Huntington Beach P.D. May Post Names of Those Arrested For DUI Online

Sunny, breezy, easy Surf City may not be such a free and easy place to imbibe and drive. The Huntington Beach Police may arm themselves with new tools to keep the drunk drivers of off of the streets. 

Aggressive new strategies are in the works, which include posting the names of those arrested on DUI on their website. The new plan will also see that letters are sent directly to the restaurants they think are responsible for fueling those who drink and drive. City officials began distributing those letters in the spring. Lt. Russell Reinhart of the Huntington Beach Police Department stated the DUI program is the most aggressive in the county.

According to a 16 page report handed out at the City Council this month, they needed to do something to curb the serious problem in the city. According to statistics, it shows Huntington Beach has third most DUI drivers in the state for a city of its size.  Even more than Anaheim, which has a population size almost double that of Huntington Beach.

The city of Irvine currently posts the names of all those arrested on their website, without a specific list of DUI suspects. They may consider taking on the new strategy, if they begin to notice a trend in DUI’s too. Further, Police have been working with bar owners in Fullerton which serve alcohol. They believe it will help servers at the establishments to recognize when customers have had too much to drink. They currently do not post those arrested with DUI’s on their website.

The Huntington Police Department has logged an average of 1,700 DUI arrests a year, according to a report. “Even with all we have done there remains a significant DUI problem in Huntington Beach.”

However, as far as posting people’s names charged with DUI’s on the website, “It could have a damaging affect on an individuals reputation,” according to DUI defense attorney, Barry Simons.

Eventually, Police will put the data together and may place restrictions on the licenses and permits of local business’, according to officials.

The debate continues, but the newly placed strategy in Huntington Beach could help save lives. And that should be the bottom line.

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