Fresno Famous

Northerner

Lol "northerner" yes the defintion of that word should someone smart enough to stay out of the fucking ghetto. Loll fuck you fresNO

wrong

It's a proven fact that sobriety checkpoints are ineffective. Roving patrols work much more efficiently. You problably already know that...

Are they police or drag queens dressed as police?

The stuff that happens in Fresno is so weird you cant write Sh-t that funny.
Now where's my Lisa Lisa and Toe Jam vinyl.
LOL

well stated...

careful who you go callin' eloquent... (I'm not even sure if I'm wearing aftershave...)

seriously.
JB I see your point.

Part of my strong feelings on operating any vehicle while drunk is based upon this premise:

Anthing you are driving is a potential weapon,
and could kill someone with it,
(if not yourself, some pedestrian, fellow motorist, or others in the car.)

I have standings on this issue with the basic assumption:

-A person getting behind the wheel of anything is taking full responsibility for their actions, -as well as the results of what they do.

-That means that it's an assumed that when a person gets behind the wheel, they will do all in their intersest and in their power to protect themselves, others around them, and not act in a careless manner.
(I also see driving as a privilige, not a right.)

(Further) I come from an aviation background, -and have had it kind of drummed in from childhood, -when you go to fly you don't drink for twelve to twenty-four hours before going to operate an aircraft.

This is not to say that a driver cannot have fun, and cannot operate highperformance vehicles (I've worked on racecars, etc.)
---but that such a thing is done in a setting designed for that.

What I'm finding (as a core difference) in a lot of the responses coming from those who post on 'drunk driving,' is:

Wheras I feel a person driving is assuming full responsibility for their safe operation of their vehicle,(and is accepting full responsibility of enforcement of the laws pertaining to it?)

For alot of others it's a '...the damn cops are intrusive as it is, who are they to tell me what to do, and how much to drink.'

It's funny, but anywhere else?,
-you get busted for driving drunk, folks are like: '...dude you're an idiot, you could have killed somebody and yourself, you're lucky somebody pulled you over.'

Here?
'...Damn Cop interrupted my trying to make it home safely, who does he think he is, it was hard enough concentrating, (having had a few,) without those flashing lights in the rearview, -what'r they TRYING to cause a wreck?'

It comes down to some folks getting all hung up on their rights to do whatever they please, (including drive under the influence, ---and standing up for THAT right as some sort of 'independence.'
--Wheras others of us were raised that, being an adult means demonstrating greater responsibility, -and conducting yourself in a mature manner, by being responsible for your actions.

It's why some folks day
'...I'm not going to drive, I've had a drink or two, and my reflexes are impared, and I don't want to risk it, so I'll wait, or get a cab.'

(vs)

'I've only had a few and I feel like driving, TOO bad what others feel like, I FEEL like DRIVING.'

--This same mindset and question:
-'...what kind of shape am I in?, am I
(too tired,
drunk,
not feeling well,
taking mediation,
not good in these conditions,
operating my vehicle like an idiot,
operating a vehicle that is unsafe,
operating a vehicle with
(no) insurance
distracted by (whatever)
(etc.).'

Needs to be asked by each of us before we drive, and I'm finding is often NOT the case, (and folks defend such stupidity as 'rights.')

Regardless of whether people ask this and accept this responsibility, I strongly feel that it's not a 'subjective,' thing with a bunch of 'personal rights being threatened by the guys with mustaches and guns.'

No,
when you agree to drive publically, you agree to follow the rules of the road, and if you choose to break them, you should have full penalties enforced, (if nothing else,) because that is the agreement you made.
(Again, driving is not a RIGHT it's a privilige and means that you can understand and hold up your end of the deal.)

Ethically?
Morally?

It comes down to
'...how much do I care about others?'
vs.
'...how much am I such a knucklehead that I'm going to insist on my way, at the expense of others?'

But I agree, there are plenty of 'poor driving,' situations that need to be enforced, (and see 'drunk driving,' as being only one concern.)

Easiest to enforce?
Maybe.
Good.
Finally, something easy to accomplish good results with.
(Kind of takes up for the other stuff that is not at all easy to deal with when it comes to folks...)

