Criminal Law

Bar Owners Annoyed by DUI Checkpoints in Florida

Posted on November 20, 2009
When it comes to DUI, police are concerned primarily with the safety of drivers. However, when that goal starts to impinge upon the interests of local bars and restaurants that depend upon a steady flow of happy customers, a compromise might be in order...

10th Time Is Not a Charm: Illinois Man Charged with His 10th DUI

Posted on November 17, 2009
Richard Niemczyk, a resident of Hanover Park, Ill., was recently arrested for and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, according to The Courier-News. The DUI charge was Niemczyk?s tenth such charge since 1991. Niemczyk was arrested following an Oct...

Man Pleads Guilty to Drunk Driving in His La-Z-Boy

Posted on November 14, 2009
There are many strange stories involving driving under the influence. Some are tragic, changing the lives of those involved, while others, like a recent story out of Minnesota, simply boggle the mind. In the town of Proctor, Minn., a man was stopped for driving drunk after he collided with a parked car, according to the Duluth News [...

Pennsylvania Woman Jailed As a Result of a Deadly DUI

Posted on November 12, 2009
A recent Pennsylvania court case further proves that driving under the influence can have a profound impact on an individual?s life. We all know that celebrity DUI arrests make headlines, but too often it is the ordinary citizen whose life takes a wrong turn as a result of an error in judgment...

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Report Stolen Marijuana, Get Arrested for DUI? Yep.

Posted on November 08, 2009
In Salem, Ore., that’s exactly what happened to a man who dialed 9-1-1 to report his stash of pot missing, according to an Associated Press article. Salem resident Calvin Hoover, 21, made an emergency call from his cell phone while he was driving down the road vomiting...

Mel Gibson?s DUI Expunged

Posted on November 05, 2009
Famous actor Mel Gibson recently had his drunken driving conviction expunged, the Los Angeles Times reported. Gibson was pulled over back in July 2006 by a sheriff?s deputy on the Pacific Coast Highway in Los Angeles, Calif. Gibson was driving his Lexus Sedan over 85 mph...

Boo! 39 DUI Arrests in Delaware

Posted on November 02, 2009
Over the Halloween holiday weekend, law enforcement outfits nationwide cracked down on intoxicated drivers by implementing special DUI checkpoint locations on roadways. Across the state of Delaware, law enforcement officials reported 39 DUI-related arrests just this weekend alone, according to Delaware’s Daily Times...

Spooky: Halloween DUI Crackdowns in Several States

Posted on October 30, 2009
According to multiple news sources, police departments in several states – including California, Colorado, Illinois and Utah – are planning special DUI checkpoints on roadways for the Halloween holiday weekend. The Arizona Department of Public Safety reported that Halloween is especially bad for drunken drivers on the roads...

Annual Report Shows Decreased DUI-related Fatalities in Utah

Posted on October 28, 2009
The state of Utah recently released its seventh annual DUI report, tracking DUI arrests, accidents and fatalities in the state in 2008. The report contained significant positive developments in overall DUI arrest and fatality numbers, as well as some illuminating facts about DUI arrests and underage drinkers...

DUI is a part of the culture for many in Montana

Posted on October 25, 2009
In the state of Montana, some believe that a culture of drunk driving and DUI arrests has become so ingrained in the community that only a community-wide change can lead to a decrease in DUI arrests and accidents. In a recent DUI court case, a surprising number of those involved in the case had been affected [...

Police lack follow-up with Places where DUI suspects Drank

Posted on October 22, 2009
Questions about personal responsibility are prevalent in discussions about DUI arrests and offenses, especially in reference to bars and restaurants serving alcohol to customers who are later arrested for DUI. Should an establishment that serves alcohol be legally responsible for the actions of someone consuming alcohol at that bar? State DUI laws vary, and Connecticut is [...

Women Driving Under the Influence on the Rise

Posted on October 20, 2009
Since 2007, DUI arrests for women has risen almost 30%. We see this increasing trend with many female celebrities who have been arrested for suspicion of drunken driving. Heather Locklear was arrested back 2007 for suspicion of drinking and driving in Santa Barbara, Cali...

Cheap Ways to Monitor Convicted Drunk Drivers

Posted on October 16, 2009
The economy has caused many of us to make cuts not only personally but also in business, and the government is no exception. They need to make cutbacks just like the rest of us. In order to save money they have begun using advanced technologies to monitor people with DUI convictions...

Maryland Delegate DUI Conviction Overturned

Posted on October 01, 2009
Maryland Delegate Herman Taylor II was recently acquitted for his past DUI conviction. This reversed the prior conviction in which he was found guilty of drinking and driving. He was fined Taylor was found guilty and fined $250. Taylor was found in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven convenient store passed out in his Cadillac SUV [...

Fighting a First DUI Offense

Posted on September 25, 2009
It does not matter your age, economic status or vehicle when you are in the turmoil of your first DUI offense. It is scary. The fear of realizing what could have happened and the fear of what will happen, these are legitimate concerns when trying to understand your DUI arrest...

Troubles with Tow Trucks

Posted on September 22, 2009
Many weird circumstances can surround a DUI offense. One?s inhibitions are down and one thing leads to another. In some instances, people break into establishments or end up stealing, not realizing their actions will be dealt with and there are consequences...

Future Ignition Interlocks for all Drivers a Possibility

Posted on September 19, 2009
Drinking and driving is a universal problem and many are searching for solutions. Although most people start out with good intentions, one drink leads to another. Before you know it, you hit the brick wall and attempt to figure out how the night took a turn for the worse...

Tight Budgets for Colorado DUI Enforcement

Posted on September 10, 2009
In a surprising move, Colorado?s Governor Bill Ritter plans to divert more than $1.3 million intended to fight drunken driving to help fill the state?s budget gap estimated at $318 million. A recent Denver Post article stated that the $1.3 million, which is raised by a surcharge imposed on everyone convicted of a DUI offense in [...

