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In the ongoing "War on Drunk Driving", the latest news from the front…. 

High-Ranking Cop Caught Lying About DUI Arrests

Des Plaines, Iowa.  Feb. 26 — A former police commander in Des Plaines, Illinois was brought up on charges last Wednesday by prosecutors who say he lied about drunk-driving (DUI) arrests. According to US Attorney Gary S. Shapiro, Timothy J. Veit was caught creating 122 bogus drunk driving arrests in an effort to boost the police department's revenue with federal overtime payments. Between 2009 and 2012, the effort generated 2,893 in bogus payments.

The source of the funds was the US Transportation Department's Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), which funnels federal gas tax dollars through the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to bankroll traffic ticket-writing blitzes that typically take place on holiday weekends. Veit was in charge of his department's STEP campaign, which meant he had to meet a clearly specified traffic ticket quota to qualify for the monetary reward.

"IDOT notified STEP grant recipients of the performance objectives for the STEP enforcement campaigns, which performance objectives included that the grant recipient average at least one Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrest for every ten hours of overtime worked by law enforcement officers on impaired-driving enforcement campaigns," Shapiro wrote in his charging document.

As part of the funding agreement in the STEP program, local police departments must provide a detailed monthly report updating federal officials on the progress of ticket-writing blitzes. Veit signed and dated these compliance reports as well as a number of reimbursement requests. Prosecutors claim Veit claimed 27 DUI arrests in 2009 when there were only 13 arrests made. The next year, he turned 8 arrests into 47. In 2011, 8 DUI arrests became 62, and, last year, one arrest became 16. Each bogus arrest included made up blood-alcohol content readings.

City officials discovered the discrepancy in March 2012 and allowed Veit, who is 55, to retire in April. Since 2009, Veit had collected over ,000 in overtime himself. Veit is charged with one felony count of making false statements, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of 0,000, though he is likely to serve less time under federal sentencing guidelines.

Police departments across the country continue to deny they use quotas for drunk driving arrests.  Using quotas, of course, forces cops to make arrests because they have to — not necessarily because anyone is guilty.  See my past posts:  DUI Quotas, "Yes We Have No DUI Quotas" and "Inside Edition" Documents DUI Quotas Across U.S.  

Why do they have quotas?  As the man said, "Follow the money".  See, for example, DUI Roadblocks for Fun and Profit and How to Make a Million in the DUI Business. 
 

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Five men have now been arrested following a New Bothwell robbery involving masked, gun-toting suspects.
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An out-of-state driver was recently pulled over by a North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper earlier this month. While it can be daunting for any driver to be pulled over for a traffic offense, or for a more serious investigation involving drunk driving, being pulled over in an unfamiliar state is always a difficult prospect.

As it turns out, the recent traffic stop involved reportedly involved the chief deputy from Martinsville, Virginia. She was ultimately arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired November 8. She is currently on administrative leave due to the DWI allegations, but her position in the Sheriff’s Office places her as second in command. The chief deputy was not on duty, and was driving her personal vehicle when the North Carolina trooper made the DWI arrest on U.S. 220 in Rockingham County, North Carolina.

A spokesperson in the highway patrol office in Rockingham County, North Carolina says that the DWI investigation is an open matter, and details of the DWI arrest have not been made publicly available, according to the Martinsville bulletin. However, the spokesperson did confirm the DWI arrest. The sheriff’s office in Martinsville, Virginia says that the situation is a personal matter, although the agency has placed the woman on leave and other disciplinary measures are being taken.

Sheriff’s officials in Virginia decided to publicly acknowledge the arrest after word of the DWI allegations began to spread throughout the community. But the public acknowledgement did not include any of the allegations.

It is important to note that DWI charges are matters that are brought in criminal court in North Carolina. Public information is not necessarily controlled by the same rules that are involved in court. Court rules and principles are intended to protect rights, maintain fairness and ensure that gossip or innuendo is not used to obtain criminal convictions.

Source: Martinsville Bulletin, “City deputy charged with DWI in North Carolina,” Nov. 20, 2012

• Our firm represents out-of-state drivers accused of traffic offenses and other criminal charges in the Greenville, North Carolina area. For more information on the firm, please visit the page for out-of-state drivers.

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Piercing the veil of reliability in DUI investigations…..

Evidence Suppressed in Lawmaker’s DUI


Philadelphia, PA.  Nov. 2 – A state prosecutor is criticizing a Philadelphia judge’s decision to suppress evidence in the arrest of a Philadelphia lawmaker on suspicion of drunken driving.

The Philadelphia Daily News reports that the DUI charge against Rep. Cherelle Parker will be dropped if Judge Charles Hayden’s decision Tuesday isn’t appealed.

The state attorney general’s office handled the case at the request of Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams.  Deputy Attorney General Marc Costanzo says he’s surprised a judge found two police officers less credible than someone who failed a breath-alcohol test. He said his office will decide whether to appeal within 30 days.

Hayden says he’s troubled that one officer changed her testimony, while another testified that only about half the people he’s arrested for DUI were found to be intoxicated.

The only thing I find surprising about this is that the cop admitted it. 
 

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Drunk Driving Arrests and DUI Arrests by State – Why It’s Not Worth It

Simply put, drunk driving is illegal, and drunk drivers who are charged with a DUI under the age of 21 face a number of penalties in the United States. Though a DUI under 21 rarely results in a prison sentence, there are still serious consequences that you will have to face if you are arrested for driving drunk.

Potential Consequences

Ultimately, the temporary thrill you may have from illegally getting drunk with your friends and then illegally driving drunk is just not worth the risk. Before you get behind the wheel while drunk or accept your friend’s invitation into a car while they are drunk, consider the many consequences you may face:

* Risk of injury or death. This is probably the most rehashed point made against drunk driving, and with good reason. Drunk driving is not worth risking your life, your friends’ lives, or someone else’s.
* Dealing with the court system. Getting a DUI means that you will ultimately have to face your day in court. There is a lot of stress, time, and money involved in preparing for court, and when you are already bogged down by school or work, you don’t need this additional stress.
* Having a criminal record. A DUI isn’t like getting a parking ticket. It’s not something that you can pay for and have it disappear. A DUI charge goes on your criminal record and can hurt your chances of getting a job, applying to schools, or getting a loan, even years later.
* Costs of sealing a record. If you decide to hire a lawyer to get your criminal record sealed so that your DUI doesn’t hurt your future, you will be facing a number of legal fees and another round of dealing with the court.

What to Do If You’ve Been Drinking

You can save a lot of time, money, pain, and stress by thinking before you act. If you are under 21 and have been drinking, don’t get in the car. Most states have a zero tolerance policy and will arrest you for any detectable alcohol consumption, and police officers are trained to spot drunk drivers. Instead of driving, call a friend or family member to pick you up. Even if the only people you can reach are your parents, you are better off dealing with punishment at home than with a court of law.

When to Contact a Lawyer

Being charged with a DUI under 21 is a serious offense. If you or someone you know has been charged with a DUI under 21, contact a DUI defense lawyer immediately. A good lawyer with expertise in DUI defense can provide solid legal advice and help you prepare for your defense in court.

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