New Laser Device May Be A Drunk Driver's Worst Nightmare

Scientists in Poland may have come up with a powerful new deterrent to drunk driving. It's a laser-based device that can detect alcohol vapor--like that exhaled by someone who's been drinking--inside a car as it passes by.

The device works by detecting subtle changes in the laser beam as it passes through the alcohol vapor.
"We all are already familiar with laser instruments used by the police for speed-limit enforcement," Dr. Marco Gianinetto, a Polytechnic University of Milan researcher who has no connection to the Polish research, said in a written statement. "In the future, a similar technology may be developed to detect different chemical compounds, enabling the detection of drivers under the influence of other intoxicants."

When Will Texting And Driving Be As Taboo As Drunken Driving?

 

When it comes to texting and driving, the problem isn't a lack of awareness about the risk. Ninety-eight percent of people know that it's dangerous, yet three in four are offenders, according to a new survey that AT&T designed with Dr. David Greenfield, founder of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction and assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

Texting while driving has been shown to be more dangerous than drunken driving, and it is the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S., according to a 2013 study. Greenfield talked with The Huffington Post about why people continue to text and drive, how they can make themselves stop, and what it will take for it to become as taboo as drinking and driving.

This study showed that nearly everyone knows texting while driving is dangerous, but most people do it anyway. Do people tend to think they are better at multitasking than everyone else?

11-year-old Brooklyn boy in drunk driving crash dies of injuries

Anthony Pollydore, 65, at Kings County Criminal Court, where he was ordered held without bail and his license was suspended after getting charged with aggravated vehicular assault and aggravated drunken driving with a child.

The 11-year-old Brooklyn boy who was hurt in a DWI accident has died, a prosecutor said Monday.

Little Dylan Perry succumbed to injuries suffered when his stepfather Anthony Pollydore, 65, crashed into a light post Sunday morning, authorities said.

Am I a Drug Addict or Just Really Fun? (VIDEO)

When I arrived in Los Angeles at 18, I had a strict "no drugs" policy. I was a product of a generation that had experienced fifth-grade D.A.R.E. and had been traumatized when Jessie Spano hat gotten addicted to caffeine pills on Saved by the Bell. No thanks, drugs! I will be taking care of my body and mind and simply drinking myself into a blackout.

However, when I got hired to work in a gay club as a go-go boy, I found that drugs were almost an integral aspect of the party scene. I caved and decided to just try them. At first it was innocent enough: a bump of cocaine before work, a harmless pill of E at an all-night rave, something called "Liquid X."

In episode 5 of Go-Go Boy Interrupted, Danny decides to clean up his act and get a real job (as a babysitter). However, the interview goes south when Danny's partying history catches up with him.

Detainees Protest at Australian Offshore Detention Center

Nauru, Australia

SYDNEY—
Rights groups say asylum seekers at an Australian-run detention center on the Pacific island of Nauru are continuing to protest against refugee policies. Activists say some inmates have sewn their lips together and drunk detergent, while one man reportedly cut his own throat in protest at Canberra’s plans to deny detainees resettlement visas in Australia.
Refugee campaigners say there is anger and dismay among asylum seekers detained on Nauru after Australia confirmed they would not be allowed to apply for Temporary Protection Visas, or TPVs.
The permits will only apply to asylum seekers currently held in immigration camps in Australia, or those who have been released on bridging visas into the community. Inmates in offshore processing centers on Nauru or Papua New Guinea will not be eligible.
Activists claim the ruling has triggered demonstrations on Nauru, with various cases of self-harm reported, including a young girl who has reportedly swallowed detergent, and a man who cut his own throat.  Others have apparently sewn their lips together.
Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition in Sydney, said tensions are high on Nauru.
“The mood is not good. I think you can only describe it as desperate and despairing.  So you have got protests that have been happening now for five days inside the detention center and amongst the people who have actually been released as refugees,” said Rintoul.
Minister for Immigration Scott Morrison has yet to respond publicly to allegations of self-harm on Nauru. It is standard government policy to refuse to divulge information about such incidents.
Canberra is seeking to reintroduce Temporary Protection Visas and is seeking support for its plans in the Australian parliament.
Critics say that TPVs will condemn asylum seekers, who mainly come from countries in South Asia and the Middle East, to an uncertain life in limbo.
But Morrison said the system will provide security for thousands of people.
“TPVs will be granted to for a maximum of three years and will provide access to Medicare, social security benefits and work rights as occurred under the Howard government. TPVs will provide refugees with stability and a chance to get on with their lives while at the same time guaranteeing that people smugglers do not have permanent protection visa product to sell to those who are travelling illegally to Australia,” said Morrison.
After three years, refugees must re-apply for the temporary visas, at which time officials will reassess the situation in their home countries before determining if they remain eligible for the program.
Last week, Canberra struck a multi-million deal with Cambodia to resettle refugees in the impoverished Southeast Asian nation. Other agreements have seen asylum seekers who arrive in Australia by boat transferred to offshore processing camps in the South Pacific.  Ministers say the policy is deterring other asylum seekers, while the military has also been brought in to turn refugee boats away from Australian waters.
Australia grants refugee visas to about 13,000 people annually under various international accords.

