canada has strict limits on those you can enter the country, even for recreation and tourism. One couple found out the hard way that the restrictions apply to those with a DUI conviction.

David Williams, an American, and Janeane Ardiel, a Canadian, married five months ago and now find themselves limited to meetings at the border. Williams was convicted of driving under the influence 6 years ago. Canada denies entry to those with a felony conviction as well as many with misdemeanor offenses such as reckless driving, theft, drug possession and drunk driving. It does not matter how long ago the offense occurred.

To make matters worse, in July US border agents noticed Ardiel's near weekly visits to the United States and denied her entry because of fears that she would seek to live in the country rather than just visit. She was photographed, fingerprinted and told not to try to enter the US again for six months.

The couple is in the process of seeking a green card for Ardiel, though the process can take six months or longer. Williams can seek to prove 'rehabilitation' for his past DUI arrest but it is not a simple process and he reportedly has more pressing economic priorities at the moment.

In the mean time, the couple meets at the Peace Arch near Blaine Washington, a no-man's land along the international border accessible to both without technically leaving their respective countries.

Do you know someone who has been arrested for drunk driving recently?

English Rugby Star Nailed for Drunk Driving

Mike Tindall is dating granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II.

Mike Tindall, a rugby player for the English national squad, was banned from driving for three years following a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol. Tindall failed a breath test one morning last March after being stopped in his Range Rover. The day before, he had attended the Cheltenham racing festival with his girlfriend, Zara Phillips, who is the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II. That evening Tindall reportedly had three beers and seven glasses of champagne and then more beer and vodka mixed with the Red Bull energy drink while at dinner.

The Magistrate’s Court sentenced Tindall to a 500 English pound fine (USD $775) and 75 pounds in court costs (USD $115).

Tindall, 30, plays center for Gloucester and was part of the championship English rugby squad at the 2003 World Cup. He apologized for his actions and said that he has learned to allow more time after drinking before driving. Tindall was conviction of drunk driving in 2000 and had his license suspended for 16 months.

Have you been arrested for DUI?

Canadian Students Create Drunk Driving Video Game

Game simulates effects of driving under the influence.

Students at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, under the direction of their professor, have created a video game that illustrates the impact of driving while intoxicated. Players of the game must attempt to get home and do their best to get into bed while the screen duplicates the effects of having a blood-alcohol content three times the legal limit. Penalties, fines and criminal consequences of driving under the influence are flashed on the screen.

Most students believe they can drive while intoxicated, and that all they must do is concentrate to compensate. The game attempts to show the true dangers of drunk driving.

Week of March 16 Peculiar Drunk Driving Articles

Really Odd DWI News – Totally Weird

Missing wheel leads to Connecticut DUI – Around 3:15 in the morning, employees of a grocery store in Danbury alerted police to a vehicle leaving the parking lot missing a wheel. Responding officers narrowed their search after a report of a vehicle crashing into a stop sign. While questioning the only person on the scene, Jeffrey Ho admitted he was intoxicated but said it didn’t matter because he had not been driving. Ho, 24, was not aware that the vehicle was missing a wheel nor did he know when or how it was lost. Despite retracing the marks left in the pavement the wheel was not located. Ho was charged with drunken driving in Connecticut and reckless driving.

English woman suspected of drunk driving hides keys in personal place – Police were alerted by a family member to the fact that Jennifer Lowery, 38, had been drinking before she got behind the wheel of her car. When police located Lowery she had already parked her car near her home. When confronted, she denied driving. Lowery cursed when asked to perform a field sobriety test and blood test revealed a BAC more than twice the legal limit. After disputing that she had the car keys, police found them during an ‘intimate search’. Lowery maintained she did not drive the car, but admitted to having hidden the keys in her vagina because she had heard that a motorist could not be charged with drunk driving without keys.

California DUI after man crashes through own house – Responding to reports of an accident, police in Rancho Mirage found that Russell Hanson, 42, had hit two parked cars and continued to crash through his living room and dining room before coming to a stop in his kitchen. The three rooms sustained major damage though there were no injuries. Hanson was charged with driving under the influence in California.

