This program that was established to reduce drunk drivers on the roads in the Washington, D.C. area will run Saturday, March 17, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the following morning on the 18th. You must be at least 21 to use this service. Also, you might want to have a few extra dollars tucked in your wallet just in case as you will be offered a free cab ride home up to a $30 fare which means you will be responsible for the rest.

Keep this number handy as you must call 1-800-200-8294 (TAXI) for a taxi to be dispatched to you.

Calls for a cab must originate from the following areas:

Maryland: Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and the Cities of Rockville, Bowie, College Park, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt, and Takoma Park.

District of Columbia

Virginia: Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Eastern Loudoun County and the Cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, and Manassas Park.

Click here for full details WRAP’s 2012 St. Patrick’s Day SoberRide program.

If you have been charged with drunk driving DUI / DWI in Arlington County, Virginia, contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case. Click here for your free copy of our DUI / DWI Special Report Charged with DWI and don’t know what to do? for helpful tips on how to handle your DUI / DWI charge.

Sources:

• NBC 4 – SoberRide Service Available St. Patty’s Weekend: Residents can call for a free ride up to a $30 fare
• Washington Post – Group to offer free cab rides to St. Patrick’s Day revelers in Washington area

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Chris Konschak, the Virginia manager of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), said that the child endangerment charges were meant to serve as a deterrent. Konschak stated that he wanted the public to see that there are greater ramifications for driving with a child in the car while drunk than a DUI charge.

Butts was released from Henrico jail after posting bond last month and is expected back in court sometime in March.

What can you do if you if you have been hurt or lost a loved one to a drunk driver? Contact attorney James Parrish at 571-229-1800 to discuss your legal options and let him review your situation in order to determine the best course of action for you and your family.

“I am truly sorry. I feel terrible. I have agonizing pain in my heart. Ever since the accident, I have been deeply moved for the life and the damage I inflicted upon the sisters.” – Carlos Martinelly Montano

Montano is a Bolivian national and was awaiting a deportation hearing at the time the fatal car accident occurred sparking outrage as many are wondering why he was even in the U.S. to begin with. Given that this was Motano’s 3rd DWI offense within five years, he was charged with felony murder and faced up to 70 years in prison. However, Judge Lon Farris reduced the sentence to 20 years after hearing that Montano had found God while in jail during the last year and that he had expressed extreme remorse for causing the accident.

“I have listened to your family and quite frankly, I have lowered down what I originally was going to give you based on that information. But unfortunately, your punishment still needs to be severe because of what you did.” ~ Honorable Lon Farris

If you have been charged with speeding, reckless driving or drunk driving DUI / DWI in Prince William County, Virginia, contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case. Click here for your free copy of our DUI / DWI Special Report Charged with DWI and don’t know what to do? for helpful tips on how to handle your DUI / DWI charge.

Sources:

• WUSA 9 – Carlos Martinelly-Montano Gets 20 Years In Prison After Prince William County Crash That Killed Nun, Sister Denise Mosier
• ABC 7 – Carlos Martinelly Montano sentenced to 20 years in prison
• Manassas Patch – Martinelly Sentenced in DUI that Killed Nun: Carlos Martinelly Montano was sentenced to 20 years in prison in the case that prompted calls for stricter immigration enforcement.
• The Parrish Law Firm DWI Blog – Montano Drunk Driving Case Strikes Debate of Immigration Deportation Procedures | Prince William DUI Attorney

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Planning ahead is the key to staying safe and avoiding a potentially life changing event by driving drunk. Check for alternate ways to get home like public transportation, call a taxi, or even have a designated driver on call to take you home. Make sure you have enough money on hand to cover your fare before you head out to drink.

If you are planning a party and will be serving alcohol, it would be a great idea to ensure any of your clearly intoxicated guests have a spare room to sleep it off or you have some way to get them home safe. Even consider collecting keys when your guests arrive so you can check their sobriety when they come to you for their keys to leave.

Here are a few taxi / cab companies servicing the Northern Virginia area:

• Red Top Cab of Arlington – (703) 522-3333
• Yellow Cab – Prince William County – (703) 491-2222 or (703) 369-2100
• Manassas Cab Company – 1-888-368-2323

If you have been charged with speeding, reckless driving or drunk driving DUI / DWI in Prince William County, Virginia, contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case. Click here for your free copy of our DUI / DWI Special Report Charged with DWI and don’t know what to do? for helpful tips on how to handle your DUI / DWI charge.