California Signs Sexual Consent Law

California Gov. Jerry Brown, speaking in this Sept. 4, 2014 during a gubernatorial debate in Sacramento, has signed a bill that makes California the first in the nation to define when "yes means yes." 
California has become the first U.S. state to adopt “yes means yes” rule that requires students on university campuses to have clear consent before engaging in sexual activity.
The law also prescribes requirements for colleges to follow in investigating sexual assault report.
Sunday, Governor Jerry Brown of California signed the bill, which advocates say it will change the understanding of students on what consent means.
UCLA student Savannah Badalich agrees, saying this is an "amazing" development.
“It is going to educate an entire new generation of students on what consent us and what consent is not ... that the absence of a 'no' is not a 'yes,'" she added.
But critics say the new law provides a broad, dangerous definition of sexual assault.
The bill stipulates silence or lack of resistance does not constitute consent. The rule further states that someone who is drunk, drugged, unconscious or asleep cannot grant consent.
States and universities across the United States are under pressure to better handle rape allegations.
President Obama launched a campaign last January to fight sexual assault, particularly on college and university campuses.
Some information was provided by AP, Reuters.

USA Swimming Suspends Phelps after Drunk Driving Arrest

FILE - United States' Michael Phelps swims in the men's 4 X 100-meter medley relay at the Aquatics Center in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

The United States governing body for competitive swimming has banned Olympic superstar Michael Phelps from competing for six months after a drunk driving arrest.
Phelps, who has won the most Olympic medals in history, was pulled over in his hometown of Baltimore, in the eastern U.S. state of Maryland, last week, driving 135 kilometers per hour and crossing lanes inside a traffic tunnel.
USA Swimming says Phelps' actions are detrimental to the the sports' image, reputation and code of conduct.
He can still train with the team but cannot swim in any world events until March.
Phelps has apologized for his behavior and says he is seeking help.
This is the second time Phelps has been charged with driving while impaired. He was also banned from competition in 2009 when he was photographed smoking what appeared to be a marijuana pipe.
Phelps has won 22 Olympic swimming medals in the 2008 and 2012 games, including 18 golds - making him the most decorated athlete in modern Olympic history.
He has said he hopes to compete in the  2016 games in Rio de Janeiro.

VOANews : 06 Oct 2014

Austin Man Arrested For DWI After 0.0 Breathalyzer Test

Austin Man Arrested For DWI After 0.0 Breathalyzer Test
Larry Davis was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) back in 2013 after a breathalyzer test showed his blood alcohol content (BAC) level to be 0.0%. The incident occurred in Austin, TX, when Davis was pulled over in his Buick on a routine traffic stop. When the police asked Davis if he had been drinking that night, he repeatedly insisted that he only had one beer. Despite his claim of only consuming one beer, Austin police believed Davis displayed signs of alcohol intoxication and placed him under arrest for DWI. Unfortunately for Davis, despite having blown a 0.0% breathalyzer test, he still spent the night in jail.
Davis’ attorney said that he was simply shocked that his client was even arrested for DWI after this circumstances. Davis also agreed to submit a blood test, which also came back negative, in addition to the breathalyzer and field sobriety tests. Davis has been fighting the arrest in court for a year now, however, Austin police have stood by the arrest citing their “take-no-chances” policy. Austin police say that it was the one leg stand test Davis performed that made them suspicious. Austin police say that Davis “needed his arms for balance” during the sobriety test and with regard to the clean blood test, they suggested that marijuana could still have been in his system without showing up on the test. Davis is currently trying to have his arrest record wiped clean and plans to file a grievance against the officer that arrested him.
Do you think the Austin Police Department made the right call? Or should Larry Davis have gone home that night?
If you have been arrested for driving drunk, contact an experienced and skilled Texas DWI attorney for legal assistance.
Posted Friday, February 28, 2014
 

