The Huntington Beach Police Department might soon be adopting a new policy, where people that have been accused of drunk driving will have their names posted on the police department's website. According to the Orange County Register, the listing of names is part of an effort to address the problem of drunk driving in the city.
Yet this strategy doesn't seem too popular among DUI defense lawyers. Aside from the fact that posting the names of DUI suspects may not do anything to deter drunk driving in Huntington Beach, many people feel that the listing of names can be damaging to a person's reputation.
This policy can especially be problematic if a person was wrongfully accused of driving under the influence. An innocent person can potentially suffer from a great deal of humiliation if they are publicly labeled as a DUI suspect. However, the Huntington Beach Police Department asserts that the purpose of this policy is not to humiliate drunk drivers, but is meant to raise awareness about DUI crimes.
"It's not a wall of shame we're looking to put up," Lt. Russell Reinhart told the Los Angeles Times. "Public awareness of the problem, and scope of the problem, is one way of addressing any public safety concern."
Anybody that is wrongfully accused of DUI in Southern California should see a DUI attorney in Los Angeles or Orange County to learn about what rights they have under the law. An attorney can evaluate all the evidence in a particular case, including any chemical tests or field sobriety tests that were administered by law enforcers.
Related Resources:
- Big Changes Coming for California DUI Cases (FindLaw KnowledgeBase)
- See a Los Angeles DUI Defense Lawyer (FindLaw)
- Drunk Driving FAQ (FindLaw)
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