Sources:

• Virginia State Police – DON’T DRINK, DON’T DRIVE, BE A LIFESAVER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON – STAY SOBER BEHIND THE WHEEL
• NBC 4 Washington, DC – Police to Crack Down on Holiday Drunk Driving – Local police will be out in force looking for drunk drivers this holiday season

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“Today I submitted my resignation to Secretary Ray LaHood and it has been accepted. Serving as FAA Administrator has been an absolute honor and the highlight of my professional career. But I am unwilling to let anything cast a shadow on the outstanding work done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by my colleagues at the FAA.” – Randy Babbitt, former FAA chief

Babbitt apparently withheld his DUI arrest from FAA officials and on Monday was placed on leave. Babbitt’s boss Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was not very happy that he had to find out about the drunk driving arrest from a press release by Fairfax City Police rather than from Babbitt.

If you have been charged with drunk driving DUI / DWI in Fairfax, Virginia, contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case. Click here for your free copy of our DUI / DWI Special Report Charged with DWI and don’t know what to do? for helpful tips on how to handle your DUI / DWI charge.

Sources:

• WJLA ABC 7 Washington, DC – Randy Babbitt resigns

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“Sadly, half of the traffic crashes involved victims who weren’t buckled up. As we begin this holiday season, public safety responders are strongly encouraging driver and passenger to take two seconds and fasten your seatbelt – it costs nothing and could save your life.” – Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent

Virginia State Police were out in full force looking out for drivers misbehaving on Virginia’s roads this Thanksgiving. It is reported that 103 drunk drivers were arrested as well as 8,526 speeders and 2,898 reckless drivers cited during the five day period.

If you have been charged with speeding, reckless driving or drunk driving DUI / DWI in Stafford or along I-95, Virginia, contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case. Click here for your free copy of our DUI / DWI Special Report Charged with DWI and don’t know what to do? for helpful tips on how to handle your DUI / DWI charge.

Sources:

• WTVR CBS 6 Richmond – 9 killed in traffic accidents in VA during Thanksgiving holiday
• Washington Post – 9 killed in traffic accidents in Va. during Thanksgiving holiday, alcohol factor in 2 crashes
• NBC Washington – Nine People Killed in Traffic Accidents Across Va. Over Thanksgiving
  Fatalities down from 2010

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Ask some of our victims’ families who no longer have family members at the dining table for Thanksgiving the severity. It is the taking of human life. – Caroline Cash, Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

This was a surprising statistic to see as not many would think of the day before Thanksgiving as a party day. But oddly enough the day before Thanksgiving is number 1 for underage drinking. Why is this happening? It appears liquor cabinets are stocked at home for Holiday parties for ease of access. Also college kids are bored at home from school. And finally, surprisingly, parents are hosting parties allowing the underage drinking thinking that this is safer since they feel they can possibly control the situation. With all of these factors, you have a recipe not for green bean casserole but for underage drinking and driving.

The college kids are coming home and the high school kids feel entitled to celebrate and that mix increases the amount of alcohol on the roads. – Capt. Thomas Didone, Montgomery County Police

If your teen has been charged with drunk driving DUI / DWI in Fairfax County, Virginia, contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case. Click here for your free copy of our DUI / DWI Special Report Charged with DWI and don’t know what to do? for helpful tips on how to handle your DUI / DWI charge.

Sources:

• NBC Washington, DC – Police Patrol Black Wednesday – Thanksgiving eve most popular night for underage drinking
• The Patch – Underage Drinking Spikes on ‘Black Wednesday’ – Police are taking steps to ensure the safety of drivers over the holiday weekend
• Fox News – Teen Drinking Spikes On ‘Black Wednesday’

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Terrified parents waited anxiously for their children to arrive home after hearing their child’s school bus driver was falling asleep at the wheel and swerving on the road nearly hitting pedestrians and other vehicles. Police caught up to Crocket at Holly Hills Schools where she was trying to pick up more students. Carole Crockett, 46, was found by police with a .25 blood alcohol content (BAC) which is three times the legal limit in New Jersey and charged with 25 counts of endangering the welfare of children, disorderly conduct and drunk driving.

If you have been charged with speeding, reckless driving or drunk driving DUI / DWI in Tysons Corner, Virginia, contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case. Click here for your free copy of our DUI / DWI Special Report Charged with DWI and don’t know what to do? for helpful tips on how to handle your DUI / DWI charge.