The same applies to all "choices" to drive a motor vehicle

I may not be able to be so eloquent as our esteemed Out of this World but I wonder if his sentiments apply to any act in a car that endangers the lives of us all on the road?

Speeding, running stop signs/lights, inattentative driving to name a few are as dangerous as driving under the influence. The same argument can be used for both because you are driving a machine capable of killing others. These acts are committed by folks that have only regard for themselves and disregard other motorist that are driving safe.

I hear so much about how drunk drivers kill people but no one talks about the other 2/3 of traffic deaths and their causes. Perhaps if we all make a choice to drive like the "new driver" and follow all the proper driving practices you learned, no one would ever die in a car accident.

Is it not a choice to speed, run a stop light/sign, not look when changing lanes or drive while tired. The last time I checked we had laws that prohibit these actions as well as driving drunk. The difference is that when you kill a person from falling asleep behind the wheel there is no proof and it's easy to lie about the cause. You also aren't persecuted, prosecuted or otherwise held accountable, it's just an accident. Getting behind the wheel of a car is a choice and any death caused by your action or inaction is a crime, period!

One of "Fresno's Finest" kills a jogger while running a stop sign and all I hear about on the news is how he is never going to be the same. The poor officer had such a great career and now he will probably never return to active duty, the poor guy. Did I miss something? I never heard anything about the jogger, the family of the jogger and how their lives will be changed. The thinking here is that any "accident" not involving alcohol is just an accident. Did he not see the stop sign on his same route home every day or did he chose to not stop at this sign and make a second choice in not looking for pedestrians or traffic when doing so? Was he charged with running a stop sign or more importantly, charged with involuntary manslaughter? I think not because he wears the uniform and is granted the "look the other way" policy and the "code of silence" we all know to be practiced in the police department. Maybe we would get the famous "he was on his own time" response from illustrious leader of the pack.

I remember hearing about a silly little poll conducted by one of the local news station regarding the reasons why people don't use turn signals in Fresno. The responses to me were that people that brush-off safe driving in Fresno. The most common response was laziness, the second was that they were too busy. Too busy doing what???????? This is really a silly analogy to some but if people don't think it's important to let other drivers on the road know what their intentions are, then they are ignoring an important rule of safe driving and in so are potentially endangering others on the road. The other thing about the poll was the people that they featured thought it was funny? So is a drunk driver still your worst fear on the road or just the easiest to prevent?

Maybe you have committed some or all of the other unsafe driving habits, by choice and feel that you were justified. Perhaps you ran a stop light and were only ticketed, I bet you were mad instead of feeling lucky that you didn't kill someone. Maybe you almost hit another car by cutting someone off, they honked the horn and flipped you off but you were pissed off instead of being sorry for almost ending their life. Basically what I'm saying here is that we are all responsible for our actions and accidents happen on purpose in cars because of disregard for the safety of others, whether drunk or sober behind the wheel of a car.

Think before you drive, period. My life may be in your hands!

JB

(NOT) a direct comment to bgraham, but a general opinion.

This may sound a bit harsh, but If you're dumb enough to drink, and then get behind the wheel of a car?

-You deserve to get caught, loose your license, and (even) possibly do jail time.

Your name should be published in the paper and up on billboards, you should become an example so that others (who know you,) say '...damn, they're taking this serious, I need to stop drinking and driving.'

Harsh for a 'mistake?'
Are you serious?

-A mistake is something like using your right blinker and then turning left,
it's tripping on a curb,
or accidently calling somebody by the wrong name,
or using foul language in front of your grandmother when you trip and stub your toe.
-A mistake is not getting an answer on a test 'right,' when you knew the correct one.

Drunk Driving is a deliberate choice.
It deserves punishment.
Not 'discipline,'
('Discipline,' is what you should have had before you decided to drive drunk, and when you should have said, '...I've been drinking, I should not drive, -somebody else needs to drive for me, or I need to get a cab, THAT's discipline.')

