Get Citizensjournal.us Headlines free SUBSCRIPTION. Keep us publishing – DONATEHow Drunk is too drunk? How fast is too fast? DUI Arrest hot off the streets!
For decades, law enforcement across the country has preached “Don’t Drink and Drive.” We have also tried to communicate that “Speed Kills.” Last night, a Simi Valley police officer diffused a potential time bomb.
Patrol Officer Daniel Kalbacker was using laser speed reading equipment and observed a vehicle just after 1:00 a.m. travelling at 102 miles per hour east on the 118 freeway. After observing several unsafe lane changes and finally catching up to the vehicle, it was stopped at the Kuehner Drive exit. Please keep in mind the danger involved here. A police officer must exceed the speed of the driver he is trying to stop in order to catch him. Simi Valley has experienced 6 fatal collisions this year, 2 involving the 118 freeway.
The driver, 36 year-old Vince Paez was driving under the influence of alcohol. Paez is a new resident to Simi Valley. During Officer Kalbacker’s investigation, he obtained breath alcohol readings of .21% and .22%. (Nearly 3 times the .08% BAC limit) Paez was removed from the streets and booked in Ventura County Jail. His car was also impounded and will likely be held for a 30-day period.
To make matters worse, the officers on scene discovered Paez had disabled his ignition “interlock” device. An ignition interlock device is usually ordered by a court to require a driver to blow into the device to obtain an breath alcohol reading every 2-3 minutes to ensure the driver is sober and keep the engine running. This case revealed the device was on the floor, and the mouthpiece was in the glove compartment of the car.
The purpose behind this message is twofold. First, we want to illustrate to our residents what goes on in the middle of the night in Simi Valley and how our officers are diligently protecting the community they serve. Finally, to re-emphasize the danger involved in drinking and driving. The judgment center of the brain becomes impaired and the likelihood of causing death or great bodily injure increases significantly.
Please utilize services that offer rides home as an alternative to drinking and driving.
__________________________
Get Citizensjournal.us Headlines free SUBSCRIPTION. Keep us publishing – DONATE
I cannot emphasize enough that this individual was NOT DRUNK at the time of his arrest. Certainly, he was under the influence of alcohol as indicated by his Blood Alcohol readings.
Secondly, the fact that there was a “kill switch” on his vehicle indicates a prior DUI conviction.
People on probation for DUI with a condition of the installation of an inter-lock device are accustomed to drinking and know when they are “buzzed”, but not drunk.
His behavior in the removal of the interlock device is indicative of intentional violation of his probation as well as of knowing he should not have been driving.
Third, this likely, because of likely prior convictions, is a felony arrest, which if he is convicted, may lead to a prison sentence and suspension of his driving privileges.