Severed foot places man at Michigan OWI/DUI crash – Benjamin Pomeroy, 28 from LaPorte, was found guilty of drunk driving in Michigan despite his claims that he was not driving at the time of an accident. Police described finding Pomeroy caught by pants leg hanging out the driver’s side window when they arrived on the scene. In addition, a shoe containing his severed foot was found between the brake pedal and the accelerator. He was convicted on charges of felony Michigan DUI.

Drive Thru Could Lead to DUI

Canadian police stake out fast-food restaurants for late-night drunk drivers with "Would U Like Fries?"

Police in the Vancouver suburb of Surrey, British Columbia have heard enough stories from fast-food employees about drunk drivers using drive-thru windows for late-night snacks that they set up a unique sting operation.

Project WULF, which stands for Would U Like Fries, places plainclothes police officers inside fast-food restaurants near the drive-thru window. If either the police officer or restaurant employee notices possible signs of inebriation, like the smell of alcohol, a spacey look or slurred speech, a second nearby officer is alerted. That officer stops the motorist for suspicion of drinking and driving.

The restaurants have cooperated with the police, citing the regular presence of drunk drivers. The police in turn avoid interrupting the restaurant operations, giving full control to the manager of the facility.

The drunk driving campaign was initiated late last year and it has reportedly led to ten driving under the influence arrests and numerous suspensions. The RCMP plans to use Project WULF in Surrey throughout 2008.

Tags: WULF |  Would U Like Fries

Florida Party Hosts Charged After DUI Death

Students held under-age drinking party.

The Florida Highway Patrol has charged two students attending Florida Gulf Coast University with misdemeanors after hosting a party that led the death of an 18-year old freshman. Nicholas Charles Herring and Kevin Michael Curtin were cited under Florida’s ‘Open House Party’ law.

Freshman student Mary Grace Taaffe, 18, was one of approximately 15 mostly underage FGCU students at a party held in the gated community of Pelican Sound Golf and River Club. Shortly after leaving the party some time before 3:00 am Taaffe died in a drunk driving accident when she lost control of her vehicle and hit a group of trees. There were no other vehicles were involved and Taaffe’s blood alcohol content was 0.139%.

The ‘Open House Party’ law states that, “no person having control of any residence shall allow an open house party to take place at said residence if any alcoholic beverage or drug is possessed or consumed at said residence by any minor where the person knows that an alcoholic beverage or drug is in the possession of or being consumed by a minor at said residence and where the person fails to take reasonable steps to prevent the possession or consumption of the alcoholic beverage or drug.” The second degree misdemeanors could result in up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Three other students, Tyler Fry, Brett Griffin, and Brian Cochran, also have charges pending against them.

Florida Gulf Coast University has strict policies against drinking on campus though students openly acknowledge frequent underage drinking parties off campus. The charges brought against the students have initiated much debate. Some feel that Herring and Curtin are responsible because there was under-age drinking. Others feel it was Taaffe who made the decision to drive and thus the accident was her fault. The university has been cooperative in the police investigation.

Foreign Drunk Driving and Alcohol Issues

Mexico City DUI DUI Deportation Drunk Driving Fine BCAA Calls For Assessment of DUI's Legalization in Columbia = Increase Use DUI DWI Laws in Other Countries Deportation and DUI - Supreme Court Drunk Driving in Japan Taipei Fines Passengers of DUI's New South Wales Taking Keys of DUI's India Looks to Prohibition Related Articles in Other Libraries Dead Drunk Driving DUI Fine $71,000 Drunk Driving and Drugged Driving 5 Years in Jail if Found Drunk Passenger Gets DUI Worldwide Traffic Deaths Up Drunk Driving Cop Last Update: Sunday, March 25, 2007

Sex While Driving Punishable in Norway

LAKSEVAG, Norway, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- A Norwegian man had his license revoked after police finally stopped his swerving car and learned he was having sex while driving.

