DUISearch results for category: Pennsylvania DUI
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules on Unique DUI Defense
Man arrested for drunk driving twice in one night not considered a repeat offender.
The state high court issued a ruling stating that a man stopped for suspicion of driving under the influence in Pennsylvania twice on one night cannot be sentenced as a repeat offender.
The defendant was stopped for suspicion of impaired driving at around 11:45pm and booked for DUI in PA after registering a blood alcohol content of .16%. About 90 minutes after being released to the custody of his wife, the defendant was arrested for DUI a second time. His BAC at the time of the second traffic stop was .146%.
Prosecutors filed charges relevant to second offense DUI in Pennsylvania. The Supreme Court, however, found that the defendant must be convicted of the first violation before having elevated charges filed against him for a second offense.
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Pennsylvania Man Accidently Kills His Identical Twin Brother
PA DUI considered as alcohol was involved in parking accident.
Timothy Willgruber, 56, was trying to parallel park a minivan last Saturday afternoon when he killed his identical twin brother, Thomas. Thomas was outside the vehicle guiding his brother into a parking spot when Timothy apparently lost control and pinned him against an SUV. Thomas died later in the day after being taken to a hospital.
Bethlehem Police investigating the scene reported that Timothy Willgruber failed a field sobriety test. Police are considering charges, including driving under the influence in Pennsylvania.
Thomas Willgruber's wife called the incident a "freak accident" and was felt it was not the right time to worry about blame. The twins reportedly were best friends and spoke on a regular basis.
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New Technology to Fight Pennsylvania DUI
Lycoming County DUI Task Force adds tool to its efforts.
The efforts of law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend motorists suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol in Pennsylvania have been effective, though tools to detect impairment from drugs have lagged. The Lycoming County DUI Task Force hopes that a new piece of equipment changes that.
A pupillometer is being deployed that allows an officer to test a PA DUI suspect for impairment from prescription, over the counter and illicit drugs. The hand-held device is meant to establish probable cause to continue a DUI investigation. It scans the pupils of a suspect and compares the readings to a database with over 3 million images of people known to have drugs in their system. The officer must have special training to operate the equipment and receive Drug Recognition Expert certification.
The pupillometer is said to be 97% accurate, though the efficiency drops for those over 50 years of age, under 16 and for women who are pregnant.
The device and an accompanying computer cost about $11,300. A highway safety grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation paid for Lycoming County’s equipment. Two additional Pennsylvania DUI devices have been put into service in York and King of Prussia. A fourth is expected to be deployed soon in western Pennsylvania.
Statistics show 52,300 arrested for driving under the influence in PA during 2008. 9,000 of those were also charged with impairment from drugs and an estimated 60% of motorists arrested for DUI in Pennsylvania are multiple drug users.
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Peculiar drunk driving articles for the week of August 7
Really odd drunk driving news – 'Multiples'
Two Pennsylvania DUI Arrests in 5 Hours – An unidentified 50-year man was charged with driving under the influence in Lancaster Pennsylvania after causing a minor accident shortly before 11:00 am on a Sunday. He was booked and release to his girlfriend. Just before 4:00 pm he was arrested again for drunk driving after causing a second accident. He was sent to Lancaster County Prison after the second offense.
Two Maryland DUI Arrests in 5 Hours – Jennifer Bowlin was arrested for suspicion of drunk driving in Delaware around 2:15 am after swerving and failing to stop at a stop sign. Five hours after her release the 20-year old seen driving again in Ocean City. Maryland DUI law prohibits a motorist from driving within 12 hours of an arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. She was booked for second offense MD DUI and held on $25,000 bond.
Two California DUI Arrests in 5 Days – Witnesses helped California police nab a drunk driver twice in five days. A man filling his gas tank saw Jeffery Kaiserman, 60, pull into the gas station and was barely able to stand while exiting his vehicle. A Petaluma motorcycle officer responded to the scene and made an arrest for driving under the influence in California. Five days later a man called 911 after Kaiserman sideswiped his parked vehicle. The man pursued Kaiserman, observing him strike the curb five times and nearly hit two more parked cars. Kaiserman pulled into the parking lot of the Lucky’s store where he was arrested for CA drunk driving and booked at the Sonoma County Jail.
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Peculiar drunk driving articles for the week of June 19
Really odd drunk driving news – 'Multiple Arrests Within Hours'
Two Pennsylvania DUI Arrests in 3 hours – David Michael Craig, 26, was charged with driving under the influence of drugs in PA and possession of controlled substances following a traffic stop around 8:30 pm. An investigation showed that Craig had been given a prescription for 90 muscle relaxers five days earlier but there were only three pills left in the bottle at the time of his arrest. 10 buprenorphine tablets, used to treat opiate withdrawl, were also found, with no prescription. He was taken home to the custody of his mother and told the charges would be mailed to him. Craig however showed up at the police station at 11:15 pm looking for the drugs that had been taken from his car. Upon leaving the station and he was seen driving off, causing police to pursue him. Craig continued driving until he reached his residence, where he was re-arrested for PA DUI, and charged with fleeing police and resisting arrest.
Two Connecticut DUI Arrests in 3 hours – Elsa Veisor, 29, was arrested for CT DUI around 1:00 am with a blood alcohol content more than twice the legal limit. Her driver’s license was confiscated and she was released on bond after stating that a ride from a friend had been arranged. But just before 4:00 am Veisor was stopped again, about half a mile from where her car had been parked. She was charged with a second offense for driving under the influence in Connecticut and for driving with a suspended license.
