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Reporting Drunk Drivers

lunerkid said:
Just as a hypothetical situation, my hands free dies and I would really like to report an extremely drunk driver.

I intend to follow the driver as I make my call till a CHP arrives.
Can I still be cited for using a cell phone without a hands free device?
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Could you.... yes.

Would you, I highly doubt it. I've called back several people who were following suspected DUI drivers.
 
There was an exemption in the code when calling 911;

23123.
(c) This section does not apply to a person using a wireless telephone for emergency purposes, including, but not limited to, an emergency call to a law enforcement agency, health care provider, fire department, or other emergency services agency or entity.
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I used to have the local SJPD phone number, but I lost my phone while riding one day. I don't have it on my new phone. Would someone care to share that with me? My friend who's with AMR gave me that number as well as a few others. It was a 408 #. I've reported a few things to that line. Instantaneously got put through to a dispatcher. I've always used that # vs 911 because in terms of wait time, it's almost night and day.
 
I had the pleasure of encountering a wrong way driver on SB 280 @ 85 early one morning....I pulled over to the shoulder and watched the ass just cruise right by at about 50mph in the fast lane (for my direction). I called CHP and on my way back from that quick job I saw them lit up a few exits prior to where I called it in...they got him.
 
I'll bring this thread back to life with an interesting story. I feel like kind of a snitch, but at the same time, I could have potentially saved someone's life. I called in a DUI late Friday night (or early Saturday morn). I was headed home from the city at around 3 am cruising in the number 1 lane at about 75mph. All of a sudden a car comes speeding by two lanes over on my right at about 95-100mph. Then, he merges two lanes over to the number 1 lane in the middle of a curve and almost rams into another vehicle in the number two lane. I called 911 and they patched me through to dispatch. I followed the guy for about a mile, by the time dispatch was on the phone, he had slowed down and took the next exit. He proceeded to pull over to a parking lot, I'm guessing because he realized he was too drunk to drive. Within 30 seconds, local PD was in the parking lot. I watched from a safe distance as they conducted the field sobriety test. I saw him almost fall over as he was attempting to walk in a straight line. They handcuffed him a few moments later and put him in the back of the patrol car.

Kudos to local PD for their quick response time, there were three patrol cars that responded within two minutes of the phone call. I hate to snitch, but the guy was driving like a total douche and he almost caused an accident.

coolstorygz.jpg
 
Yard Sale (to bay bridge toll taker): "That guy in front of me is drunk and is going to kill somebody."

Bay bridge toll taker: "So. What do you want me to do about it?"

-------------------

(following hit and run drunk road rager)

Passenger: "Who's packing?"
Driver: "I am."
Yard Sale: "I am. And my camera is recording."
 
Rel said:
It's funny.... everyone questions: "Where are the cops when I need them?" but they don't want cops around all the time. They want them around ONLY when they are wanted.

It always amazes me when we get a report of a possible DUI driver, and right as soon as we get into position, the follower stops following, turns off, goes home, or something like that. If people can take the time to call in a possible DUI driver, but not help us actually catch them. Can't be bothered I guess.

People don't like being on hold with dispatch for long periods of time, then get funds, more funds, dedicated to 911. For the bay area, all 911 calls, cell phone calls, go to the Golden Gate Communications Center (CHP). That's a lot of 911 calls. Add to the fact that there are people who call 911 for all sorts of reasons... for example: directions, complaints, weather conditions, crack calls, false reports of accidents, and so on. If I remember correctly, dispatch is required to answer 95 percent of 911 calls within 10 seconds. When you have the volume of calls, with the lack of personnel to answer them, along with the number of bogus calls, yeah, you'll have to wait sometime.

If it's that important to you to call, then have a little patience.

If people want change, effect change. Anyone can sit back and complain.
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i called in on a drunk driver and the dispatcher told me to NOT stop when the officer stopped the guy/gal.
do the police (chp, sheriff, local want me to stop?) if so i will next time..if there is a next time.

my life is on the rd driving a 18 wheeler for a paycheck, and i ride for life.

.
.
 
Generally the dispatcher will ask us if we want the caller to stop, if the drunk is bad enough to warrant a call in, we can see that for ourselves and don't need the caller to stop.

If you call into dispatch, they will ask you if you are hands free or a passenger otherwise they will disconnect from you, just tell them you are if you're going to keep following. Also be aware that if your exit or transition is within the next couple miles, that sometimes coordinating an officer to get into position and take upwards of 10-15 miles. If you don't want to waste your time following out of your own path, then just put out a description and disconnect, or ask the dispatcher to ask if there is an officer in position who wants you to stay connected. We can't get into position for everything because if you have two officers tied up at a crash, you might not have someone available for anywhere from 5-30 miles.
 
Interestingly I called in a drunk driver January 3rd after leaving the CHP office in Vallejo.
I was getting fuel on Columbus Parkway and a man fueling his 4Runner was having trouble.
As he attempted to walk to the station office he stumbled along using my car as a means to hold himself up. I followed him in and the booze smell was strong.
Called it in, dispatcher attempted to transfer to Vallejo, Vallejo wouldn't take it because it was in Benicia, while I was on the phone, he preceded to drive out the station (wrong way on a one way) turn left onto Columbus (cutting off a truck) and Benicia PD argues with the dispatcher that the drunk is now headed into Vallejo.

Conclusion: Being a dispatcher must totally suck. Since it was only a district office nearby she said she couldn't call to CHP. very confusing.
 
That's fucked, why couldn't an officer make a stop and call the other county/city to handle the arrest if it was later determined it was in another jurisdiction?
Or are law enforcement offices that anal about who's side of the line they are on?
 
I don't think it's the officers, they want these idiots off the road as much as we do, I think it boils down to who signs the check and whose time is invested in writing the reports :dunno
 
Last night; wrong-way driver in a black 240SX on the Hostetter to 680S entrance ramp. Clearly drunk as hell - came up the ramp the wrong way, in the dirt, then pulled across traffic to bust a U, going back onto 680.

I called it in and stayed on the line for a few minutes until he was out of sight. I was a passenger and the driver wasn't comfortable doing the 80+ mph required to keep up with this jackass. CHP called me back when we exited at Meridian to ask where the guy was.

So, how could I have done this better? I had the complete plate and gave it when I called. SJPD didn't want to talk to me as soon as I said the word 'freeway', even though that area is a rabbit's warren of exits and side streets.
 
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