DWI Hit Parade!

(Editor’s Note: Police officers need to respect court dates the same as citizens…maybe if Judge Jolly locked up some of these deputies they would reschedule their leave and training dates…meanwhile the citizens and witnesses have taken off from work to attend only to have the hapless prosecutor ask for a continuance…Hats Off to Judge Jolly!)

“So, it’s ironic to me that at the same time this community is seeing that from our criminal justice system, they’re also learning that in another courtroom (DWI) cases are being dismissed en masse over state objection because an officer wasn’t present.” — District Attorney Jon David

A police officer has the same obligation to appear in court as a defendant or witness. Police officials know in advance both training days and court appearances. The prosecutor should not be “puzzled” unless he just got out of law school last year…

The prosecutor told the newspaper reporter that the defense attorneys didn’t object to the delays caused by cops failing to appear for court dates…first, this is just another time the lawyers can bill their clients and second, the defense attorneys often need their own delays and their legal practice often hinges on the edge of financial ruin and friendly relations with the D. A. keeps them solvent…

From Star News
Impaired driving charges against 28 people were refiled by the Brunswick County District Attorney’s Office recently after the prosecutor was forced to dismiss the original cases because a judge wouldn’t grant a continuance.
Chief 13th Judicial District Court Judge Jerry A. Jolly made the decision despite the fact that the defense attorneys in the cases didn’t object to the continuances and the officers called to testify were unable to attend.
On Nov. 28, and again on Dec. 12, Jolly denied prosecution requests to continue driving while impaired cases when he was informed on Nov. 28 that the arresting officer was in mandatory training and on Dec. 12 that the deputy was out on leave.
But, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office records indicate, in each of the 28 cases continuances were granted at least once – and in some cases up to five and six times – at the request of the defense attorneys. Fourteen of the 28 cases were also previously continued at the request of the prosecution.
“I don’t know why he denied the continuance,” said District Attorney Jon David on Friday. “You’d have to ask (Jolly).” …. MORE

From KAAL TV ABC 6 NEWS
- The budget stalemate is forcing Miller-Coors to pull their products from store shelves and bars in Minnesota.
The license that the distributor has with Minnesota has ended and they cannot renew it because of the shutdown.
The state of Minnesota has given Miller-Coors a few days to pull their 39 beers off the shelves.
“Absolutely, they are going to have to remove that product without that brand label registration they can’t operate in the state,” said Doug Neville of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety…..MORE

From LubbockOnline.com:
Lubbock police made eight arrests last week for driving while intoxicated.

■ Feb. 21. 1900 Frankford Ave. 4:30 a.m. Rafael Guitron Jr., 31, of Ralls.

■ Feb. 21. 5000 82nd St. 2:06 a.m. Michelle Ortiz Baca, 39. She was initially stopped for a traffic violation.

■ Feb. 22. 1700 Idalou Road. 4:20 a.m. Janie Marie Constancio, 29. Police say she passed out behind the wheel and then struck a stop sign and a light pole……MORE

From LoHud.com
Hoping to send just that to drivers, lawmakers in the region, including Westchester and Rockland counties, want to show they are tough on drunken driving by taking away potentially dangerous weapons: people’s cars. Putnam County had 553 arrests in 2008, a substantial jump from the 392 in 2007, and Levy’s office has seized 29 vehicles since the program was implemented in January 2010.  MORE

From NBCDFW.com:
Austin’s 6th Street attracts some pretty odd behavior, and it probably doesn’t get much weirder than two guys busted for DWI while riding horses. To be fair, one rode a horse and the other rode a mule, according to this story. The allegedly toasted guys rode the street and invited folks to pose for photos with them and their steeds. Police saw the pair, said, “Hmm,” and pulled them over after a no-speed chase.  MORE