In Salem, Oregon, the irony of one drunken man’s situation could be on the mind’s of his future criminal defense attorneys.
According to KATU, a drunk driver crashed through a protective barrier in his red pickup truck and slammed into another pickup truck with a message on the side of it. The evident irony of the situation and the importance of the message was noted, as it read, “Don’t Drink and Drive.”
It was a “Don’t Drink and Drive” advertisement and a Salem man did the one thing that the message told him not to do.
“I got a call at 4:30 Saturday morning,” said Dennis Lafferty, owner of Carzntrux Collision Repair, directly in front of where the DUII prevention ad was placed, “and police tell me that they’ve just arrested the guy for DUII and he’s landed his truck in the back of my truck.”
Lafferty stated that the spot in front of his shop is a popular one for accidents, saying that this incident is the 15th in the past 10 years.
“It’s just a very bad corner. This is the fourth time in the last two months,” Lafferty said. “The landlord has tried various means to stop them. He’s put up these concrete blocks behind the fence. He built this landscaping here to stop it.”
In Oregon, the first time you’re arrested for drunk driving — operating a vehicle with a .08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) — you receive a mandatory one-year suspension of your driver’s license. You’ll also pay a minimum of a $1,000 fine. Drunk drivers, on average, have driven drunk at least 80 times before they are arrested. Eric Jones, the driver of the red pickup, is no exception.
Jones was convicted of DUII in 2014 and was convicted of fleeing a police officer, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving.
“Good to get drivers like that off the road,” said Lafferty, “before they kill someone.”
Lafferty told KATU that he was charged with a DUII about 15 years ago but, unlike Jones, he learned his lesson.
When involved with these types of incidents, one of the first things you should do is contact experienced criminal defense attorneys. It’s important to base your decision off of experience, skill, reputation, and trust.
If you’ve been involved in a DUII-related incident, it’s important to consult with a law firm that has criminal defense attorneys you can trust. Contact Jared Justice if you are currently under investigation for a DUII-related crime or have already been arrested.