Labor Day Weekend in Review

Posted on September 08, 2009
Labor Day weekend is a time when families are to get together and celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of fall, the school year and the ever closing holiday season. Unfortunately, some find themselves eye-to-eye with the law as they are charged with DUI...

Study Suggests Gender Specific DUI Road Tests

Posted on September 03, 2009
The long standing jokes about women who are pulled over by police and how they get out of tickets may have even less merit than before. Sure there are cases where a woman may flirt to get out of a ticket or bat her doe eyes innocently at the officer in the hopes of avoiding a [...

New Program: Calling Relative after DUI Arrest

Posted on September 01, 2009
There are certain aspects to a night out on the town which most people consider before leaving for the festivities. “Did I bring enough money?” “Do I have clean underwear on?” “Did I find a designated driver?” All are completely legitimate questions...

New DUI Laws for SC Mean Tougher Penalties

Posted on August 31, 2009
One of the more heavy handed aspects to the new South Carolina DUI laws is that the state now counts DUIs (or similar convictions) from other states as previous convictions under South Carolina law- as long as they happened within 10 years of the current DUI offense...

DUIs with Star Status

Posted on August 26, 2009
Living above the crowd, when privilege supersedes hindrance, and abundance is as common as the rising sun, it’s no wonder that Hollywood?s enrolled often find themselves against the common grain of law and regulation. It could be the grandeur of stardom or the void of economic distress which breeds impaired judgment...

Montana Man Pleads Guilty to 11th DUI

Posted on August 19, 2009
On Tuesday, August 18, James Dean Lessard pleaded guilty to his 11th DUI offense. The man from Billings, Mont. has 10 previous DUI convictions in Wyoming and Montana from 1990 to 2001. Currently, a plea agreement would sentence Lessard to 10 years in prison as a persistent felony offender...

University Requires Class in Alcohol Education

Posted on August 18, 2009
Kansas University will be adding another requirement this year for some students. New students under the age of 22 will be required to take a two hour course on the affects and dangers of alcohol. The class is part of the initiatives the University is taking after two students died in unrelated alcohol incidents last spring [...

NY Governor Wants Stricter Penalties for DWIs with Kids

Posted on August 15, 2009
On August 13, New York Governor David Paterson submitted legislation to increase penalties for drivers convicted of DWI with children in the car. The Child Passenger Protection Act would make drinking and driving a felony if there were passengers under the age of 16 in the car, according to a statement released by the Governor’s office...

Seeking BOTB Bloggers on DUI

Posted on August 05, 2009
Fellow DUI Bloggers: Total DUI is looking for submissions for our first 50 Best of the Best Blogs on DUI. People facing charges for driving under the influence search the Internet for useful information on how to handle their DUI offense. DUI bloggers are all over the Web to help those in need find out what they [...

City Cop Exhibits Less Than Exemplary Behavior

Posted on July 31, 2009
On the night of Saturday, July 25, the Chief of Police of Alexandria City, Virginia was arrested and charged with a DUI after he hit another vehicle near Interstate 66 and North Fairfax Drive. David P. Baker had been driving a city-issued green Ford Explorer in Arlington County when he caused roughly $900 in damage to [...

Push for Ignition Interlock Laws in the US this Fall

Posted on July 30, 2009
Since 2005, when New Mexico became the first state to pass a law requiring ignition interlock devices for all people with DUI convictions, 10 other states have enacted DUI laws mandating DUI offenders install ignition interlock devices. The ignition interlock law campaign is gaining momentum...

Costs of Refusing a Breathalyzer Increasing

Posted on July 27, 2009
As of Sept. 1, people in Louisiana who refuse to take a breath test will have their driver’s license suspended for one year. The penalty is twice as long as the current penalty for breathalyzer refusal. “Now … it’s worse if you refuse the test,” said DWI attorney Robert Fleming...

Zero Tolerance for all Drivers Purposed in OK

Posted on July 22, 2009
Oklahoma State Rep. Harold Wright believes DUI laws need to get tough to cut down on drunken driving deaths. The Republican lawmakers from Weatherford, Okla. wants zero tolerance laws for DUI. People enjoying glass of wine at dinner or a bottle of beer after work could wind up in jail...

?Burn Notice? Star Arrest for DUI

Posted on July 21, 2009
“I really think I’m only borderline and not too drunk,” Jeffrey Donovan told officers during his DUI arrest, according to a report. The “Burn Notice” star allegedly told police the only mistake he made was drinking Benadryl and three glasses of wine on the night of July 11...

Court Commends Drunk Teen for Doing the ?Right Thing?

Posted on July 20, 2009
Travis Peterson decided he was too drunk to drive home after attending a Dave Matthew Band Concert. The 19-year-old tried to sleep off his buzz in his car, but was awoken by a state trooped who ordered him to clear the lot. After Peterson left the lot, just south of Milwaukee, to drive to his house [...

Washington Court Restores $14 Million Award

Posted on July 17, 2009
On Thursday, July 16, the Supreme Court in Washington unanimously reinstated a $14 million award to a DUI accident victim. In April 2000, Hawkeye Kinkaid was drinking at the Bellingham Moose Lodge, where is girlfriend, Alexis Chapman, was serving him as a bartender...

California DUI Deaths Continue to Decrease

Posted on July 16, 2009
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, California DUI deaths have dropped 9.1% for the third year in a row. In 2007 nearly 1,132 people died in DUI accidents, while in 2008, the number decreased to 1,029...

Drunk Driving Decreasing but Drug Use Increasing

Posted on July 15, 2009
According to a survey released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fewer Americans are drinking and driving, but one in six drivers are driving while on drugs during the weekend. The data was released on Monday, July13 from a survey conducted in 2007...

Stricter DUI Penalties for Delaware

Posted on July 14, 2009
Recently Gov. Jack A Markell signed two new bills into law to create stricter DUI penalties for people convicted of a DUI offense in Delaware. House Bill 152: Increased Fines and Jail Time House Bill 152 increases DUI fines for subsequent offenders, especially drivers with five previous DUI convictions...

