The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday, January 14th, 2022. It will begin at 7:00 PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:00 AM.
The primary purpose of a DUI Checkpoint is to deter impaired driving, not to increase arrests. All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. This DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies, as well as ensuring drivers have a valid driver’s license. The DMV reports that unlicensed drivers are 4.9 times more likely to cause a fatal crash than a licensed driver is.
The checkpoint will be staffed by officers trained in the detection of alcohol and drug impairment to provide on-the-spot assessments of drivers suspected of alcohol or drug impairment. All checkpoints are conducted in accordance with the guidelines for DUI checkpoint operations outlined in the California Supreme Court decision, Ingersoll v. Palmer.
All vehicles may be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs will be arrested. Our objective is to send a clear message to those who are considering driving a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol and / or drugs – Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest. The public is encouraged to help keep roadways safe by calling 911 if they see a suspected impaired driver. Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Orange Police Department is conducting a DUI and Driver’s license checkpoint tonight at 600 W. Katella Avenue between 9:00 pm and 2:15 am.
The checkpoint will be at a light industrial/retail area a block west of a Home Depot.
Funding for this checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A witness reported a subject smashing the front window of a liquor store at Collins and Glassell at 4:30 this morning and then fleeing the area in a white sedan.
Officers responded to the location, confirmed a burglary, checked the area and located a vehicle matching the description near Glassell and Washington.
A car stop was conducted and a male and female occupant were detained. Property from the liquor store was located inside the suspect’s vehicle.
The female, 27-year-old Jamilla Awad from Perris, had blood on her hands and blood was located at the crime scene. The male driver, 30-year-old Roberto Torres from Santa Ana, was on Parole.
Inside the vehicle, officers located stolen property related to another liquor store burglary in Orange that occurred on 1/4/21.
Detectives responded and were able to arrest Torres for an additional liquor store burglary that occurred on 12/31/21 in Orange.
Awad and Torres were booked into OC Jail for commercial burglary.
SANTA ANA, Calif. – In a published opinion issued Tuesday, the District Court of Appeal agreed with Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer that driving under the influence (DUI) defendants are not eligible for misdemeanor diversion under newly enacted Penal Code section 1001.95 because existing law already specifically prohibits granting diversion to DUI defendants, pursuant to Vehicle Code section 23640.
“Orange County is facing a crisis when it comes to drivers driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or both. Driving under the influence of drugs rose more than 40 percent and felony driving under the influence filings increased 25 percent during the pandemic. Anyone who gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after taking drugs or drinking has the potential of killing someone. That someone could be your husband or wife, your father or mother or even your child,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Prosecutors must be able to hold drunk and drugged drivers accountable – to prevent first-time offenders from becoming repeat offenders – and to be able to charge repeat offenders with murder if they get behind the wheel impaired and they kill someone. Once diversion is completed, it’s as if the crime never happened – and those prior convictions wash out despite the fact that state law allows prior DUIs to be pled and proven for up to 10 years. They couldn’t be used as a prior – and the families whose lives were shattered by an impaired driver would not get the justice they deserve. This opinion not only corrects the reckless and misguided behavior of the state Legislature and Governor Newsom, it will undoubtedly save innocent lives.”
This is the first published opinion by the Court of Appeal on the issue in the state and clarifies the limits of Penal Code section 1001.95, which gave judges broad discretion to grant diversion to misdemeanor defendants with very few exceptions. Defendants charged with driving under the influence were not specifically prohibited from a grant of diversion under the new law.
For that reason, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office along with the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) fought vigorously to defeat AB 3234 (Ting). Despite those efforts, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law, which went into effect as Penal Code section 1001.95 on January 1, 2021.
In his September 30, 2020 signing statement for AB 3234, Governor Newsom wrote that he was concerned that DUIs were not excluded from diversion eligibility by the new law and promised to expeditiously remedy the issue in the next Legislative session.
To date, it has not been remedied by the Legislature.
Misdemeanor DUI defendants immediately began filing petitions for diversion under the new law. Among those was Nancy Grassi, who was charged by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office with driving under the influence of drugs in 2019.
In February 2021, Grassi filed a motion for misdemeanor diversion under the new misdemeanor diversion law. Her request was denied after Orange County prosecutors argued Vehicle Code section 23640, which was enacted in 1998, already prohibits driving under the influence defendants from receiving diversion. Grassi sought review in the Court of Appeal.
Presiding Justice Kathleen E. O’Leary of the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three, wrote the unanimous published opinion in Grassi v. The Superior Court of Orange County, affirming that driving under the influence defendants are not eligible for court-initiated misdemeanor diversion pursuant to Penal Code section 1001.95 because Vehicle Code section 23640’s specific language – which prohibits diversion for any DUI defendant under any circumstances – still applies.
As a result, the current state of the law in California is that DUI defendants are categorically ineligible for diversion.
A copy of the published DCA opinion in Grassi v. The Superior Court of Orange County can be found here: https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/G060362.PDF
Deputy District Attorney George Turner of the Writs & Appeals Unit argued this case.
ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority is providing safe rides for those ringing in 2022 with free fares on OC Bus from 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 31 to 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 1.
Riding OC Bus is a safe and easy way to get to popular destinations around Orange County, including bus routes that operate near Downtown Fullerton, Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and more.
The free bus rides, which have been offered for nearly 20 years, were not offered last year because of health concerns related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) but are returning this year as more people return to regular activities.
All riders on OC Bus must wear a face covering to board and ride, and the health and safety of passengers and coach operators remains the top priority for OCTA.
Those who choose to go out to mark the New Year are encouraged to consider taking advantage of the free bus service to help celebrate responsibly.
Those planning to ride the bus this New Year’s Eve are encouraged to plan their trip ahead of time by visiting www.OCBus.com. The site includes an interactive planner that makes it easy for new and experienced riders to determine times and routes, along with a map of popular Orange County destinations.
Free rides begin at 6 p.m., so those getting a start prior to that time must pay the $2 bus fare or use an OC Bus pass.
To date, the free service has recorded more than 162,000 boardings since it began in 2002.
About OCTA: The Orange County Transportation Authority is the county transportation planning commission, responsible for funding and implementing transit and capital projects for a balanced and sustainable transportation system that reflects the diverse travel needs of the county’s 34 cities and 3.2 million residents. With the mission of keeping Orange County moving, this includes freeways and express lanes, bus and rail transit, rideshare, commuter rail, environmental programs and active transportation.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (December 17, 2021) – The Anaheim Police Department Traffic Unit will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint Friday, December 17, 2021 near Orange Avenue and Beach Boulevard starting at 6:00 P.M.
Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired.
During the checkpoint, officers will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
As the state continues to work to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Anaheim Police Department is committed to keeping the public safe.
“The safety of our community is and always will be our primary mission.” Traffic Sergeant Rick Boyer said. “We continue to look for impaired drivers because driving under the influence is still dangerous.”
The Anaheim Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. Always follow directions for use and read warning labels about driving or “operating heavy machinery,” which includes driving a car. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.
If you plan on drinking or taking medications that may impact your ability to drive safely, plan on staying at home.
Drivers charged with DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Fountain Valley, Calif. – This holiday season, the Fountain Valley Police Department reminds the public to celebrate the holiday season responsibly by not driving under the influence.
The Fountain Valley Police Department is committed to keeping our community safe and encourages everyone to stay in for the night or use a designated sober driver if you have consumed alcohol, marijuana, prescription, or over-the-counter drugs that may impair your ability to drive.
From December 15 through New Year’s Day, the Fountain Valley Police Department will have additional officers on patrol looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The extra enforcement effort is part of a national campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, with the goal of stopping suspected impaired drivers who put others on the road at risk.
“When it comes to consuming drugs and/or alcohol and driving, there is a right and wrong choice,” Sergeant Brian Mosher said. “Make the right choice by not driving impaired so everyone is able to enjoy the holidays.”
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Garden Grove Police Department will hold a DUI Checkpoint on December 18, 2021, from 2100-0300 hours at an undisclosed location within the city of Garden Grove in the County of Orange.
Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired.
During the checkpoint, officers will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
As the state continues to work to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Garden Grove Police Department is committed to keeping the public safe.
“The safety of our community is and always will be our mission,” Police Chief Tom DaRé said. “We are still out there looking for impaired drivers because driving under the influence is still dangerous.”
The Garden Grove Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. Always follow directions for use and read warning labels about driving or ”operating heavy machinery,” which includes driving a car. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.
If you plan on drinking or taking medications that may impact your ability to drive safely, plan on staying at home.
Drivers charged with DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday, December 17th, 2021. It will begin at 7:00 PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:00 AM.
The primary purpose of a DUI Checkpoint is to deter impaired driving, not to increase arrests. All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. This DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies, as well as ensuring drivers have a valid driver’s license. The DMV reports that unlicensed drivers are 4.9 times more likely to cause a fatal crash than a licensed driver is.
The checkpoint will be staffed by officers trained in the detection of alcohol and drug impairment to provide on-the-spot assessments of drivers suspected of alcohol or drug impairment. All checkpoints are conducted in accordance with the guidelines for DUI checkpoint operations outlined in the California Supreme Court decision, Ingersoll v. Palmer.
All vehicles may be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs will be arrested. Our objective is to send a clear message to those who are considering driving a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol and / or drugs – Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest. The public is encouraged to help keep roadways safe by calling 911 if they see a suspected impaired driver. Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Anaheim Police finally tracked down the woman believed to be behind a horrific DUI hit-and-run collision that killed three men in Anaheim back in May of this year. Cynthia Lizbeth Ayala of Pomona, a 27-year-old, is facing charges in connection with that DUI collision.
She is facing a half-dozen felony charges that include gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and hit-and-run with permanent and serious injury. She appeared in court on Monday but did not enter a plea.
