An auto insurance group has reviewed its data and generated a list of the 20 most populated US cities with the most drunk driving violators. While the list compiled by Insurance.com shows relative numbers of DUI/DWI arrests in each of the cities, there is much debate as to the reasons for the number of arrests. Several factors influencing drunk driving arrests include; younger population centers, availability of mass transit, areas with a greater car culture and aggressiveness of law enforcement efforts to combat drinking and driving.

The ranking was determined by taking the 20 largest cities by population, reviewing the total number of requests for insurance quotes from each city and analyzing those requests for drivers indicating at least one alcohol related traffic offense on their driving record. The list then reflects a percentage of drunk driving offenders to general population. Note that no statistics were available for Boston.

Having a DUI/DWI conviction on your driving record can result in cancellation of auto insurance or significantly higher premiums, driving limitations and in many states, the mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device.

US cities with the highest percentage of drunk driving offenders:

• 1. San Diego, CA
• 2. San Jose, CA
• 3. Charlotte, NC
• 4. Phoenix, AZ
• 5. Columbus, OH
• 6. Indianapolis, IN
• 7. Los Angeles, CA
• 8. San Francisco, CA
• 9. Austin, TX
• 10. Jacksonville, FL
• 11. San Antonio, TX
• 12. Dallas, TX
• 13. Houston, TX
• 14. Fort Worth, TX
• 15. Memphis, TN
• 16. Philadelphia, PA
• 17. New York, NY
• 18. Baltimore, MD
• 19. Chicago, IL
• 20. Detroit, MI

Have you been arrested for a DUI and are looking for quality legal defense from a qualified DWI attorney?

Former NASCAR pit crew chief Timothy Kohuth entered a guilty plea in Iredell County District Court to a charge of second degree murder stemming from a fatal drunk driving accident.

Kohuth was driving a flatbed tow truck in 2008 when he crossed the center line and nearly hit a deputy’s patrol car. Before the deputy could initiate a traffic stop, Kohuth ran off the road and struck a mailbox and a culvert. He then crossed the road and struck an SUV traveling in the opposite direction. The driver of the SUV, Wesley Worden, was pronounced dead at the scene, and his wife was seriously injured.

Kohuth’s blood alcohol content was five times the legal limit for intoxication, and he was charged with driving while intoxicated in North Carolina and second degree murder.

As part of a plea agreement, Kohuth was sentenced to 9.5 to 12 years in prison with one year credited for time already served while waiting for trial. He is not eligible for early parole but could be released in 8.5 years for good behavior.

According to the state Highway Patrol, Kohuth has two prior North Carolina DWI convictions. Kohuth previously worked on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Have you, or someone you know, been arrested for an NC DWI and are looking for quality legal defense from a qualified North Carolina DWI lawyer?

A 33-year old Illinois man has been hospitalized and is facing criminal charges after wrecking a go-kart. Richard Wilson, of Litchfield, was driving the kart on a public road Sunday evening when he ran a stop sign and slammed into a guard rail. He was pinned inside the cart from the impact.

Illinois State Police say that Wilson was air-lifted with serious injuries to a St. Louis hospital. An investigator said that Wilson was driving under the influence and operating a motorized vehicle with a suspended driver’s license. Besides a DUI in Illinois and a license violation, Wilson is facing charges of improper operation of an off-road vehicle, failure to stop at a stop sign, lack of valid registration and lack of insurance.

Have you been arrested for an IL DUI and are needing quality legal defense from a qualified Illinois DUI attorney?

Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully elected to dismiss at least 79 cases of suspected driving under the influence in California after an investigation into the conduct of a local police officer. A deputy district attorney was reviewing videotape evidence of a CA DUI arrest when he noticed substantial differences between the footage and Officer Brandon Mullock’s written arrest report.

Scully opened an inquiry and determined that Sacramento Police Officer Mullock, 24, had likely falsified at least one piece of evidence in each of the 79 cases that were dismissed. According to the DA’s office, the discrepancies included legally unsound decisions to detain motorists, wild inaccuracies in field interviews and misuse of preliminary alcohol screening.

California DUI defense lawyers suspect that quotas, overtime pay, awards and possible promotion contribute to an officer’s observations and actions when it comes to touchstone issues like drinking and driving. Evidence, they claim, is susceptible to interpretation, and, as proved by Mullock, falsification.

Scully said that prosecutors must not simply seek to win a case but to proceed only when there is trustworthy and legally obtained evidence. He cited it as a fundamental part of the US system of justice. The District Attorney’s office is working with the defendants to help remedy the damage with insurance companies and employers caused by the falsely obtained DUI convictions.

Have you been charged with a CA DUI and are looking for the best legal defense from a qualified California DUI attorney?