Police in Laksevag, near Bergen, received a call early Monday about a suspicious vehicle swerving and driving at irregular speeds, Aftenposten reported.

The driver ignored flashing lights and sirens as police pursued him through town and officers observed "a fair amount of activity in the car," Police Lt. Tore Salvesen told the Bergens Tidende newspaper.

When the vehicle finally pulled over, officers said both front seats were laid flat and the driver admitted he and his female companion were "unable to contain their lust."

Apart from the instant license suspension, the driver will face several other charges, the report said.

Source: http://www.dailyindia.com/

Tags: DUI Related |  Foreign DUI News

Passenger Gets DUI

A Drunk-Driving Passenger.

OSLO, NORWAY - The 19-year old Oysten Haakanes has been convicted of drunk driving despite the fact that he was not even in front of the steering wheel. Haakanes was sitting in the passenger seat of the parked car when his designated driver hopped out of the car at a gas station. His driver, who was sober, had stopped at the gas station near the town of Tinn to buy something to eat.

Haakenes was eating a sausage when his movement to change a CD accidentally resulted in a bump to the manual gear lever. The car, which was off and did not even have keys in the ignition, started to roll as it was now in neutral. It moved approximately 10 feet before he adjusted the hand brake.

The police officer who witnessed the rolling car detained Haakenes, accusing him of drunken driving. Magistrates sided with police testimony: Haakenes seemed to have intentionally made the car roll, making him the legal operator of the vehicle.

"I think it's unreasonable," stated Haakanes.

November 24, 2003

Also See:

• The definition of "Driving a Vehicle"

Tags: DUI Related |  Foreign DUI News

5 Years in Jail if Found Drunk

Man Faces Five Years in Jail if Drunk

Jul 7 2004

Daily Post

A MAN has been warned he could face five years in prison if he is ever found drunk in a public place.

Philip Lester was issued with one of the first Criminal Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (CRASBO) by magistrates in St Helens.

This order states that Lester, 51, cannot consume, or be under the influence of alcohol. Neither can he use threatening, abusive or insulting language, or behaviour, in any public place in Merseyside. This will be intact for a period of two years.

Lester, of Princes Road, Toxteth, has committed 35 drunk and disorderly offences in St Helens town centre and surrounding area in the last four years.

Iain Criddle, a specialist anti-social behaviour prosecutor, is the man responsible for securing this order.

Mr Criddle said: "I am certain we will be able to help communities affected by anti-social behaviour in future."

Mike Doyle, executive member for community safety said: "We will do everything we can to ensure people are safe when they visit St Helens town centre."

Peter Costello, the town centre inspector added: "Alcohol-related incidents and anti-social behaviour have been identified as priorities, by members of the residential and business community in the town centre.

"This is an excellent result, and we will continue to secure further orders against those people who continually engage in anti-social and disruptive behaviour affecting the lives of people in St Helens."

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Drunk Banned From City in Landmark Case

July 6, 2004 12:38

A DRUNK who regularly shouts and swears at people in Norwich city centre has been banned from his regular haunts in a landmark legal case.

Robert Innes, 49, who has 53 convictions for 85 offences, becomes one of the first people in Norwich to be made the subject of a new style of anti-social behaviour order (ASBO).

Police have been given greater powers by the Government to flex their legal muscles by attaching ASBOs to criminal convictions. Up to now they have tended to be used in civil cases to crackdown on unruly behaviour by young troublemakers.

Officers today said they would have no hesitation in applying for other orders in a bid to rid Norwich's streets of drunks and troublemakers.

Innes, of Wellington Green, Norwich, admitted three charges of disorderly conduct and breaching a conditional discharge imposed for a similar offence.

Yesterday, city magistrates banned Innes from a number of areas between noon and 6am every day.

The court heard that he helped market traders set up their stalls and ran errands for them. He was not a nuisance until the afternoons, after he had been drinking.

Chairman Mike Welham told Innes: "In reaching our decision we decided that you have behaved in an anti-social manner and that has been ongoing.