Don't confuse your 'driving drunk,' with your 'alchohol problem,'
-Your alch. problem is one thing, and I hope you get help.
Your 'Choice,' to drive drunk?
That became everybody elses 'problem,'
-because you didn't get help with 'yours.'
-So your 'not dealing with,' 'your,' 'problem,' now means that everybody has to, --and deal with it we will.
You surrender your right to 'help,' with this when you become a threat to others,
-And drunk drivers are a significant threat.

Why?
Because when you're in a car, truck, minivan, (motorcycle,) whatever?
You're driving something that is for all intensive purposes a loaded weapon.
-You loose control of that vehicle?
-You hit another vehicle, or people (in general)
-It's likely that they're going to die.
(you are operating several thousands of metal and glass at a high rate of speed.)

When you were a kid?
And just getting your license?
Chances are you'd not even think of driving drunk, -and initially going out on the road, (or the highway,) was just enough to not shit yer britches, ---because you understood that you knew nothing, you were in constant danger, -and you needed to be alert.
(Most kids don't even put the radio on at first, they're so hyperalert.)

Then you got older and figured that you knew more, -so drinking and driving was 'fine.'
You were better off as a petrified teenager, (and smarter then, too.)

Now, you may say:
'...I drive buzzed or have driven a little tipsy, (or whatever,) and have never had an accident, nor have lost control of the vehicle...'

-Bullshit

-you don't have control as good as you do when you're sober, well rested, and unoccupied,
-And at night? you have even less control, -as you can't see as well.

If you choose (note the word: CHOOSE,)
to get behind the wheel of anything?,
and you've been drinking?,
you are saying that you are taking full responsibility for your actions (which you do whenever you assume 'drivers seat,'

-and you're saying that your choice,
-which may injure, cripple, maim, or end somebody elses life, -Is 'fine,' and the rest of society needs to go along with it.'

It may be fine for you, because you're an irresponsible delusional asshole.
-but for those people?
It's not your choice to make.

I (personally,) have family members who didn't just get DUI's
-they got into accidents while under the influence of alch. and substances. (same difference.)

Though they don't talk about it?

They will flat out tell you that they'd rather have gotten busted and done jail time,
--than to have killed the people who they did.
(The one took out a family of 5.)

Their lives have been complete hell ever since, and they're miserable 24/7/365.

This is not about 'your rights,' as a person,
'the cops being tougher on one section than another.'
---all of that is secondary and senseless horseshit.

The issue is:
If you drink and drive?
you need to be caught, loose your license, get time, (etc.) and have it impressed upon you that you're completely uncaring of the lives around you,
(what you do with your own? is your business.)

Any cop who busts somebody for driving under the influence? (Anywhere?)
Is doing their job, and is saving lives.

They're not 'picking on you,'
-They're protecting the rest of us, (and them,) as well as yourself,) from your own stupidity.

If you had half a brain?
You'd thank them for arresting you and preventing something awful from happening.

Anyone who drives under the influence?
No matter who they are.
Is an idiot and deserves maximum punishment.

(The only 'second chance,' you get?
-That you didn't kill yourself or someone else,,, yet.)
So no matter WHAT happens to you (legally?)
You got off easy.
Nobody (else,) got killed.

If (I personally?)
Ever get hit by a drunk driver?
I seriously hope that (either) I die,
-or that they do.

Why?
Because, most people who drive drunk?
Do it more than once.

-The accident may be their first, (or their twentieth,)
---but, guaranteed, they've driven drunk before.

Even if they are broke as a stone,
-on skid row,
-have no insurance,
-no marketable skills,
-and no decent job?
I want their wages garnished, I want them in jail, I want their stuff sold to pay for what they did, I want their guardians (if they're under 21,) sued,
-and I want it public,
enormously vicious,
-and I want that persons life completely 'ruined.'

(Why?)
-Because

1. -They were never 'that broke,'
-They had a car, they had money to get drunk, and they had money for gas. (So they're not THAT bad off.)

2. -Unless it was their first time (ever,)
---they had been warned again and again, and chose to drink and drive, (again.) -and probably had people telling them not to drive, (and be careful,)
-Those people blew it too, btw.

3. -Finally?
The laws are SO lax in terms of prosecuting drunk drivers?