Sources:

• MSNBC – NJ woman accused of driving school bus while drunk: Children on board call parents to say driver was swerving and falling asleep
• Washington Post – NJ bus driver charged with DUI after kids text parents to say she was swerving, falling asleep
• Westampton Courier-Post – Police: South Jersey woman drove school bus of kids while drunk

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Drivers are simply tired after losing sleep trying to meet the demands of their time. If you are thinking that this is not that big of a deal because you do it all the time, you may not even be aware of how your lack of sleep is impairing your ability to drive. It has been found that individuals awake for 18 hours showed impairment while driving compared to an individual with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05. When you have been awake for 24 hours, you are just above the level of driving impairment of a drunk driver with a 0.10 BAC.

AAA Foundation offers these tips to remain alert and prevent a fall‐asleep crash:

• Get plenty of sleep (at least seven hours) the night before a long trip
• Stop driving if you become sleepy; someone who is tired could fall asleep at any time – fatigue impacts reaction time, judgment and vision, causing people who are very sleepy to behave in similar ways to those who are drunk
• Travel at times when you are normally awake, and stay overnight rather than driving straight through
• Schedule a break every two hours or every 100 miles
• Drink a caffeinated beverage. Since it takes about 30 minutes for caffeine to enter the bloodstream, find a safe place to take a 20‐30 minute nap while you’re waiting for the caffeine to take effect
• Travel with an awake passenger

If you have been charged with speeding, reckless driving or drunk driving DUI / DWI in Woodbridge, Virginia, contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case. Click here for your free copy of our DUI / DWI Special Report Charged with DWI and don’t know what to do? for helpful tips on how to handle your DUI / DWI charge.

Sources:

WJLA ABC 7 Washington, DC – Falling asleep while driving: More common than you think

DrowsyDriving.org – Facts and Stats Drowsy Driving

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Tony McClure was unable to attend the Wednesday court hearing because he had been hospitalized with an infection caused by a complication from one of the many surgeries he has undergone since the May accident. McClure’s daughter, Angel Dodson, testified on behalf of her father and stated that her once able-bodied father has dwindled from 220 to 160 pounds in the months following the wreck. Dodson also detailed the numerous injuries that her father endured, which include the amputation of his left arm below the shoulder, the necessary reconstruction and fusion of his foot to his left leg, the fusion of parts of his spine, and the blindness McClure now suffers from as a result of a stroke triggered by gross amounts of blood loss on that day.

Laura Fizer was only able to take the witness stand with the help of a walker. Fizer testified that she had no memory of the crash or the majority of the three weeks that she spent recovering in the hospital. Fizer’s foot was reattached following the accident but her left leg frequently swells and turns purple when she stands or puts weight on it. Fizer had multiple surgeries scheduled that are intended to repair her ankle, knee, and left shoulder; Fizer also stated that she is waiting for a diagnosis concerning a possible traumatic brain injury that she acquired from the crash.

In addition to Dodson and Fizer’s testimony, the court also heard statements from first responders, neighbors and passerby about the May 28 crash that occurred near the intersection of Kelso Mill Road. The rescuer who treated McClure testified that McClure had been conscious throughout the ordeal despite the fact that his left arm and leg were open with compound fractures and that both of his ankles had been broken. Another witness testified that Fizer’s left foot had been almost entirely severed and that both victims had suffered from extensive blood loss.

Trooper G.D. Musgrove of the Virginia State Police was responsible for Coe’s arrest and he testified that skid marks caused by her car along with other evidence found at the scene of the accident indicated that Coe had been driving four feet across the centerline in McClure’s northbound lane when their vehicles crashed. A toxicologist testified that a sample of Coe’s blood taken that evening indicated a blood alcohol content of 0.16 percent, double the legal driving limit.

Coe was convicted of a misdemeanor drunk driving charge in a bench trial Wednesday and was sentenced to a year in jail. Coe’s attorney had said that the conviction will be appealed. If Coe is indicted by a grand jury this month, the case will be heard in Bedford County Circuit Court where it will be determined whether or not she is guilty of the two felony counts of DUI maiming that currently exist against her. Each of those charges carry a maximum sentence of five years of imprisonment. Coe was released in May on a $10,000 unsecured bond and remains free on that bailment pending the outcome of the trial.

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain or head injury because of an accident caused by the carelessness or recklessness of another individual, The Parrish Law Firm can help you obtain the compensation that you and your family are entitled to. The experienced attorneys at our firm are ready to answer any questions that you may have regarding your case so please contact us today for a free evaluation – 571-229-1800.