Newport Beach Car Accidents Linked to Higher Than Average DUIs

Newport Beach car accident attorneys have knownguilty in Orange County Superior Court to driving under
for many years of the cities DUI problem. With athe influence with a blood alcohol content of .08% or
population of over 85,000, Newport Beach, California ismore causing injury.
one of the wealthiest communities in the United States.To help reduce the number of Orange County car
The city has many attractions including plenty of fastaccidents in the city, Newport Beach has adopted a
sports cars and expensive bars and sports clubs."No Tolerance for DUI Offenders" policy through
Unfortunately, it also has a higher than average shareeducation and enforcement. The City Council assigned
of motorists who drink and drive resulting in cara police vehicle and police officers to enforce DUI
accidents.driving, speed and red-light violations. The enforcement
In 2005, Newport Beach ranked highest in the state inand education efforts include a variety of measures
its population category (50,000-100,000) forimplemented throughout the city. Among these were
alcohol-related collisions.sobriety checkpoints and DUI patrols. These proactive
In 2006, 30 percent of all DUI arrests made in the cityefforts are designed to reduce the number of car
were Newport Beach residents. That same year, 39collisions , personal injuries and car collision fatalities in
percent of all statewide traffic deaths involved alcohol,the city.
resulting in 1,596 car accident fatalities. In addition, inIn January 2009, Newport Beach Police conducted 31
2006, the California Highway Patrol's Statewidefield sobriety tests and arrested 13 suspected of
Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS)driving under the influence--including one juvenile--at a
reported that alcohol-related accidents accounted forDUI checkpoint in Newport Beach. Nearly 800 vehicles
three car collision fatalities and 70 personal injuries.passed through the checkpoint on northbound
In 2007, the Newport Beach Police DepartmentJamboree Road lanes at Santa Barbara Drive. Police
arrested 538 DUI drivers, compared to 385 in 2005.also issued six tickets for various offenses, including
One of those was Former Oakland A's pitcher andcitations for driving without a seat belt to driving with
"Real Housewives of Orange County" star Mattan expired license. Fourteen vehicles were impounded
Keough, who violated the terms of his probation for aand towed away.
2005 DUI conviction. Newport Beach police officersThose who drive under the influence in Newport
found Keough, 52, drinking at the Fashion Island MarriottBeach are a danger to themselves and others.
hotel after concerned hotel staff called authorities.Repeat offenders should seek intervention or
Under the terms of his probation, Keough wascounseling to address their problem with
forbidden to consume any alcohol. In 2005, he pledalcohol--before they get into a fatal car accident.