The police investigators allege that she was behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz that was traveling north on Brookhurst at around 3 a.m., between Broadway and Orange Avenue, when she crashed into a Kia Soul driven by a 63-year-old Uber driver from Los Angeles, Alexander Smiller, that was trying to turn into the street from a parking lot.
The Mercedes slammed into front, left bumper of the Kia, which caused major front-end damage to both vehicles.
Smiller and his two passengers, Jacob Rolon of La Mirada, age 32, and Richard Zuniga of Anaheim, age 36, were killed.
Ayala and her passenger were taken to a local hospital by a good Samaritan, after the crash, according to the Anaheim Police.
Anaheim Police investigators took months to determine who was at fault and how Ayala and her passenger ended up leaving the crash scene before the police officers arrived.
The investigation determined that Ayala’s Mercedes would have had the right-of-way if the other driver had been turning onto the roadway. A surveillance video obtained by the police showed that the Kia pulled into the street and then the Mercedes slammed into it.
The Anaheim Police are also alleging that Ayala allegedly had a blood-alcohol content of 0.218 at the time of the fatal crash and was also driving at an unsafe speed and not paying attention to the road. That blood-alcohol level is more than double the amount allowed for safe driving.
The Orange Police Department is conducting a DUI and Driver’s license checkpoint tonight at 1600 N. Tustin Street between 9:00 pm and 2:15 am.
Funding for this checkpoint was provided by a grant from the CA Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Historically DUI checkpoints rarely catch any drunk drivers. Police departments are able to bust more drunk drivers when they do DUI sweeps. However the State of CA pays for the DUI checkpoints and the police officers like getting paid overtime while they man the DUI checkpoints. The DUI checkpoints more often result in citations for issues with vehicle registrations and driver’s licenses as well as citing motorists for not having car insurance.
In related news, the Irvine Police Department announced today that they will be conducting a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Driver’s License checkpoint next Saturday, December 18, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the area of Jamboree Road and Michelson Drive.
Arturo Ramirezgomez, a 28-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving early Sunday, Dec. 5 after he ran a red light and caused a collision that killed a man and injured three others, according to the Anaheim Police.
The crash happened at 1:53 a.m. at the intersection of West Ball Road and South Magnolia Avenue, when a black Nissan Murano driven by Ramirezgomez was heading west on Ball Road and failed to stop on a red light at the Magnolia intersection.
A black 2016 Honda Accord occupied by four men was struck by the Nissan Murano. Inside the Accord were three 30-year-old men and a 49-year-old man. The 49-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. He was a rear-seat passenger. The three other victims in the Honda had minor injuries and were all hospitalized.
One of the cars involved in the collision then struck a Toyota Camry, which had stopped at the red light facing Magnolia. A person trapped in a car had to be freed by firefighters.
Ramirezgomez was arrested on suspicion of DUI. He is in custody and apparently suffered minor injuries as well.
The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Wednesday, November 24th, 2021. It will begin at 7:00 PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:00 AM.
The primary purpose of a DUI Checkpoint is to deter impaired driving, not to increase arrests. All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. This DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies, as well as ensuring drivers have a valid driver’s license. The DMV reports that unlicensed drivers are 4.9 times more likely to cause a fatal crash than a licensed driver is.
The checkpoint will be staffed by officers trained in the detection of alcohol and drug impairment to provide on-the-spot assessments of drivers suspected of alcohol or drug impairment. All checkpoints are conducted in accordance with the guidelines for DUI checkpoint operations outlined in the California Supreme Court decision, Ingersoll v. Palmer.
All vehicles may be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs will be arrested. Our objective is to send a clear message to those who are considering driving a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol and / or drugs – Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest. The public is encouraged to help keep roadways safe by calling 911 if they see a suspected impaired driver. Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Jorge ErastoCruz, 33, a Lake Forest man, is facing two counts of murder, which were filed on Tuesday, Nov. 16, after he was involved in a suspected DUI crash on the 5 Freeway, in Irvine, that resulted in the death of two people early on Sunday.
ErastoCruz has been convicted of DUIs twice prior to this latest fatal incident. Perhaps that is why this time he was held in custom in lieu of bail of $1M.
ErastoCruz failed a field sobriety test at the crash scene, which occurred near the southbound lanes north of Yale Avenue, according to the CHP.
ErastoCruz slammed a GMC Yukon into the back of a Honda Civic, which for some reason had stopped on the right shoulder, at about 2 a.m.
One of the victims had been outside of the Civic and was trying to get back into the vehicle when the crash occurred. The impact flung that victim into traffic and a passing vehicle then struck the victim and killed him.
Four other people in the car were hospitalized but one of them, Alice Read, 25, of San Diego, died.
The man struck by another vehicle has not yet been identified by the O.C. Coroner.
ErastoCruz was arrested and booked on suspicion of DUI involving alcohol. The charges now include drunk driving, driving with a suspended or revoked license, and two counts of murder.
ErastoCruz pleaded guilty in 2019 to two prior cases of DUI. One DUI took place on Oct. 18, 2018, and the other happened on Dec. 30 of that same year.