Commando DUI

Posted on July 13, 2009
On Saturday, July 11, Jonathan Schultz was pulled over near Rising Sun, NC for driving 69 mph in a zone marked for 50 mph. According to police, when the deputy approached, he smelled alcohol on the man’s breath. The deputy then noticed the man from Newark, Del...

Skip Being Carded

Posted on July 10, 2009
Pennsylvania is working to perfect face scanning technology to use in place of carding people when buying alcohol. The face scanning kiosk machines will be at local grocery stores and be used by customers looking to buy a bottle of wine. Using your driver’s license, the wine kiosk will use face recognition software to check if [...

NC DUI Offenders May Earn License Back

Posted on July 09, 2009
The North Carolina Senate approved a bill that would allow repeat DUI offenders with suspended driver’s licenses a chance to earn a permit back. If the bill is passed, people convicted of habitual impaired driving will be able to ask the Division of Motor Vehicles to be reinstated if they have had a clean criminal and [...

Cell Phone to Call Lawyer is a Right

Posted on July 08, 2009
On Monday, July 7, a judge acquitted a man on DUI charges because police denied the suspect the right to call a DUI lawyer on his cell phone. According to Ontario Court Justice Randall Lalande, Harvey Whidden’s constitutional rights were violated when he was pulled over on June 13, 2008...

Celebrating Freedoms

Posted on July 03, 2009
This weekend is one of celebration as friends and family gather to enjoy fireworks, food and fun. Utahans will be celebrating the holiday like many other people, but the citizens of the state have a little more to be joyful over this year. Forty years ago, the state passed a private club law, requiring people to [...

Happy Safe Fourth of July

Posted on July 02, 2009
Total DUI just wants to wish everyone a happy and safe 4th of July! I hope that the weekend weather forecast is shaping up for everyone, and you are all excited about spending a long (for some) weekend away from the office. The Fourth is about celebrating with family, friends, food, fireworks and maybe a little [...

Gallo ?Bleaked Out? Before Crash Killing Angels? Rookie

Posted on June 29, 2009
Transcripts were released on Friday, June 26, detailing what happened before, during and after a DUI accident that took the life of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart. The 200 page report is the first to give the details about what happened on April 9th, when Andrew Gallo crashed into a car, killing three people...

Long Island Iced Teas To Go

Posted on June 25, 2009
On the morning of June 24, University of Louisiana at Monroe Police pulled over Michele Joseph Jr. for crossing traffic lines while driving and because the rear registration lamps weren’t lit on the vehicle he was driving. When the officer approached Joseph, 28, smelled like alcohol and had slurred speech...

Official Passes out in Meeting with Whiskey Bottle

Posted on June 24, 2009
Many of us dread work meetings and may need a little pick-me-up to help get us through like a soda or afternoon coffee. For the most part, the meeting is over in an hour or two and we move on about our day. That was not the case for one Lehigh Valley, Pa...

Tougher DWI Laws Proposed on Breathalyzer Refusal

Posted on June 22, 2009
According to Louisiana DWI laws, refusing a breathalyzer test can help drunk drivers avoid DUI penalties, so state Rep. Tim Burns, R-Mandeville, is looking to pass stricter DWI laws in Louisiana to combat this problem. If a person refuses a breathalyzer today, he or she may face a 180 day driver’s license suspension...

Cleveland Browns Player Faces Jail Time

Posted on June 17, 2009
Donte Stallworth, wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns, plead guilty to DUI manslaughter today for a drinking and driving incident that resulted in him striking and killing a pedestrian. The plea deal, which was just accpeted by Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy, orders Stallworth to spend 30 days in jail for the death of Mario Reyes...

Football and Beer May Not Go Together in Texas

Posted on June 15, 2009
Early on Monday, June 7, the general manager of the Dallas Cowboys new stadium was arrested after allegedly failing a field sobriety test. Jack Hill was found a few blocks from the stadium when he was involved in a minor collision. The DUI arrest was a few hours after  a George Strait concert, the stadium’s inaugural [...

Man Drives Under the Influence? to the Police Station

Posted on May 15, 2009
A Pennsylvania man was charged with two DUIs in three hours. The second one after he drove to the police station. To get the prescription drugs police confiscated from his car during the first DUI. Police pulled over the 26-year-old Pittsburgh-area man at around 8:30 p...

Winemakers Lobby Congress over Taxes

Posted on May 14, 2009
California winemakers and Washington lawmakers are facing off this week over a proposed hike in alcohol tax. Congress hopes to fund the forthcoming health care reforms by increasing the so-called “sin taxes,” including taxes from the sale of alcohol and cigarettes...

DUI Dropped over Electronic Ticket

Posted on May 13, 2009
A Maryland judge dismissed a drunken driving case this week over the electronic citation issued by the State Police. It is believed to be the first ruling of its kind in the state, which starting using the e-citations in March, 2008. Raphael J. Santini, the DUI lawyer in the case, argued Monday that the citation violated his [...

California Man Suspected of DUI in Car-Train Collision

Posted on May 12, 2009
Here’s a sign you may be driving under the influence: You drive your car off a cliff, leave it on the train track, and watch it get hit by a train. That’s what police suspect happened after a Union Pacific cargo-line train collided with a car outside of King City, Calif...

Checkpoint in Vista, Calif. Results in nearly 30 Arrests and Citations

Posted on May 11, 2009
Police officers in Vista, Calif. set up a checkpoint for drivers last weekend - and they really laid down the law. According to the North County Times, four DUI arrests were made at the checkpoint, and 25 citations were issued for various offenses. Among the crimes cited were marijuana possession, driving without a license, child seat [...

Officers Arrested for Altering DWI Charges

Posted on March 31, 2009
ABC 11 in North Carolina reported that six police officers were arrested on charges related to changing DWI records and charges. Each of the officers faces multiple felony charges. One officer is facing 65 felong counts! So what does this...