A Sarasota firefighter was arrested for driving under the influence in neighboring Manatee County early Saturday morning. Derek Patrick Maxwell flipped his car and ended up in the trees and bushes in a highway median around 1:00 am. Maxwell was in his full firefighting uniform at the time of the accident. He admitted to consuming six beers and two bourbon shots at a nearby restaurant. Maxwell refused to submit to a breath test to check his blood alcohol content.

Two fire chiefs who arrived on the scene to collect the fire department gear said that Maxwell exhibited dramatic mood swings, from anger to crying to shouting to banging his head in the patrol vehicle. When he removed his firefighting pants, a Florida State Patrol trooper observed that Maxwell had urinated on himself and reeked of alcohol.

Maxwell, 24, was booked on a charge of Florida DUI with property damage. He told an arresting trooper that he planned to say in his defense that he had been framed by the Sarasota Sheriff’s Department.

Have you been arrested for a FL DUI and are needing the best legal defense from a qualified Florida DUI attorney?

The Wright County Sheriff’s department has reported the arrest of state representative Mark Buesgens for driving while intoxicated in Minnesota. Buesgens was stopped after a deputy saw him driving in a ditch. He showed signs of intoxication and was asked to perform a field sobriety test. His blood alcohol content was reportedly 0.16%, twice the legal limit. Buesgens was charged with fourth-degree MN DWI and an open bottle violation.

In a statement, the Republican representative from Jordan said he had been charged with a misdemeanor, and he expressed disappointment and regret for his actions. He went on to say that he was scheduling a chemical health evaluation.

Buesgens, 49, has served as legislator for 12 years and is in a re-election race this year. He was instrumental in Tom Emmer’s campaign for governor and was point person in the response to news of Emmer’s multiple arrests for drunk driving in Minnesota. Buesgens’ Democratic opponent has promised not to make the Minnesota DWI arrest part of an attack campaign, stating that a serious mistake in judgment had been made but was thankful that no one was injured.

Have you, or someone you know, been charged with a MN DWI and are needing legal assistance from a qualified Minnesota DWI attorney?

New York police stopped a Range Rover driven by football player Braylon Edwards around 5:15 am near the Lincoln Tunnel for having window tinting that was too dark. When issuing a ticket, the officer detected a strong smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle and initiated a New York DWI arrest. Edwards reportedly submitted to a breath test and had a blood alcohol content of 0.16%, twice the legal limit for intoxication.

Edwards, 27, is a wide receiver for the New York Jets. The general manager of the Jets expressed disappointment in Braylon’s actions, saying he should have used the Player Protect Program that provides car service to players who wish to go partying. The team is reviewing the arrest with the NFL to determine appropriate discipline.

Edwards was traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Jets last year, two days after being arrested for punching a friend of basketball player LeBron James outside a Cleveland nightclub. In January, Edwards pleaded no contest to aggravated disorderly conduct and was placed on probation, fined $1000 and given a 180-day suspended jail sentence.

Have you, or someone you know, been charged with a NY DWI and are needing legal assistance from a qualified New York DWI attorney?

Sergeant Michael Kane, with the Stallings Police Department, was arrested for driving while intoxicated in North Carolina early Friday morning. The state Highway Patrol initiated a traffic stop in Union County and arrested Kane for drunk driving. He was released on a written promise to appear in court.

Kane was placed on indefinite leave without pay, pending the outcome of an internal investigation by the Stallings PD and a criminal investigation by the North Carolina Highway Patrol. Kane has about 20 years of experience as a police officer, and has been with the Stallings PD sine June 2004.

Have you been arrested for a NC DWI and are needing legal help from a qualified North Carolina DWI lawyer?

A man who sped past a state police cruiser was arrested for driving while intoxicated in New York. Around 4:15 Saturday morning, Diego E. Guzman passed a moving police cruiser on the Sprain Brook Parkway at 77 mph. The state trooper made a traffic stop and then initiated an investigation into drunk driving.

Guzman, 21, from Croton-on-Hudson, reportedly had a blood alcohol content twice the legal limit. He was booked for NY DWI and is due in court on September 24.

Have you been charged with a NY DWI and are looking for legal assistance from a qualified New York DWI attorney?

An Army soldier stationed at Fort Campbell has been indicted by a grand jury for driving under the influence in Tennessee and for severely injuring another motorist. Joseph C. Pergram crossed the center line of a highway with his SUV on July 7 and struck the vehicle of Lori Teague head-on. Pergram fled the scene on foot and was found in the woods by Tennessee Highway Patrol deputies about 90 minutes later. According to the arrest warrant, he was impaired by Xanax and beer.

Pergram, 25, was formally charged with Tennessee DUI, vehicular assault, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and leaving the scene of an accident. He will be arraigned in Circuit Court in September. Pergram has a prior conviction for DUI from November 2009.

Have you been arrested for a TN DUI and are needing legal assistance from a qualified Tennessee DUI lawyer?