FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Fresno’s District Attorney and area law enforcement gathered Monday, to announce that they taking a hard line against drunk drivers as the holiday season begins.
District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp wants to make sure people are aware of the dangers of drunk driving.
“If you are caught driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher or driving impaired as a result of ingesting drugs or alcohol, that’s a basic DUI.” – Fresno DA Lisa Smittcamp.
21 law agencies from the CHP to Fresno Police are now stepping up saturation patrols for holiday enforcement and are warning drivers that drugs, alcohol, even marijuana are considered forms of intoxication
“Often times, we talk about the homicides and that being a violent crime, well, driving under the influence of alcohol, getting involved in a collision, and injuring or killing someone, that too is a violent crime -which is why our DA is prosecuting individuals for the crime of second degree murder.” – Police Chief Jerry Dyer.
DA Lisa Smittcamp says if a driver injures someone or even causes their death, and it’s their second offense – they’ve been warned by the court under their prior conviction – she will seek a 2nd degree murder charge.
Smittcamp’s office has already made five convictions of 2nd degree murder for DUI related deaths in 2016, and she says she will continue in the fight to save lives on the road.
Click below to listen to the story by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