Officers Arrested for Altering DWI Charges

Posted on March 31, 2009
ABC 11 in North Carolina reported that six police officers were arrested on charges related to changing DWI records and charges. Each of the officers faces multiple felony charges. One officer is facing 65 felong counts! So what does this mean for your DUI trial? It means that there may be challenge to the evidence in your DUI case...

DUI Repeat Offenders: A DUI Arrest Every Day

Posted on March 27, 2009
Some people are slow learners. Cases in point: This week we have two examples of people being arrested for DUI on consecutive days. In Brownsville, Texas a man ran a vehicle off the road at 2 a.m. on a Tuesday....

DUI Repeat Offenders: A DUI Arrest Every Day

Posted on March 27, 2009
Some people are slow learners. Cases in point: This week we have two examples of people being arrested for DUI on consecutive days. In Brownsville, Texas a man ran  a vehicle off the road at 2 a.m. on a Tuesday. He was arrested, charged with DUI and released about 11:20 a...

Drunk but Not Driving DUI Arrest

Posted on March 24, 2009
We've mentioned many times that you can get a DUI in vehicles other than cars. This includes drunk driving of snow mobiles, scooters, riding lawnmowers, etc. But, could be arrested for DUI even if you aren't driving. How's that? The...

Drunk but Not Driving DUI Arrest

Posted on March 24, 2009
We’ve mentioned many times that you can get a DUI in vehicles other than cars. This includes drunk driving of snow mobiles, scooters, riding lawnmowers, etc. But, could be arrested for DUI even if you aren’t driving. How’s that? The Connecticut Supreme recently ruled in the case of a man who staretd his car in a parking lot, [...

Changes on the way for DUI Laws in Oregon and Rhode Island?

Posted on March 18, 2009
There could be some big changes in the DUI laws in Oregon and Rhode Island. The legislatures in both states are considering amdendments to the current laws, and, though nothing has been passed yet, you should be aware of the...

Changes on the way for DUI Laws in Oregon and Rhode Island?

Posted on March 18, 2009
There could be some big changes in the DUI laws in Oregon and Rhode Island. The legislatures in both states are considering amdendments to the current laws, and, though nothing has been passed yet, you should be aware of the potential changes. In Oregon, current DUI law makes it difficult to remove a DUI charge from your [...

You Don't Need Luck to Avoid a DUI

Posted on March 13, 2009
St. Patrick's Day is officially Tuesday, but the big celebrations will take place this weekend (See Chicago, Boston, Savannah, Ga.) As they often do for big events, many law enforcement agencies across the country are stepping up their DUI patrols....

You Don?t Need Luck to Avoid a DUI

Posted on March 13, 2009
St. Patrick’s Day is officially Tuesday, but the big celebrations will take place this weekend (See Chicago, Boston, Savannah, Ga.) As they often do for big events, many law enforcement agencies across the country are stepping up their DUI patrols...

Update: Chicago Cop Trumps Up More DUI Cases

Posted on March 11, 2009
The Chicago Sun-Times has more reports that Officer Joe Parker, formerly honored as one of the top DUI in the city, exaggerated DUI arrest reports. The paper's Web site has some great video from a 2008 arrest of Raymond Bell....

Update: Chicago Cop Trumps Up More DUI Cases

Posted on March 11, 2009
The Chicago Sun-Times has more reports that Officer Joe Parker, formerly honored as one of the top DUI in the city, exaggerated DUI arrest reports. The paper’s Web site has some great video from a 2008 arrest of Raymond Bell. The video shows Bell performing a number of field sobriety tests, including walk-and-turn test, the one-legged [...

Utah's "Quirky" DUI Laws About to Change

Posted on March 10, 2009
Utah has some of the most unique liquor laws in the country. The state required bars and pubs to operate as "clubs." They could only admit members and had to charge at least $12 a year in membership fees. Even...

Utah?s ?Quirky? DUI Laws About to Change

Posted on March 10, 2009
Utah has some of the most unique liquor laws in the country. The state required bars and pubs to operate as "clubs." They could only admit members and had to charge at least $12 a year in membership fees. Even at restaurants alcoholic drinks would sometimes have to be prepared behind glass partitions or closed doors...

DUI Round-Up: School Bus Drivers, NASCAR and Elected Officials

Posted on March 06, 2009
A round-up of DUI news from this week, which includes people behind the wheel of NASCARs, and school buses. School bus driver DUI In Franklin, Ind., elmentary school students came home reporting a scary ride on the bus that included...

DUI Round-Up: School Bus Drivers, NASCAR and Elected Officials

Posted on March 06, 2009
A round-up of DUI news from this week, which includes people behind the wheel of NASCARs, and school buses. School bus driver DUI In Franklin, Ind., elmentary school students came home reporting a scary ride on the bus that included swerving and running over a mail box...

Louisana Gov. Jindal Proposes Harsh New DUI Laws

Posted on March 03, 2009

Louisana Gov. Jindal Proposes Harsh New DUI Laws

Posted on March 03, 2009
Already in the news for his response to President Obama’s first congressional address, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is making headlines again, this time for his proposed changes to state DUI law. Gov. Jindal’s proposal would not only increase the penalties for drivers who refuses a breathalyzer test, but punish them as if they failed the test...

DUI for Crossdressing State Trooper

Posted on March 02, 2009

DUI for Crossdressing State Trooper

Posted on March 02, 2009
An off-duty South Carolina state trooper was arrested on DUI charges while in drag. WCBD out of Charleston has the report. From the story: A high-ranking official who wished to remain anonymous tells News Channel 7 he saw Hoover brought into the jail “wearing a red dress”...

Another Top DUI Cop under Investigation in Chicago

Posted on February 26, 2009
In Illinois, the Cook County state's attorney's office has moved to dismiss dozens to DUI cases. This surprising action came after a second Chicago police officer was accused of framing drivers to boost DUI arrests. Nearly a year ago, another...