Colts Owner Jim Irsay Arrested For DUI

Colts Owner Jim Irsay Arrested For DUI

Jim Irsay, owner of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, was arrested for DUI on March 16, 2014 in Carmel, Indiana. In addition to his DUI, Irsay was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and faces a total of 4 felony counts. The incident occurred Sunday when police spotted Jim Irsay stopping on the roadway, driving at a slow rate of speed and failing to use a turn signal. In a press release, Lt. Joe Bickel of the Carmel Police Department said that Irsay “failed several roadside field sobriety tests“.
According to Bickel, “multiple prescription drugs were discovered in pill bottles“, however, the drugs found were not associated with any prescription bottles in Irsay’s vehicle. The Colts have officially issued a statement, saying “The Club continues to fully support Mr. Irsay but must refrain from commenting further at least until formal charges have been filed“. Jim Irsay has long since admitted to an addition problem with prescription medicine. In 2002, Irsay said that his dependency on prescription pain medications came after several years of orthopedic procedures and operations, which led to extensive bouts of chronic pain. Upon being released from jail Sunday afternoon, Irsay tweeted a message of thanks to his supporters.
If you have been arrested for driving drunk, contact an experienced and skilled Indiana DUI attorney for legal assistance.
Posted Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Humble ISD Teacher Gets DWI On Her Way To School

Humble ISD Teacher Gets DWI On Her Way To School

Patricia Almond, a 48 year-old middle school teacher with Humble ISD was arrested for DWI while driving to work on May 8, 2014. According to authorities, Almond was seen driving erratically by police, swerving in and out of lanes on Highway 59. Police pulled the Humble ISD teacher over just after she grazed a retaining wall. When police began investigating Almond, they noticed several signs of alcohol intoxication such as having an odor of alcohol, difficulty maintaining balance and red, glassy eyes.
Since her arrest, Humble ISD has released a statement, saying, “The incident is being addressed through the court system, as it happened off campus, outside of school hours, and did not involve students. Human Resources will be reviewing the police report and then meeting with the staff member to discuss options“. Another teacher, Monica Quintero, in the Humble ISD was also arrested just a week before Almond when police caught her dealing drugs out of her apartment. Quintero, along with her felon boyfriend, were found to be in possession of various forms of meth, heroin, syringes and firearms among many other things.
If you have been arrested for driving drunk, contact an experienced and skilled Texas DWI attorney for legal assistance.
Posted Thursday, May 15, 2014

David Cassidy Sentenced To Rehab And Probation For DUI

David Cassidy Sentenced To Rehab And Probation For DUI

David Cassidy, former “Partridge Family” star, has been sentenced to probation and must attend alcohol rehabilitation following his third arrest for DUI in January. Cassidy will have to stay at a live-in rehabilitation center for 90 days and will be on probation for 5 years. An attorney for David Cassidy entered a plea of no contest on Monday, March 24, 2014. In addition to various fines, Cassidy will also have to attend a 9 month alcohol education course. On the night of his arrest, Cassidy blew a .19% alcohol breathalyzer test, more than twice the legal limit.
The Partridge Family star was arrested for DUI after arriving in Los Angeles where he was going to submit a deposition in a lawsuit he had filed against Sony Pictures Television. Cassidy is allegedly suing the company over money he believes he is owed for merchandising baring his image. His manager, Jo-Ann Geffen said that Cassidy had been doing fine avoiding alcohol until a stressful round of questioning pertaining to his lawsuit led to a relapse. Cassidy’s attorney said that his client has already voluntarily spent 102 days in rehab and would even remain in rehab longer than his new sentence required.
If you have been arrested for driving drunk, contact an experienced and skilled California DUI attorney for legal assistance.
Posted Thursday, May 15, 2014

Woman charged in DUI after neighbor catches her ramming husband’s scooter

A California woman has been charged with driving under the influence after she was caught on camera running over her husband’s electric mobility scooter.
ABC 7 News reports that Laura Cox, 47, of Huntington Beach, is seen on a 65-second YouTube clip captured by neighbor Sarah Oliver pushing her unidentified husband off the vehicle before getting behind the wheel of an SUV and backing over it twice.
“Insanity,” Oliver told the station. “I felt really bad for him, so I called the cops.”
Cox, who suffers from mental illness and had apparently stopped taking her medication before starting to drink, was later charged with driving under the influence. Her husband, meanwhile, said the video was misleading and claimed the vehicle was not totaled.
“I wasn’t hit,” he said. “It was a thing of just trying to stop someone from drinking and driving.”
Oliver said the incident is not the first time Cox has shown bizarre behavior.
“This was kind of more serious,” she said. “It was always something I showed to friends to kind of laugh, like ‘Look at my crazy neighbors.’ Now it’s turned to this.”

Published September 09, 2014

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