SB police handle DUI-related incidents

By ERIC LINDBERG — March 13, 2010

Despite repeated warnings from authorities, some community members continue to get behind the wheel while intoxicated, as evidenced by a handful of DUI-related arrests made by Santa Barbara police officers in recent weeks.

In a five-day span earlier this month, officers arrested nine drivers on suspicion of driving under the influence, including three motorists screened during a sobriety checkpoint. Police officials said a few drivers had passengers in their vehicle or stated they were on their way to pick up passengers.

“In addition to not drinking and driving, SBPD urges that passengers not ride with those who do, and take steps to prevent others from drinking and driving,” Lt. Paul McCaffrey said in a news release.

On March 2, an officer responded to a hit-and-run incident on Modoc Road near Las Positas Road. A Chevy Silverado truck had slammed into a parked vehicle, pushing it forward into two other parked cars.

The 22-year-old driver exited the truck, examined the damage and quickly drove away, authorities said. However, a witness followed the suspect and called police, who caught the driver in the 1500 block of Dutton Avenue. The 22-year-old was booked for driving without a license, hit-and-run and driving without insurance.

Two days later, an officer was on patrol along East Haley Street when he spotted a Chrysler Sebring heading toward him on the one-way street. After the officer stopped and flipped on his emergency lights, the vehicle stopped momentarily before driving around the squad car and turning onto State Street.

Another officer stopped the vehicle and took the driver, a 25-year-old woman, into custody for DUI. Her passenger, another woman, was also arrested for public intoxication.

Later that day, an officer pulled over a 42-year-old man in a Dodge sedan in the 1300 block of Olive Street for running a stop sign. A passenger also was not wearing a seatbelt. The driver gave a false name, but officers saw through the deception and arrested him for driving without a license, providing false information and an unrelated $10,000 warrant.

In the early morning hours of March 5, officers spotted a Honda CR-V heading east along the first block of West Carrillo Street when it swerved around a bus stopped in front of a nearby hotel. The Honda nearly collided with the center divider before crossing the centerline into oncoming traffic.

Officers spoke with the 19-year-old driver and immediately noticed that she appeared to be extremely intoxicated. She did not have identification and gave her roommate’s name instead of her own.

The woman said she was heading downtown to pick up her friends “to keep them safe,” authorities said. Police booked her for DUI, providing a false name, driving without insurance and possession of marijuana.

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: 3/13/2010

Sorry Daily Sound, Noozhawk already beat you to the story.

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idiot : 3/15/2010

The above poster is a moron. Are you serious? Scolding and ridiculing the Sound because the Noozhawk has the same story a little earlier? Get out of here! I would bet a thousand dollars that you are somehow affiliated with that other new outlet and just want to try to steal some readers. Lame!!

Mike J

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Mike J : 3/15/2010

you own!

WZV6V

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D and D so stupid : 3/15/2010

Who doesn't know that driving while intoxicated is against the law besides being potentially lethal? What makes those DUI drivers so stupid? Had they been smoking pot? I believe those people who are so sick they need a marijuana medical card are too sick to drive safely. Smoking pot impairs judgment and pot stays in the body for 30 days. No drivers licence for pot smokers!!

I'm not kidding

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