Tag: dui

GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Let’s install “wrong way” prevention devices on major highways

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

https://nypost.com/2022/05/07/north-carolina-trooper-cody-thao-uses-own-car-to-stop-suspected-drunk-driver-joshua-bibey/

North Carolina trooper uses his own car to stop suspected drunk driver
By Lorraine Taylor, Fox News

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A North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper is being credited for saving lives by putting his own life on the line to stop a suspected drunk driver from entering an interstate going the wrong way.

North Carolina State Highway Patrol said Trooper Cody Thao used his own patrol car as a barrier to stop the driver who was speeding up an exit ramp the wrong way. The dramatic crash was caught on dashcam video.

Police said Trooper Thao was called in to help with a pursuit in the early morning hours of April 8. Just as the trooper arrived, the pursuit arrived onto the I-40 eastbound ramp to Rock Quarry Road in Wake County. The suspect started driving the wrong way on the ramp.

The video shows Trooper Thao intentionally drive his own car into the path of the suspected drunk driver to stop him from entering the interstate going the wrong way. Amazingly, the trooper was not injured.

“I could not be prouder of Trp. Thao and his quick decision to stop the wrong way driver, his actions most undoubtedly saved lives,” Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr., commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, said in a statement. “His willingness to put himself in harm’s way is representative of the lifesaving work our members do each day. Placing others before ourselves is not just a saying amongst the law enforcement profession, it’s a reality of what we do for the betterment of the communities we serve.”

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This inspires three points:

FIRST, kudos to the trooper who risked his life to save others.  No doubt not doing this pretty much would ensure a potential catastrophic accident.

SECOND, my continued harping on why we down engineer roads to prevent this from happening.  Parking lot owners have devices that will shred tires if you back up over them or exit the wrong way.  Why can’t we deploy these on interstates?

THIRD, DUIs that are not “Micky Mouse” — over a numerical limit at a checkpoint, please — but damage property, hurt some one, or (Heaven Forbid) kill some one need to be SEVERELY punished.  No “first time” discount for that type of DUI,

Argh!

—30—

RANT: “Drunk” driving

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

https://local.nixle.com/alert/5313506/?sub_id=241886

South Brunswick Twp Police Department
Thursday December 4th, 2014 :: 09:43 a.m. EST

Advisory: “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” statewide campaign. Beginning December 5th continuing through January 2nd

Dear Nixle User,

South Brunswick Police Department will be cracking down on drunk drivers as part of the annual holiday season “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” statewide campaign. Beginning December 5, 2014 and continuing through January 2, 2015, local and state law enforcement officials will conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints looking for motorists who may be driving while intoxicated.

The national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” effort seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through a combination of high-visibility enforcement and public education. “We want the holiday season to be a safe and happy time of year. The holiday season has an increased potential for impaired drivers with holiday parties and events being held. We typically see a 10 percent increase in impaired drivers this time of year. We hope the increased police presence will serve as deterrence to anyone thinking of drinking and driving,” said Chief Raymond Hayducka. He added, “In South Brunswick there has been nearly a 40 percent decrease in impaired drivers involved in motor vehicle crashes with injury this year. This latest effort looks to continue the decrease.”

Last year, 22% of all motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey were alcohol-related. Nationally, more than 10,000 people die each year in drunken driving crashes. The societal cost associated with drunken driving crashes is estimated to be $37 billion annually.

Law enforcement agencies participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over 2014 Year End Holiday Crackdown offer the following advice for holiday season

  • Take mass transit, a taxicab, or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
  • Spend the night where the activity or party is held.
  • If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement. Your actions may save someone’s life, and inaction could cost a life. 
  • Always buckle-up, every ride. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver.
  • If you are intoxicated and traveling on foot, the safest way to get home is to take a cab or have a sober friend or family member drive or escort you to your doorstep.
  • Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.

Contact Information:
Lieutenant James Ryan
732-329-4646
jryan@sbtnj.net

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OK. Time for my pet peeve.

If this was so dangerous, I would not have survived my high school and college years.

As a little L libertarian, if the driver causes: an accident (not just involved in on), damage, injury, or Heaven Forbid kills someone, then they deserve to “get the book thrown at them“.

In the case of damage or injury, restitution. 

In the case of a death, clearly that can’t be “restored”.

AND, clearly, if this is a subsequent conviction, then clearly drastic measures have to be take to protect society,

ALL THAT BEING SAID!

* Random checkpoints are unreasonable search and seizure.

* Lowering the settings is also unreasonable.

* Driving infractions while under the influence are “driving infractions”.

This goes along with my laissez faire attitude. “No victim; no crime”.

Unfortunately, of the three DUI arrests that I am familiar with this year, all three were bogus.

In one the car was parked. Another the driver was stopped on the side of the road, lost, and trying to read a map. The third, the driver fell asleep at a stop light.

Where is the victim?

And, what about the police causing fatalities under the influence and getting off?

Double standard.

We know it’s all about money.

Argh!

It has nothing to do with safety.

Look at the stories of repeat offenders with 10 convictions or more. There’s the problem!

Argh!

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RANT: Multiple DUIs

Published on by reinkefj1 Comment

Instead of focusing on the average joe who has a beer with dinner, this is the problem! 4 DUIs. Why is he out of jail?

