Impaired Drivers Caught in Thousand Oaks DUI Checkpoint
I’m Ed Smith, a Thousand Oaks car accident lawyer. Five people were taken into custody from the evening of July 15 through early in the morning on July 16 at a checkpoint conducted at Thousand Oaks by local police. The next checkpoint is scheduled to begin on August 12.
What Happened
A grant from the Office of Traffic Safety provides funds for California police departments to operate periodic checkpoints to look for drunk drivers, drugged drivers, and traffic offenders. This checkpoint in Thousand Oaks ran from Saturday night at 8:00 in the evening until 3:00 in the morning on Sunday. According to the Thousand Oaks Police Department, 437 motor vehicles were screened along Westlake Boulevard and Hampshire Road and on Moorpark Road near East Janss Road.
Resulting Arrests and Citations
Three individuals were arrested for driving under the influence, while another was arrested due to impairment by drugs. A fifth person was taken into custody on criminal charges, according to authorities, although no further details were given. Six individuals were found to be driving a vehicle with licenses that were revoked or suspended or the individual was found to be unlicensed to drive. In total, police officers passed out eight citations for such infractions of the law.
Drunk Driving in California
Driving under the influence is a serious problem in the State of California as well as the rest of the nation. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of every three traffic deaths in the nation involve a drunk driver. In California, between 2003 and 2012, 10,327 people died in motor vehicle accidents related to impaired drivers. The majority of these drunk drivers were males between the ages of 21 and 34.
Drunk or drugged drivers not only endanger themselves but endanger others, including other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. When someone has been injured or has lost a family member due to the negligence of a drunk driver, the victim may be able to ask for punitive damages in addition to asking for financial compensation because of medical bills, lost income and other expenses associated with an accident. A conviction for drunk driving or guilty plea provides evidence that can be used in court. Under California Civil Code § 3294, a victim may be eligible for punitive damages, which are additional damages meant to deter a drunk driver from doing it again. In other words, a drunk driver, by knowing that he/she was in no condition to drive safely, showed a callous disregard for others on the road by choosing to drive anyway.
Do Insurance Companies Pay Punitive Damages?
Insurance companies are not responsible for paying punitive damages. This is a matter that must be taken to court and decided by a judge or jury. If you or your loved one has been a victim of an accident caused by a drunk or drugged driver, you may wish to consult an experienced accident attorney. A seasoned personal injury lawyer can gather all the evidence and calculate the damages to present a strong case in court for fair compensation.
Additional Links:
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Thousand Oaks Car Accident Lawyer Attorney Ed Smith
Thousand Oaks Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith and I am a Thousand Oaks car accident lawyer. If a motor vehicle accident caused by another motorist’s negligence harms you or a family member, please call me at (805) 372-0200 for free and friendly advice. Outside the area? Call (800) 404-5400.
Reviews on my practice are found at Google and Yelp. Additional reviews are on Avvo. The Verdicts and Settlements list provides additional information about my past cases.
I am a California member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
With 35 years of experience as a California injury lawyer, I am proud to serve the people of California, including Thousand Oaks residents, to obtain fair compensation in their wrongful death or traumatic injury claims.
Photo Attribution: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_checkpoint#/media/File:Sobriety_checkpoint_easthaven_ct.jpg courtesy of Versageek
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