La Mesa Logged 230 DUI Arrests in First 11 Months of the Year, Police Report

Updated at 9:50 a.m. Wednesday

Friday’s tragic crash that claimed the lives of a Grossmont High School student and his grandmother again highlighted the consequences of drunken driving, since the suspect in the freeway accident is accused of DUI—driving under the influence.

But how common is drunken driving in La Mesa?

Too common, according to Sgt. Peter Andersson of the La Mesa Police Department.

La Mesa police arrested 230 people on suspicion of DUI between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, Andersson said Monday.  Only four were on felony charges; the rest were misdemeanor DUI. The law in the Vehicle Code is detailed here. 

He said seven DUI arrests by La Mesa police involved injuries. Three collisions involved injury, not counting those handled by the California Highway Patrol on freeways crossing La Mesa.

A New Year’s Day fatality at Severin and Murray drives involved a drunken driver, but the death was ultimately blamed on the pedestrian who was struck, Andersson said.

“If the driver did not cause the accident, we do not stat that as a DUI-caused fatality,” he said.

Eloisa Orozco, executive director of the San Diego branch of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said Wednesday that, on average, a drunken driver has driven drunk at least 80 times before a first arrest.

“That’s a staggering statistic,” Orozco said, citing a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from Oct. 4 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Moreover, she said, 60 percent to 75 percent of convicted drunken drivers continue to drive on a suspended license.

The La Mesa Police Department takes driving under the influence very seriously, Andersson said, and “we are continuing our efforts with further public education, through additional press releases to hopefully act as a deterrent.”

Police also plan DUI enforcement events over the next few weeks, covering the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. 

“Some of those are planned for here in La Mesa and some we are participating with other police agencies throughout the entire county,” he said.

La Mesa police conducted five DUI checkpoints this year and five DUI saturation patrols—in addition to the DUI warrant sweeps, DUI court stings and DUI probation checks, he said.

Andersson also notes that La Mesa has a “social host” ordinance (see it here).

“This section deals mostly with preventing underage drinking and the requirements placed on adults to reasonably prevent that from happening,” he said.

Penalties for drunken driving vary according to circumstances and take prior incidents into account. But a first offense typically nets a 48-hour jailing, $1,500 fine and six-month loss of driver’s license.

What happens when a suspected drunken driver is stopped in La Mesa?

“On traffic stops of a suspected intoxicated driver, the officers go through a series of steps,” said Andersson, who oversees La Mesa traffic patrols. 

“In addition to their initial observations, they put the driver through Field Sobriety Tests.  They are equipped to have the driver blow into a ‘Preliminary Alcohol Sensor’ device in the field, which may or may not detect alcohol. 

Regardless of the field test results, he said, officers make their determination to arrest or not based on all observations. 

“If they make the arrest for DUI, another formal chemical test will be conducted.  All cases do not automatically result in a subsequent conviction, but with a test over the legal limit, the case more often than not will have severe legal consequences.
 
“As … we saw last week, irresponsible holiday celebrating involving alcohol unfortunately continues to have tragic consequences.  This holiday season’s efforts have already begun here in La Mesa.”

Andersson’s advice for partygoers:

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.
• Before drinking,  please designate a sober driver.
• If you’re impaired, and haven't designated a sober driver, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely.
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement; Report Drunk Drivers Call 9-1-1!”