Does Kansas Need New DUI Laws?

Posted on February 25, 2009
Another day, another state legislature considering an update to their DUI laws. The debate has been ongoing in Kansas of late. Up for discussion: Creation of a 21-member DUI comission to monitor laws and suggest changes Creation of a centralized...

California DUIs Up Among Young Women

Posted on February 17, 2009
The North County Times reports on a dangerous and growing trend in California. It seems Hollywood's starlets aren't the only ones drinking, driving and crashing their cars. The Times cites a report by the Automobile Club of Southern California that...

New South Carolina DUI Laws Take Effect

Posted on February 12, 2009
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State DUI Law Updates: West Virginia, Maryland and South Carolina

Posted on February 09, 2009
State DUI laws across the country continue to change at a rapid pace. In the past few weeks, many new laws rolled into effect, while other states began discussing revising their current DUI laws. A quick rundown: West Virginia: State...

Should You Refuse a Breathalyzer Test?

Posted on February 04, 2009
A fascinating read from the Austin American-Statesman looked at state DUI records for recent years and found that 100 percent of elected officials - from state senators to judges to commissioners - refused to submit a breathalyzer test when pulled...

Super Sunday DUI Fallout

Posted on February 02, 2009
The DUI fallout from last night's Super Bowl parties is being felt across the country. As predicted, law enforcement agencies across the country stepped up DUI patrols last night, and there were dozens of arrests made across the country. In...

DUI Patrols to Increase Nationwide for Super Bowl

Posted on January 30, 2009
On Sunday, millions of people across the country will watch the Super Bowl. The event has evolved into more than just a football game, it's a shared pop culture event. There are also parties. Lots of Super Bowl parties. Bars...

Breathalyzer Rulings Updates and Analysis

Posted on January 29, 2009
We've been closely following how courts handle DUI cases involving the Intoxilyzer 5000 and Intoxilyzer 8000, two breathalyzers manufactured in Kentucky and used nationwide. Early, we told you about a judge in Florida that threw out hundreds of DUI cases...

New State DUI Laws On the Table Across the US

Posted on January 27, 2009
The new year is barely a month old, and already states across the union are already considering tightening their existing DUI and DWI laws. Some of these bills are moving so fast that the news is having a hard time...

The Complexities of a DUI case

Posted on January 26, 2009
Over at the New Jersey DWI & Criminal Defense Blog, Thomas Martin weights in on a recent state supreme court case with potential ramifications for anyone asked to take a breathalyzer test during a police stop. From the blog: "The...

Disputes Over Breathalyzer Use Continue

Posted on January 21, 2009
As police departments continue to use Intoxilyzer 5000 and Intoxilyzer 8000 to analyze drivers' blood alcohol content the courts continue to struggle with the admissability of the results. The Intoxilyzer machines are made by Kentucky-based CMI, and the company is...

Record-Setting DUI Case

Posted on January 19, 2009
A woman in Oregon set a terrible new DUI record recently. A 42-year-old woman was found by paramedics passed out at the wheel of her car, which had been driven into a snow bank. The car's engine was still on...

Watch What You Drive: You Can Get a DUI on Most Vehicles

Posted on January 16, 2009
Several recent news stories highlight a DUI fact that often gets overlooked: You don't have to be driving a car to get a DUI. In fact, if you are in controll of any motorized vehicle - even briefly - and...

Lasting Impact of DUI Arrest

Posted on January 14, 2009
Both driver and passenger were charged with DUI in in Lanesboro, Minn., recently. According to the Winona Daily News, the passenger of the vehicle grabbed the wheel of the car, causing the vehicle to careen into a ditch. When officers...

Can you get a DUI if your BAC is below .08?

Posted on January 12, 2009
The Maryland DUI Lawyer Blog brings up some interesting points about about the charges that can be brought against a driver even when their blood alcohol level is below the legal limit. Let's say you get pulled, the police administer...

Ride-Along With Minnesota DWI Arrest

Posted on January 09, 2009
The busy season for DUI arrests may be over, but police officers across the country are still keeping their eyes open for drunk drivers. What can you expect when you get pulled over? TwinCities.com offers a great video ride-along with...

A DUI Lawyer's Perspective on Sobriety Checkpoints

Posted on January 07, 2009
Gleen Neely, a DUI lawyer in Ogden, Utah, has an interesting perspective on field sobriety checkpoints. Glen has more than 10 years experience practicing DUI law, and his current thoughts were spurred on by a user discussion on DUI checkpoints...

Blow into Your iPod Please - The new iBreath turns your iPod into a breathalyzer so you can test your BAC when you're out

Posted on December 19, 2008
The latest gadget for the iPod is the iBreath, allowing your iPod to tell you if you are drunk. The attachment is a compact breathalyzer and FM transmitter. It features a BAC range of .00 to .10 percent and allows...

Experts Say Wisconsin DUI Laws Lax and Lacking

Posted on November 26, 2008
Group to Push for Changes in Wisconsin DUI Laws The Wisconsin law is in stark contrast to other states, where parents can be criminally charged for supplying minors with alcohol. The New York Times recently highlighted that in Wisconsin, kids...

Man Racked Up 15 DUIs Before Going to Prison

Posted on November 24, 2008
Wisconsin is known for being one of the leading states in DUIs. According to a recent study by the Journal Sentinel more than 475,000 people have at least one drinking and driving conviction and 8,000 have five or more DUI...

News from Total DUI

Posted on November 21, 2008
Illinois Law Allows License Suspensions without DUI Illinois has a new alcohol-related law that has led to more than 3,000 teenagers losing their driver's licenses this year. The teens were not accused of DUI, but the "use-lose" law allows for...

Family Ties

Posted on November 11, 2008
According to The Chicago Tribune, Kelli Thompson, of Crown Point, Ind., was arrested for alleged drunken driving after she was pulled over. The arresting officer found Thompson's one-year-old son in her minivan and called relatives to come pick up the...