-Even if they get sentenced to time?
They still will be able to plea bargain it down, and in no time at all,
-be able to go out and do it again, (and statistics show that they probably will.)

IF they are SORRY, it's because they're 'Sorry' that they got CAUGHT.
(Or pissed that they got caught.)
--Never mistake a person after having done such a thing as actually caring that much for what they did, -if they cared?
They would have not done it to begin with.

In the mean time?
Even making an example of the person who chose to drive drunk?
-Will have little to no effect,
-as catching and prosecuting them will be seen as some sort of 'unfair,' action by the authorities, (and the person pressing charges.)
-And others will say '...wow, that sucks, but that wasn't ME.' ---so they'll go and do it themselves.
-But maybe not, because even somebody who says, '...don't drink and drive in this town, the cops are assholes about it, and there is one guy, who if you hit him, will spend his life ruining yours...'
(At least that person will think twice.)
---So it's worth the effort.

So, no matter HOW harsh you try to be on drunk drivers, -they will always be able to reduce the situation.

-And if YOU (the victim?) are not dead, you're probably going to have to endure pain and suffering, (hospital time,) as well as physical therapy,
--and, no matter how 'perfect,' surgery goes?
Later on in life it will catch up with you, and will affect your physical performance, -and bring pain.
(That's if you're not already in a wheelchair.)

All because some 'adult,' chose to not care and chose to injure you with their vehicle.

In this area?
I am amazed at how lightly drinking and driving is taken, completely amazed.
It might as well not even be a crime, the way people do it, defend it, and bellyache about the cops busting those who do it.

I've literally been at events, (concerts, etc.) where there is a bar, people are leaving and those who are in charge of the event (bar, show, whatever,) have said '...there is a checkpoint at thus and such, avoid this area...'

Unreal.

Fresno Police just looking to make a quick buck

The question asked on the website fresnoduicheckpoints.com is, does Fresno Police really want to stop drunk driving or are they only out to generate revenue for the city from towed cars? The latter I suppose. It is illegal for them to ask motorists for their drivers license unless a vehicle code or criminal act was committed. Simply being stopped at a checkpoint is not a legitimate reason.

For:

The comments and facts in the 1st and 2nd paragraphs about "rich people hiring attorney's for DUI's was for the commint posted by ATTYKENDALL(? hope I spelled right). Not an I told you so, or in your face...just FYI.

P.S.S.S.

Actually I was one of the people involved in the development of the section of palm they do the checkpoints at (I'm not saying who I work for cause I can get in trouble for talking about this kind of shit). And NO! that is not the way the people from pinedale come home. If they are coming from west of palm on herndon and then took palm to pinedale, it take over 5 min. extra to get home as opposed to taking Ingram, which is about 1/4 mile east of palm. THEN, you can get into Pinedale. That area of Palm was planned and built for the people that live on or north of Audobon (you know...the whole northside you're talking about). Again...get your facts straight before you make a comment. My favorite quote ever, totally applies to you.

Here it goes: It is better to remain silent, and be thought of as an idiot. Than opening your mouth, and removing all doubt.

I've always thought those where good words to live by.

"Finally Over"

I'll say it up front. I do live in north fresno, well, I rent in North fresno, so it's not like I'm standing up for people out here. Hell, I don't even know anybody who lives out here. And quite frankly I agree, it's bull, that money is definately a factor in court. UNTIL comes to DUI's.

I myself got a Dui (not in fresno, but still all the same), and not knowing what to do, wanting to get out of it, I hired an attorney. Biggest mistake you can make. Unless it's maybe your 2nd or 3rd DUI hiring an attorney is a free check for the lawyer. MADD (Mother's Against Drunk Driving) has made it impossible to get any wiggle room when it comes to DUI's.

But I'm here to comment on the subject at hand. When I rented out here almost four years ago, I moved from out of town and didn't know much about the city. People told me the Northside was the nice area, and forturnately the raise from the promotion that transfered me here allowed me to "rent" on the Northside (buying anywhere for me right now just ain't something that's gonna happen anytime soon).

