Several Orange County Cities Amongst State’s Worst for Alcohol-Related Traffic Accidents
If you’ve ever wondered why there are so many Orange County DUI attorneys a recent statistic might just shed a little light on that subject. According to a study by the California Office of Traffic Safety done in 2010, Orange County cities are amongst the worst in the state with regards to traffic accidents where at least one driver had been drinking, and was also amongst the worst in the state with regards to underage drinking and driving.
Several Orange County communities blame summer tourism for their high rates, but that wouldn’t seem to explain away why Orange County cities are far outpacing cities surrounding San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco, all of which are also popular tourist destinations.
According to the study, Newport Beach and Orange had the highest rate of alcohol related accidents for cities of their size. Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach also made the list. Fullerton and Laguna Hills both were amongst the State leaders in alcohol related accidents involving underage drinkers.
Law enforcement said the high collision rates aren’t due to a lack of police presence. Huntington Beach, for example, has the highest rate of DUI arrests in the State for a city of its size.
The punishments for DUI in California are amongst the most severe in the country. In addition to fines, court fees, suspension of your driver’s license and potential jail time, there are many hidden costs. Experts have estimated that the actual cost of a DUI conviction is well north of $10,000 for an individual.
There are several defenses that a DUI attorney can raise in an attempt to get your DUI charges dismissed.
The best way to avoid a DUI though is to have a designated driver, or take a cab if there is even a slight chance that you may have had too much to drink.