Wisconsin's new beer class raising questions along with glasses

Posted on November 10, 2008
The University of Wisconsin announced that it will be offering a beer brewing class this spring under the instruction of Jon Roll. According to The Chicago Tribune, the Madison campus is one of the first in the nation to offer...

Officer Reprimanded after Posting DUI Pictures on Site

Posted on November 05, 2008
Robbie Arkovich, a St. Petersburg police officer, has been using photographs taken during DUI arrests to teach at the police academy. According to the St. Petersburg Times, the 19-year-old veteran was issued a low-level written reprimand for posting pictures from...

MADD asks Everyone to be Safe this Halloween

Posted on October 29, 2008
Mothers Against Drunk Driving issued a statement asking people to designate a sober driver this Halloween weekend during festivities. The group is especially concerned since Halloween falls on a Friday this year. According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety...

Reliever for the Rockies Arrested for a DUI

Posted on October 27, 2008
Early Monday morning, Luis Vizcaino was arrested for driving under the influence in Tampa, FL, reported Sports Illustrated. The 34-year-old is a reliever for the Colorado Rockies. According to police reports, Vizcaino was driving 71 mph in a 45 mph...

In Total DUI News Spotlight

Posted on October 24, 2008
This week on Total DUI, states are pushing for stricter DUI laws and penalties. Kansas is looking to make stiffer penalties for repeat DUI offenders, while Pennsylvania is looking into mandatory ignition interlock devices after looking into a high school student's homework assignment.

Yankee's pitcher charged with DUI

Posted on October 22, 2008
Over the weekend, Joba Chamberlain was arrested for driving under the influence. He was pulled over for speeding on Saturday morning. He will also be charged with having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle. According to news reports, Chamberlain was at a strip club near his home town...

Are strict DUI laws really that strict?

Posted on October 20, 2008
The Journal Sentinel recently conducted a survey that shows that the strict laws passed in Wisconsin in 1999 might not be as strict as law-makers once thought. According to the report, only 70 of the 161 fifth-offender convictions served time in jail, even though it is considered a felony once people have been convicted five times for drinking and driving...

Mid-tryst, couple finds out where they parked

Posted on October 15, 2008
A PA couple was busted having a tryst in their car after police officers were called because a suspicious-looking vehicle was parked outside the Hellertown Police Station. The couple told police they didn't realize that they had parked in a handicapped spot in front of the station...

Google launches new application to help stop you from drunk emailing

Posted on October 13, 2008
With the help of Google, you can now prevent yourself from sending those regretted late night emails that you type after a good night at the bar. The new application asks the sender to solve a few math problems before the message can be sent.

Woman arrested for DUI after coming to help a friend

Posted on October 08, 2008
Victoria Viviano was arrested for a DUI after she drove to Neptune Beach where her friend was being stopped for a DUI investigation. Police noticed Viviano was staggering as she walked. The arresting officer noted that Viviano smelled like alcohol and had bloodshot eyes.

Man arrested after driving through house

Posted on October 06, 2008
On Saturday, September 27, Hartmann drove his car through his neighbor's house in Hastings, NY. The total damage is estimated at $50,000. Hartmann was arrested and charged with felony DWI and reckless driving after going through the front of the house, living room, bedroom and out the back.

Man charged for DUI after blowing his horn

Posted on October 01, 2008
Rodney Northey, of Gansevoort, was pulled over after excessively blowing his horn to let people know he was in town. Northey was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated and ticketed for blowing his car horn.

Man arrested after 14th DUI

Posted on September 29, 2008
A 46 year-old man was arrested for the 14 time under the suspicion of driving under the influence. The man from Mount Vernon, WA, has been charged with a felony DUI since he has had four previous convictions in the last 10 years.

This Week on Total DUI

Posted on September 26, 2008
This week on Total DUI, an Alaska woman was given a lucky break when a judge granted her a new trial. Renee Ellison's lawyer told the judge that the victim in the two-car accident has previous injuries that the jury never heard about the first time around...

Arizona Judge Reverses Ruling on Breath Test Evidence

Posted on September 24, 2008
Judge Margarita Bernal ruled that breath tests in 19 DUI cases could not be used as evidence during trial. After hearing testimony from an unrelated Superior Court case, the city court judge threw out the tests. Recently, breath tests in more than 100 DUI cases in Tucson have been thrown out because of problems with breathalyzers and the company that makes them, CMI.

Nebraska Racks Up 80 DUI Arrests During Campaign

Posted on September 23, 2008
A two-week long national campaign, "You Drink & Drive, You Lose," yielded 80 DUI arrests in Nebraska. The campaign, which ran from August 15 to September 1, issued citations for speeding, seat belt violations, child restraint violations as well as driving under the influence...

High School Student Driving 118 m.p.h. arrested for DUI

Posted on September 18, 2008
According to the police report, a 17 year-old girl, driving a 2000 Toyota Celica, was pulled over for weaving in and out of traffic. The police clocked the high school student going 118 m.p.h. near Merrillville, IN on September 10. The officer detected the smell of alcohol in the car, and during a breath test, the girl registered higher than ...

Near Collisions with Train Results in DUI

Posted on September 17, 2008
Around 5 am on Saturday, an Ocala police officer saw a woman's 2001 Honda stuck on the tracks and called for assistance as well as alerted a train headed in the direction of the car. Officers detected alcohol on the breath of the 23 year-old woman. She failed the sobriety test and blew a ...

UK Man Attempts to Beat the Test with Copper Penny

Posted on September 15, 2008
Martyn Shepherd, 47, was stopped while driving a Vauxhall Combo van in St. Annes for suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol. The police reported that Shepherd had a copper coin in his mouth with the hopes of adversely influencing the breath test...

Show Your Tickets at the Prom then Step in Line for a Breathalyzer Test

Posted on September 10, 2008
School officials are hoping to curb teen drinking by making the students of Albert Lea High School take a breathalyzer test before entering the prom. Students attending the prom will have to blow into a preliminary breath test's capture column and will win a prize if they pass...

