Response to Distracted/Drunk driver call?

[kheiney]

This morning heading to work I got behind a car that was weaving in her lane a lot. This is a two lane hwy 55MPH, White Rock Road for those that know Sacramento Area. We slowed down and I could clearly see her on the phone. 3-4 times over our 8 mile stretch she got a 1-2 feet into the on-coming lane. By this time I was watching her closely and would honk my horn when she crossed the line. I'm regretting not calling 911 on her, she was clearly a danger on that road. I still have her plate number. But what would be the police response? The have to observe the action personally don't they?

[P5Ret]

Should have called when it was happening, the response would be something like thank you for the information. Yes the action has to be observed by pd in order for them to take enforcement action.

[IrishJoe3]

Should have called when it was happening, the response would be something like thank you for the information. Yes the action has to be observed by pd in order for them to take enforcement action.

Not true. Case law, (People V. Wells) finds that a citizen report of a DUI driver is enough to initiate a traffic stop and investigate for DUI. In fact, an anonymous report of an impaired driver is enough to make a traffic stop. I have made hundreds of stops on potential impaired drivers with nothing more than the vehicle was weaving/etc and may be impaired. Many of those drivers have gone to jail.

Typically when I find the reported drunk I like to watch on my own for indications, but its not required and is just icing on the cake.

To the OP. If you see a DUI driver. Call 9-1-1. It'll get broadcast to beat units. In my department at least, if we're in position, we'll do our best to intercept the vehicle and have a chat.

Cheers.

[IrishJoe3]

Further, I have many times called the reporting party directly on my cell phone and stayed land-line with them until I was able to locate the DUI driver, which is why its important to give your name/number to dispatch.

[P5Ret]

Not true. Case law, (People V. Wells) finds that a citizen report of a DUI driver is enough to initiate a traffic stop and investigate for DUI. In fact, an anonymous report of an impaired driver is enough to make a traffic stop. I have made hundreds of stops on potential impaired drivers with nothing more than the vehicle was weaving/etc and may be impaired. Many of those drivers have gone to jail.

Typically when I find the reported drunk I like to watch on my own for indications, but its not required and is just icing on the cake.


Cheers.

The OP said he saw her on the phone, which is what my response is based upon, and that has to be observed to cite. As you pointed out a DUI is different, and an officer could have stopped her based upon that alone. I like you liked to have my own observations prior to the stop just to be safe. Not arguing I think we both just interpreted the question a bit differently.

[IrishJoe3]

The OP said he saw her on the phone, which is what my response is based upon, and that has to be observed to cite. As you pointed out a DUI is different, and an officer could have stopped her based upon that alone. I like you liked to have my own observations prior to the stop just to be safe. Not arguing I think we both just interpreted the question a bit differently.

Ah! Re-read the OP. You're right, sorry.

If they are just talking on their cell phone....yeah, not a priority. At all. Please don't call because as P5Ret said, we can't do anything unless we actually see it.

If you have more than that, (ie DUI), thats different.

[kheiney]

So it sounds like they could pull her over based on the 911 call and have a chat with her. But short of a confession on her part no action. At least it might knock some sense into them.

[Tripper]

is there not something more recent than People V. Wells?
doesn't the officer still need to establish his own Probable Cause? an accusation of a Misdo crime is not Probable cause is it?

Doesn't Whren V. US prevail in this matter? where an officer must have observed what he believed to be a violation of CA VC.
NOLEO

[cheetah45]

To the OP. If you see a DUI driver. Call 9-1-1. It'll get broadcast to beat units. In my department at least, if we're in position, we'll do our best to intercept the vehicle and have a chat.

Dialing 911 on a weaving/suspected dui/reckless driver is a crapshoot if you get CHP 911. I have gotten more brushoffs from CHP dispatchers than not. I once followed a DUI 18 wheeler from Rio Vista to Pittsburg and the dispatcher was rude, condescending and hung up several times and when I pushed her for a stupidvisor call back he basically said complain to the State Legislature. You have a much better chance of getting something done by contacting the local jurisdiction (ie Sheriff's Office or Police Department) through which you are travelling. Bencia PD dispatcher worked with me while I followed a DUI from Fairfield 80&680 to Martinez. The driver was so deuced that no one would go around and created a traffic jam over a mile long. I contacted Benicia PD after CHP 911 dumped me, and the PD dispatcher stayed on as I gave her location and directions until 2 CHP Officers nailed him just before 680 & 4. Two thumbs up for local PD units...mostly thumbs down for CHP Dispatch system.

[sharxbyte]

Last time I tried to report a road hazard (car apparently stalled in the fast lane of business 80, before the bridge over the river) my 911 call was dropped... Second 911 I've had drop on me. Scary when you think that it could have been more personally life threatening...

[geeknow]

I havent had such good luck getting CHP to respond to drivers who appear to be drunk. Not sure why. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, I'm not certain how their dispatch system works, and routes calls.

Calling local PD, on the other hand, gets a pretty quick response.

This is what leads me to believe that it has something to do with routing/dispatch.

As an example, a few years back, I was driving North on 5, just North of San Diego (passing UCSD), when I encountered a suspected DUI. The driver was weaving all over the place, from one side of the fwy to the other...even nailed the guard rail twice, in a shower of sparks. To be fair, he may have had a medical issue, but no doubt he was impaired and a danger. I called 911 immediately, and it took nearly 20 min to get an operator on the line. I was hoping that he'd get stopped at 'checkpoint charlie', but the CHP wasn't working the lanes that night, and he sailed on through. I, and a few other cars were behind him at this point, and we were all driving abreast of one another to hold back traffic. Finally, 911 answered, and I made a report. Never saw a unit show up. As we approached Dana Point, I was worried we'd encounter more traffic, and he'd hit someone. I called Oceanside PD, and reported it to them. A few minutes later a CHP unit showed up, and pulled him over...after about 60 miles. Still not sure if it was my call, or Oceanside's that got them out there.

To be clear, I'm not bashing CHP. I just dont know enough about how there dispatch works to know how best to get the right info to the right unit at the right time.

Either way, glad they caught him before it 'went through the fan'.

[cheetah45]

geeknow: It seems we had the same experiences and results when dealing with CHP 911. I think these issues are due to the CHP Dispatch system and its management and their policies. The CHP Officers on the streets can't do anything about our calls if dispatchers can't or won't tell them. My call to CHP dispatch about the DUI on 680 resulted in a dliberate hangup by the CHP dispatcher. The Benicia PD dispatcher did what the CHP dispatch refused to do, and was able to get 2 CHP cruisers to stop the deuce before the driver killed someone.

[fullrearview]

If I'm not mistaken guys, CHP dispatch handles ALL 911 calls from cell phones... The system can get overloaded pretty easy for obvious reasons.

If you don't, you should have your local LE Emergency dispatch programmed into your phone.

[Sacmedic]

CHP used to handle every cell phone 911 call. Now many are routed to the local PSAP where the call is placed from. The exception...freeways, highways and unincorporated roadways. Those still go the CHP. I echo Fullrearview's statement, have your local PSAP seven-digit line in your cell phone.

[geeknow]

^^^ I do this now. However, at the time, I was almost 100 miles from home.