Two Pennsylvania DUI Arrests in 2 hours – Ralph Deringer, 54, was stopped at 11:49 for erratic driving, arrested for drunk driving in Pennsylvania and taken to the Carlisle Booking Center. According to township policy, DUI offenders are generally not held after booking and are released to a sober party or have a taxi ride arranged. Shortly before 2:00 am an officer was still at the scene of the traffic stop finishing his report on the DUI arrest when a taxi-cab pulled up. Deringer got out, walked to his vehicle and proceeded to start the car and drive off. After a brief chase, police apprehended Deringer and charged him with a second PA DUI.
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Number of Pursuits by Pennsylvania Police Drops
PA DUI is third most common reason for vehicle pursuits.
The Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner released statistics showing a drop in the number of police pursuits during 2008. A total of 1,809 pursuits were made last year, compared to 1,931 during 2007. Deaths resulting from a pursuit were also down, from thirteen in 2007 to nine in 2008.
The figures reflect actions undertaken by law enforcement agencies across the state. The most common reason for initiating a pursuit was a traffic violation, such as speeding (910 pursuits). Felony criminal charges (260), driving under the influence in Pennsylvania (239) and stolen vehicles (227) were the other most cited reasons. Of all the pursuits initiated, 1,301 resulted in apprehension.
According to state law, each law enforcement agency must have a written policy for vehicle pursuit, including when to initiate, continue or terminate a pursuit. Because of safety concerns, such information is considered confidential and not available to the public. A pursuit is defined as a motorist resisting apprehension by increasing speed or ignoring indications to stop.
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Record Number of Pennsylvania DUI Arrests in 2008
State troopers charge over 16,000 with drunk driving in PA.
State Police released arrest figures showing more than 16,156 motorists were charged with driving under the influence in Pennsylvania. That is the highest number in the department’s history and a 3% increase over the previous year’s total.
The increase in PA DUI arrests is attributed to police training and targeted enforcement. Specially trained Pennsylvania troopers utilized ‘Operation Nighthawk’ to search for drunk driving. The department has also expanded its drug recognition program to identify motorists operating under the influence of prescription or illegal drugs.
Despite the additional arrests, the number of alcohol related accidents was down 3% and the number of DUI related fatalities was down 9% from 2007.
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Peculiar drunk driving articles for the week of April 3
Really odd drunk driving news – Vehicles
Street sweeper and New York DWI – Gary Dye, 42, crashed a street sweeper while working in Dansville. A Steuben County Public Works Commissioner said that a ‘broom’ is “easy to use, it goes slow (and it) doesn’t get any simpler.” That didn’t stop Dye from causing over $10,000 in damage to the vehicle and suffering a head laceration. Dye was charged with suspicion of driving while intoxicated in NY.
Fire truck and Illinois DUI – An unidentified driver was arrested for drunk driving in Chicago after smashing into a fire truck that was responding to another crash. The man’s Honda bounced off the fire truck and smashed immediately in front of police and fire crews at the scene of the previous accident. The driver was charged with IL DUI, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle and several other offenses.
Barstool and Ohio DWI – Kile Wygle was ticketed by Newark police for drunk driving in New Jersey while he was on a motorized barstool. Wygle admitted to having had “more like fifteen” beers before crashing the barstool. OH DUI law prohibits people from operating any motorized vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Backhoe and Pennsylvania DUI – William Price was stopped for suspicion of DUI in Pittsburgh after driving a backhoe on the wrong side of the road and almost hitting a police car. Price registered a blood alcohol content of 0.13% and was charged with driving under the influence in Pennsylvania, driving under the influence with a high rate of alcohol, driving under the influence while operating a commercial vehicle and reckless driving.
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Peculiar drunk driving articles for the week of March 13
Really odd drunk driving news – Oddities.
Driving With 3 Tires Leads to FL DUI – Largo police pulled over a Clearwater man for driving a vehicle with only three tires. Henry C. Romeu, 27, was spotted early in the morning driving without the rear passenger tire. A field bobriety test and a breath test revealed intoxication and Romeu was charged with driving under the influence in Florida.
Sitting Through 6 Traffic Light Sequences Earns PA DUI – Police in Dillsburg say they investigated a sport-utility vehicle that had, despite honking horns, sat through six light sequences at an intersection. The SUV was stopped in the intersection with the driver asleep at the wheel. A beer was on the console. After yelling to waken the 41-year old unidentified man, police arrested the him for drunk driving in Pennsylvania.
Honest Statement During Tennessee DUI – After police stopped Donald Edward Teague, Jr. and ordered him out of his car, the DUI suspect replied, “Aw (expletive), I am drunk.” After pulling Teague from his car, police found a glass pipe believed to be used for smoking crack. Teague was charged with TN DUI and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Wrong House Leads to Washington DUI – State Patrol Trooper Trevor Downey was heading home after his shift when noticed a vehicle driving 30 mph in a 50 mph zone. As he approached the vehicle, it turned into a driveway and parked in the garage. When the driver was asked what he was doing, the unidentified 31-year Yakima man said it was his home. Unfortunately, the driver had selected Downey’s home and parked in the trooper’s garage. The driver was charged with WA DUI, adding to his three prior convictions.
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Man Claims Novel Pennsylvania DUI Defense
44-year old accused of drunk driving in Northampton County says he is his own country.
Scott Allan Witmer is accused of driving under the influence in Pennsylvania. In his defense, he filed paperwork claiming sovereignty and thus immunity from state laws. He told the court, “I live inside myself, not in Pennsylvania.” He added that there was no victim in the drunk driving offense and asked to go to trial.
A Northampton County judge said the 44-year old defendant cannot be released from jail until he undergoes a mental examination. A Pennsylvania DUI lawyer is on standby for a more conventional legal defense.
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