Florida Man Arrested for Driving Drunk in School Zone

Posted on September 09, 2008
On Wednesday, August 20, police arrested 28 year-old Michael Trotter Shaffer for driving under the influence in a school zone. A deputy monitoring traffic pulled Shaffer over around 2pm, and the breath tests registered his blood alcohol level at .376 and ...

Three Strikes He's Out?

Posted on September 08, 2008
In eight days, Professor Jeffrey Hunker has been charged with three DUIs. Hunker is a teacher at Carnegie Mellon. According to police, in one incident, Hunker drove his car through his neighbor's yard and hit the house. On Wednesday, August 27, Hunker enrolled in a 28-day treatment program in Virginia...

Drunk 12 year-old Found Driving Stolen Car

Posted on September 04, 2008
Police intercepted a car full of youths on Thursday night in Palmerston in Australia. The driver of the car was a 12 year-old girl who had a blood alcohol level of .65 percent. The legal limit in the Northern Territory is .05 percent. The females that were caught in a short chase that pursued after the car was stopped have been arrested...

Kiss and Tell

Posted on September 02, 2008
Mankato police found James A. Carroll stumbling on the street Saturday morning. He scored a .063 on the breath test. The 18-year-old college student told police he was drunk from making out with a girl 30 minutes earlier; however, police said that scenario is not possible.

MADD and Police Join Hands in Pilot Program Launching this Weekend

Posted on August 28, 2008
Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Manatee Country Sheriff's Department in Florida will be working together on a "first in the nation" program that will put trained MADD observers on the road to watch and report for potential drunk drivers. The volunteer teams will be in unmarked, private vehicles and using their personal cell phones to communicate with police...

Tenth Time is a Charm

Posted on August 26, 2008
Janet Landrum was arrested on Saturday for driving under the influence. This is Landrum's tenth arrest in four different states over the past 20 years. Ironically, Landrum was driving because her passenger was reportedly too drunk to drive. Although no one was injured or killed, Landrum could face up to five years in prison for the number of convictions she has.

Geosat 6 with Breathalyzer Now Available to the Public

Posted on August 25, 2008
Originally developed for the Peugeot 107 Sweet Year, the Geosat 6 Drive Safe satellite navigation system is now available to the public. On Thursday, August 14, Italian GPS equipment manufacturer, AvMap, announced that the navigator would be available to the public...

College Presidents Support a Lower Drinking Age

Posted on August 21, 2008
College presidents are asking for lawmakers to consider hearing a debate about why the legal drinking age should be lowered from 21 to 18. While the supporters are claiming the lower drinking age will decrease binge drinking on campuses, MADD and other groups feel that it will only lead to more fatal accidents.

The Onion Goes Statistical...err, Satirical on DUI

Posted on August 11, 2008
Delivering their usual satirical take with all the news that's (un)fit to print, the latest issue of The Onion provided this little news item on DUI: According to a report released Monday by the National Institutes of Health, 93 percent of those who get behind the wheel while intoxicated arrive at their homes safe and sound, just like they told everybody they would...

Is a Beer Cooler Really a Vehicle?

Posted on June 13, 2008
Now we've seen just about everything. A man in Whitehall, New York was recently arrested for DUI after he was seen swerving around while driving his "Cruzin Cooler" - a beer cooler with three wheels, a handlebar and an electric motor.

Wackiest DUIs of the Week...and More

Posted on June 12, 2008
Check out Total DUI's latest updates of celebrity DUI news, DUIs that don't involve cars and all-out zany DUIs.

Arizona Cranks Up Penalties for "Extreme" DUI

Posted on June 09, 2008
Arizona governor Janet Napolitano signed into effect another new chapter in what is becoming one of the country's toughest set of DUI statutes. State legislators passed a bill that would increase penalties for first-time DUI offenders convicted of "extreme DUI," or a DUI with a blood alcohol concentration of 0...

A Possible Lucky Break for Some Seattle DUI Suspects

Posted on June 02, 2008
Hundreds of people awaiting trial for Washington DUI in Seattle Municipal Court just became a step closer to beating the charges. A recent court ruling has barred the results of all breath tests given before December 18, 2007 from being used against the defendants in court.

Bears' RB Benson Arrested for DUI - while Boating!

Posted on May 05, 2008
Widely criticized Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson was arrested over the weekend for DUI, despite the fact that he wasn't driving. Of course, you don't have to be driving a car to be arrested for DUI--usually operating any kind of motorized vehicle under the influence will do the trick.

The Latest Tool to Fight DUI

Posted on May 02, 2008
With the dangers of drunken driving so obvious, it's no surprise to often come across stories in the media about the latest efforts to curb DUI and bolster arrests and convictions. The latest story involves a device that records the eye movements of DUI suspects during the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test -- more commonly thought of as when an officer tracks the eye movements of a DUI suspect.

Was Your DUI Breath Test Fair?

Posted on April 16, 2008
In many DUI cases, the results of the breath test administered at the time of arrest are considered strong evidence. But how accurate are breathalyzers, really? Maybe not as accurate as you (or your arresting officer) once thought. Check out...

Smoking Bans = More DUI Accidents? Study Says "Yes So"

Posted on April 08, 2008
Smoking bans in bars and restaurants have seemed to be a vogue way to make such establishments more appealing and healthy places to people who may be turned off by such "vices." With that said, a recent study indicates that smoking bans are producing a surprising and unintended effect : • Smoking Bans Contribute to Rise in Fatal DUI Crashes, Study Finds...

Tenth DWI = Life in Prison?

Posted on April 07, 2008
While DUI penalties vary from state to state, it is important to know that they most often increase after a first conviction. This point about increased DUI penalties for multiple convictions is especially clear in the recent case of a 53-year-old Texas man, who may now spend the rest of his living years in prison following his tenth DWI conviction: • Man Convicted of 10th Texas DWI May Die Behind Bars.

What Does Laughing about Your Victim's Death Get You?