Of course, then the problem would be solved and no need for “checkpoints” as revenue raising.

f———- Forwarded message ———-

From: South Brunswick Twp Police Department
Date: Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Subject: Advisory Message: Cops catch drunk driver after near collision and chase
To: reinke

Message sent via Nixle | Go to nixle.com | Unsubscribe
Agency Logo
Wednesday May 30, 2012, 8:37 AM
South Brunswick Twp Police Department

CHIEF RAYMOND J. HAYDUCKAAdvisory: Cops catch drunk driver after near collision and chase

Hi fjohn reinke,

A drunk driver, who had been convicted four times previously for driving while under the influence, was arrested Saturday morning after nearly striking a police car and leading officers on a chase. The incident began at 1:30am as Sergeant Frank Lombardo was driving east on Route 522. William Campbell age 52 of Franklin Park was operating his 1994 Ford pickup truck south on North Umberland Way. He entered the intersection of Route 522 without stopping and nearly ran into Sergeant Lombardo’s marked patrol car. The sergeant had to slam on his brakes to avoid a collision.

The sergeant then activated his lights and siren attempting to stop the vehicle. The pickup truck accelerated and struck two curbs as it winded through the South Ridge Townhomes development. Campbell then pulled onto New Road and headed east. He turned off of New Road into a commerical development accelerating behind some buildings. Sergeant Lombardo pursued him behind the buildings where Campbell made a U-turn and came back at the officer. Sergeant Lombardo was able to get his vehicle out of the way as Campbell pulled pass. Campbell then pulled up to the rear of one of the commercial buildings and parked his vehicle. He stumbled out of the driver’s seat without explanation. Sergeant Lombardo was able to arrest Campbell without further incident.

Campbell, who in addition to four driving while under the influence convictions has ten license suspensions, was charged with driving while under the influence and eluding. He was transported to police headquarters and processed. His bail was set at $25,000. He was lodged in the Middlesex County Correction Center in default of bail.

Contact Information:
Sgt James Ryan
PIO
732-329-4646
jryan@sbtnj.net

For full details, view this message on the web.

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NEWJERSEY: Partially good; partially dumb

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

*** begin quote ***

Community Message has been issued by the South Brunswick Twp Police Department.

Monday July 11, 2011 11:20 PM EDT

FATHER CHARGED WITH ASSAULT BY AUTO, CHILD ENDANGERMENT FOR ACCIDENT THAT CRITICALLY INJURED DAUGHTER

A Somerset County father has been charged with second degree assault by auto and second degree child endangerment, as well as drunk driving and reckless driving following an investigation into a May 21, 2011 accident. The accident took place at the intersection of Ridge Road and New Road in the Monmouth Junction section of the Township. The accident happened when Sarathe Gunaskera age 56 of Bedminster drove his 2001 Lincoln Town Car on New Road through a stop sign and into a Ridge Road home.

The intersection requires drivers on New Road to make a left or right onto Ridge Road. At the time of the accident Gunaskera told officers he drove straight because his GPS did not tell him to turn. An investigation by Officer Monica Posteraro and the South Brunswick Traffic Safety Bureau uncovered evidence the GPS was not to blame. The investigation discovered that Gunaskera was intoxicated at the time of the crash and had just left a gathering near the scene of the crash.

The accident severely injured Gunasekera 13-year-old daughter. She suffered a head injury and multiple facial fractures. His wife was also injured in the crash suffering a severe head laceration. Both have been released from the hospital.

Gunasekera was charged after blood samples submitted to the New Jersey State Police laboratory came back showing his blood alcohol concentration was above the legal limit. The severity of the charges was increased because the accident took place within a 1,000 feet of an elementary school.

Gunasekera surrendered at South Brunswick Police headquarters at 4:20pm Monday afternoon. He was released after processing and posting $50,000 bail.

*** end quote ***

Now I think DUI with it’s numerical limits is dumb.

In this case, there was damage and injury. That’s serious stuff.

In this case, there’s restitution due to all the victims.

The case is probably open and shut. Drinking and accident with personal injury and property damage.

Should throw the book at him … …

… … but not because it was within a 1k feet of a school?

There are hospital bills and emergency services expense that need restitution.

So, “We, The Sheeple” need to be protected from this menace, but it would be interesting to see what really happens.

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Arrest real criminals; not stupid people

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100708/NEWS01/7080348/-1/BUSINESS04/Cops-clip-Madrid-driver-in-mower-case

Cops clip Madrid driver in mower case
By REGINA ZILBERMINTS • rzilbermin@dmreg.com • July 8, 2010

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It may have been how Robert Grimstad was driving that caught people’s attention. He was all over the road. Or the fact it was after midnight and the 38-year-old didn’t have headlights on. Most likely, though, it was the fact he was riding a lawn mower down the highway.

*** end quote ***

Doesn’t this point out the absurdity of Gooferment “laws”?

(It’s also absurd to call what the Gooferment passes and seeks to enforce a “law”. Diktat! I like the German word better. An authoritative or dogmatic statement or decree. When I think of “law”, I think of the “Law of Gravity”. <Remembering Michael J. “Crocodile” Dundee saying to the mugger with a knife] “That’s not a knife.” [draws a very large Bowie knife] “This is a KNIFE.” ROFL> Yeah, “Law of Gravity” that’s a big hairy “you can’t break me” law. It says “GO ahead and try to break me. I dare you.” That’s a LAW!)

Any way, “drinking and driving” diktats started with the common sense idea that impair drivers are dangerous. But as usual, somewhere between common sense and effectiveness, the politicians and bureaucrats took a left turn. And, I use the word left accurately. It’s all about “feelings”. So, instead of insisting on a victim, they make up diktats where the Gooferment is the victim. If you have an accident and are found impaired, you lose a lot of stuff. If you injure some one, in addition you go to the “penalty box” for a long time. And, heaven forbid, you kill someone, you go to the isolation chamber for the rest of your life. None of this “sobriety checkpoints” and repeat offender “barbara streisand”. Penalties and sanctions with teeth.

Instead the police are arresting lawn mower drivers, argh!

Where’s the victim in this case?

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