When I asked the owner about he area (being clueless at the time) he said, "This is really where all the new building is going. Everything is going north. So basically your in the middle of the 'hot' area." I said to him "well,that's a plus than isn't it...but, what downsides aren't you telling me (in a joking manor)." He quickly responded back to me "Well your also in the hottest DUI checkpoint zone." He then proceeded to inform me that 73% of all DUI's and 84% of all DUI and moving violations come from the checkpoints and officers (mainly checkpoints though) on "Northsiders". WHY? The city makes money from tickets and DUI's. Why would they focus on an area where people can't afford to pay there fines, so they won't just lay down. People with money, tend to not want things like this become an "scene" because they got image issues so they'll lay down and just pay the fines. So why wouldn't they focus on the North Side? I live out here, I don't drink or party anymore, and I see the checkpoints out here all the time!

Like I said, I'm just a renter from out of town. I've been here for a while now and I really like it but, I don't' have any..."loyalties or pride", you might say, to any side. I just know the facts, and I think before posting something, somewhat out of spite, for the world to see, you should have the correct facts as well, not just a computer, opinion, and (what seems to me)...a grudge. Maybe you had a bad experience on the south sitde of fresno, and that sucks, but don't go and single out an intire people based on what side of town they live. I'm sure I'm not he only person in the position I'm in (just renting... don't care about the southside, northside, eastside, westside, backside, whatever).

No matter where you live... you live in fresno. And Fresno as a whole has a checkpoint problem no matter what side you live on. when we're on the cover of USA TODAY, because we get more DUI's than anyone else in the Nation, that should be a sign that the whole city has a problem, as a civilian citizen. But hey, at least screwing over the people who make this city what it is, money's being made. Unfortunately, we'll never see a dime of it. AND THAT'S NO OPINION ONLY FACT...well, some opinions... BUT FACT WHERE IT COUNTED.

North Fresno

im sure there are smelly mexicans in north fresno as well as a few DANs and SAMs so shuttie you hypocrits.

North Fresno DUI's

You only need reasonable suspicion to detain (traffic stop) and probable cause to arrest (subject failed Field Sobriety Tests....click click (cuffs) ). The sting was a great idea. A rich doctor can kill my family out on the road just the same as a poor parolee.....

Point Lost?

I think the point of the blog got missed here. I guess that's my fault, I was just trying to convey some information and my opinion in a mildly entertaining way.

My original point was, with all the DUI checkpoints and stings throughout this city, there is something wrong when a whole section of the city never had a checkpoint, for many years. Now that's over, they even had one at Champlain & Perrin this weekend. I just thought it was a good time to point out the lack of northern checkpoints. Maybe I shouldn't have done it in a semi humorous way: North Fresno Booze Cruise Over.

Obviously drunk driving is a bad thing and I wouldn't want my worst enemy to be in a wreck caused by a drunk - I didn't think that was necessary to point out. I, we, or whoever, was just questioning the method of the sting and the past checkpoint practices.

?

...folks, I'm a little blown away by the thrust of this conversation. Not long ago, (on Shaw, arguably the equator of Fresno,) I came across a guy who was drunk, had blown a light, rammed and nearly broken in half a toyota that had 5 people (4 adults, one little girl,) then ran into two trees before the driver got out, retrieved his lady-friend, and shuffled off to a side street.
He was later caught, with chest injuries, and was drunk. (Prior to hitting the second tree, he was aimed right at yours truly and had the pedal floored.)

-The people in the Toyota were busted up, but all lived.

What difference does it make if they were white and rich, Mexican, black, Artists from a Trendy Neighborhood, or average schlubbs just trying to drive down the road? This was right in front of State, and there are always students walking around,,, any of you want to loose a younger sibling to this clown?
Are you that involved with a war of how the 'have-nots' and the 'haves,' are being caught (drunk driving,) that the issue OF drunk driving is lost?

I read the blogs, and though I know basically none of you, if I read a blog tomorrow that said 'Jarah, one of the hosts of Fresno Famous was killed by a drunk driver last night,' or ANY of the other people who blog, or any entertainer at Rogue, or a local celeb, a local bag person, Somebody's parent or grandparent, even some 'no-named person who is here and undocumented,' (which could be any of us...) was killed by some idiot who drank and drove, I'd be heartbroken, and it would suck.