Posted on January 24, 2008
A Tucson woman, Melissa Arrington, was charged with negligent homicide and two counts of aggravated DUI after she swerved off the road in her car to hit a cyclist, Paul L'Ecuyer, in December 2006. Arrington could have been stuck with a minimum sentence of four years, but the judge didn't hesitate to give her a much higher sentence of 10...

Kiefer Sutherland, TV's Jack Bauer, Released after Serving DUI Sentence

Posted on January 22, 2008
Kiefer Sutherland, who was jailed nearly two months ago for violating a DUI probation by, you guessed it, driving under the influence again, was released yesterday from the Los Angeles County jail. Sutherland had pleaded no contest to having a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit of 0...

Breathalyzers in High School--Now There's a Thought...

Posted on January 21, 2008
An article published last October in USA Today recounts the increasingly common sight of breathalyzers administered at high schools social functions such as sports events and dances. High school administrators have found the small breath test devices to be a cheap and publicly-visible way to deter students from trying to attend social events drunk or with alcohol...

Teens Freeze to Avoid Arrest for DUI

Posted on December 30, 2007
It's hardly news that underage teenagers have drinking parties, unfortunately. But this one has a bit of a twist. Sheriff's deputies in Florence, Wisconsin were alerted to an underage drinking party. When they arrived, a vehicle was leaving the alleged...

DUI Checkpoints--How Effective Are They?

Posted on December 29, 2007
News from Portsmouth, New Hampshire calls attention to a potential thorn in the side of the extremely popular DUI sobriety checkpoint that law enforcement officials have used with some frequency across the nation over the past few years.

Former Yankee Jim Leyritz Arrested for DUI, Homicide

Posted on December 28, 2007
TMZ.com is reporting that former Yankee player Jim Leyritz has been arrested on suspicion of DUI and vehicular homicide. Leyritz is reportedly in the Broward County Jail in Florida on $11,000 bond after he refused a breathalyzer test. He was...

The DUI Year in Review

Posted on December 27, 2007
Ever hear that those who can't do teach? How about a twist on this old saying: those who DUI, teach? Read more about DUI enforcers and educators who got caught drunk driving! And who could forget those celebrities who have shared this year with us? Read about Michelle Rodriguez, Kiefer Sutherland and Lindsay Lohan in the top 10 celebrity DUI arrests of 2007!

Cell Door Slams for Actress Michelle Rodriguez

Posted on December 26, 2007
Television and film actress Michelle Rodriguez, popular for her roles as Letty on The Fast and the Furious and Ana Lucia on TV's "Lost," has started her jail sentence for violation of probation in a hit-and-run case from June 2004.

Smile for Your Arizona DUI Mug Shot: It Could Be Posted Online

Posted on December 14, 2007
Arizona DUI offenders may not be able to live down their arrest just yet. A website is publishing the names, mug shots and blood alcohol content levels of people who have been arrested for DUI in the state as a means to get across the point that even ordinary citizens can be arrested and charged with this crime...

Donut Thief Holes Up in Krispy Kreme Truck!

Posted on December 10, 2007
It's the kind of news story that copy editors live for: a high-speed chase with police in hot pursuit of...wait for it...a donut truck! The singularly-named Warren G. Whitelightning got nabbed for his fourth DUI when police officers finally caught up to his rogue Krispy Kreme truck...

Wyoming DUI Case Dismissed by Intriguing Ruling

Posted on December 07, 2007
A Wyoming, Gillette police officer must have been shocked when a judge dismissed the DUI case against a man he had arrested. By watching a seemingly-drunk man stumble to his car and letting him drive away before making an arrest for DUI, police officer Chad Trebby was ruled to have endangered the safety of the public...

Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa Pleads Guilty to DUI

Posted on November 28, 2007
The manager of the 2006 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals, 28-year veteran Tony La Russa, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence from an incident in Florida during last year's spring training, in which police found him asleep at a...

Drunk Ambulance Driver Kills Two

Posted on November 06, 2007
A drunk ambulance driver hit a car, killing two men. Her patient also dies.

DUI Offender on Bail Caught Drinking on Courthouse Lawn!

Posted on October 25, 2007
Martin Ruiz of Nevada may be living proof that actions speak louder than words. In January of this year, Ruiz was arrested for DUI after an accident in which he and his passenger were injured, as well as the other driver. Ruiz was driving 70 mph with a blood alcohol content of 0...

Update on Washington State DUI Toxicology Problems

Posted on October 12, 2007
Earlier this week, Total DUI detailed how problems at the Washington State Toxicology Laboratory, including questions about a mixture solution testing the accuracy of breathalyzers, could affect certain DUI cases. For more of a back story, Washington DUI attorneys had begun arguing for the dismissal of DUI cases or at least the reduction of charges after it was learned that the manager of the state toxicology lab had been signing papers saying that she had tested the ethanol-water solution when in fact she hadn't done so...

Blogger Misunderstands Kiefer Sutherland's DUI Charges and DUI Law

Posted on October 05, 2007
Lea Anna Cooper suggests, on the American Chronicle website, that Kiefer Sutherland may face double jeopardy when tried for his recent DUI charges. Double jeopardy refers to facing conviction for the same crime, twice. Sutherland merely faces trial for driving with a BAC over 0...

Kiefer Sutherland Charged With DUI and Probation Violation

Posted on September 30, 2007
Kiefer Sutherland, star of the controversial hit show '24', faces up to 18 months in prison after being charged with DUI and violating his probation from a 2004 DUI. The actor faces a year in jail if convicted on this new DUI charge plus six months for violating his probation...

DUI...Without the "Driving"?

Posted on September 18, 2007
A recent decision by a New Jersey appellate court will serve as a reminder to us all that sometimes the letter of the law can catch someone acting responsibly. David Montalvo had had too much to drink, and rather than driving himself home, decided to sleep one off on the bench seat of his GMC pickup in a deli parking lot in Hamburg, New Jersey...