"The cases before us and your antecedents involve behaviour representing a trend which is unacceptable."

As well as the ban from certain areas, Innes is also prohibited from behaving in a threatening or abusive fashion. Breaching the order would mean him facing a jail sentence of up to five years.

PC Richard Hammond dealt with Innes on a number of occasions and had looked into his offending record.

"He has frequently been drunk and swearing in particular areas. He has what the officer described as a prolific pattern of offending in the city centre, the majority of those offences being public order orientated."

Patricia Newton, prosecuting, said that on June 4, Innes was given a six-month conditional discharge.

Four days later he committed the first of the offences for which he was before the court.

That afternoon a member of the public pointed him out to police in Gentleman's Walk. He was swearing repeatedly.

Innes clenched his fists and was shouting and swearing, despite being told to calm down.

On the afternoon of June 14, he was again shouting and swearing in front of shoppers in Gentleman's Walk.

The next evening police were called to a disturbance in Haymarket. They found Innes, who had clearly been drinking, being abusive. He was told to stop, but continued swearing and clenched his fists. He had to be prevented from moving towards a group of youths.

During the proceedings, Innes had broken bail conditions banning him from the area and he was remanded in custody on June 16.

Gavin Cowe, for Innes, said: "He cannot recall the circumstances in any detail of any of the offences.

"He has a problem with drink and at times when he has been drinking behaves in this way."

In the mornings he went to the market, helping traders set up their stalls and running errands for them. His offending did not start until later, after he had been drinking.

Norwich City Centre Inspector Brian Pincher said: "We've had a central problem with individuals who either persistently get drunk or who are under the influence of drugs who congregate on the city centre locations and act in an inappropriate manner.

"Police, for a number of years, have arrested these individuals for disorderly behaviour and drunkenness and they have been placed before the courts, and on the majority of occasions the individuals are fined.

"Recently the Government has passed laws which allow, in certain circumstances, for the court to impose anti-social behaviour orders on offenders – in effect banning them from the areas where their behaviour is affecting others.

"Over the past few weeks my staff have been targeting areas where anti-social gatherings take place and dealing with the offences as they present themselves. Where possible, statements have been obtained from residents and businesses affected by this type of loutish behaviour.

"Some of the offenders have been given strict bail conditions to prevent them from offending in the area prior to their court appearance. However, some people have failed to keep to their conditions, so it's with these type of persons we will be seeking anti-social behaviour orders.

"People who continue with this type of behaviour will be targeted. The effect of an anti-social behaviour order can be far reaching, effectively banning people from areas for a maximum of five years."

In 2001 Norfolk Police were given new powers allowing them to seize alcohol from people drinking outside in the city centre area.

Market traders said Robert Innes was known to them as Scots Robbie and had been hanging around the market for the past five or six years.

Justin Silvester, manager of Joe's Pets, said: "He's a real character. He was up here every morning and was quite harmless until he had a drink. Then he became abusive towards everyone. If I were a mother I wouldn't want my child to hear some of the thing he would say."

Down the aisle at Events card stall, Ronnie McLeish said Mr Innes used to sit right outside his premises.

"All the stallholders know Robbie. He is an alcoholic. As soon as he got a drink in him he was away," he said.

"I have seen his record of previous convictions — it's as long as my arm. When he is sober I have all the time in the world for him. He never turned violent though — he was just verbally abusive to people.

"I don't think we have seen the end of Robbie. The police have tagged him in the past but he just took that off and threw it in the river. He is the kind of man who will go where he wants to."

Carolyn Dunn, city centre manager said: "The police are targeting anti-social behaviour in a major way. We cannot have people visiting the city and being subjected to this nuisance. A lot of instances of anti-social behaviour can be attributed to drink and drugs and these orders are the key to reducing the problem.

"But it is crucial they are enforced by the courts. If they are broken then a sentence needs to be sought. We need to get the message across that we mean business."

Tags: DUI Related |  Foreign DUI News