It's a pathetic waste of life.
And if life in Fresno is as wunnerful as (this site, especially,) is trying to present it,,, And if this site is as crawling with artists, (myself included,) who are so hell-bent on doing creative stuff even if nobody looks,,, isn't this life worth more than just some lame-assed pissfight about who lives where -and if the police are showing favoritism, --or are just trying to stop boneheads (in any neighborhood,) from injuring and killing themselves and anyone else?

I mean, I'm all for dark humor, (one minute we're being blessed with BonJovi tickets, next it's Korn,,, and it's the same crowd going -now THATS funny, folks don't even bother dressing differently for the shows... Folks heading to see the 'Stones looked like an AmWay convention on way too much starch...)

But commenting 'finally northerners get theirs???'
When is preventing morons from killing innocent bystanders a bad thing regardless of the crossstreets?

P.S.S.

The definition of North Fresno seems to always be changing. What I was talking about is East of Blackstone, North of Herndon. There had never been a checkpoint or "sting" in that area before this. It seemed odd that North America's leading city in DUI checkpoints took that long to have one in that large of an area. Just food for thought, that area of Palm is where folks from Pinedale drive home, isn't it? Hummm.

P.S.

Get over the whole "northern/southern" thing. I've seen at least three DUI checkpoints on Palm, north of Herndon in the past year. Peace brotha.

re: legalities

question for the barrister:

would the situation be considered a wrongful arrest because it would be seen as a type of entrapment ('insider'radioing ahead, contacting waiting cruisers, cruisers pull over intox. motorists, 'find,' them intox, arrest for DUI, impound car...)?

would it be legal (if)
-said cruisers just waited on the outskirts of the bars, performed a 'safety stop,' (checking for seatbelts, proper vehc. documentation, etc, --and then ask '...have you had anything to drink this evening, then conducting a test, then arresting driver, then impounding car...) (This question is asked usually even if you've made a turn without signalling, -which is the norm for around here.
-key difference, there is no 'insider,' radio-ing anyone ahead, and the stop is a pure 'safety stop,' that yeilds arrests of DUI's.

(?)

I understand the reasoning behind allowing the patrons to (choose to,) operate a vehicle after (choosing to,) become intoxicated, (you cannnot arrest someone for 'intent,' nor for 'almost' drivng drunk,,, they have to actually do something wrong to be caught at it.)
-I don't recall the distance between the patron pulling out of the parking lot (private property,) onto the (public roadway,) and in the vicinity of the officer, -it didn't sound very far.
-Dangerous? sure, but again, they have to (choose to,) drive to be arrested.

-Would it be seen as better public relations for the (undercover,) officers to reveal themselves at the door and 'gently encourage someone else to drive, else face the consequences???' (Like folks want officer Friendly to babysit them (like a big brother,) but don't want Big Brother?) Don't bartenders and restaurant staff do this? (or are they afraid of loosing business by telling patrons that they've had too much and should have a cab take them home...)

I've had family and friends kill and have had loved ones killed by drunk drivers... It's horrendous. Even when the drunk driver is killed too, it still doesn't bring back an innocent victim, and the one who survived and caused the wreck is usually a mentalcase for the balance of their days, and can't apologize enough.
(And everyone always says '..somebody ought'ave done something before it came to this...')

What are the legal options in this? (aside from adults acting like adults and choosing not to drive when drunk, and those around them being concerned enough to step in.)

Not the 1st time

Folks, its not like people never get arrested for drunk driving in North Fresno. On New Year's Eve, there was a city wide crackdown on drunk drivers, and I personally saw several people pulled over north of Herndon. Furthermore, there have been many DUI checkpoints on Shaw after Bulldog & Falcon games (I consider Shaw to be the dividing line between north & south Fresno). I do agree that this particular tactic, where ever it is used, is invasive & irresponsible. What happens if these people get in an accident before they're pulled over? And this crap about the police chief not being aware this was going on... that means one of two things, either he's inept, or he's a liar. Neither are qualities you want in a police chief.

Not just Northsiders

They also had the same operation the week before at some of the bars on Belmont.

North Fresno DUI's

The scene you have set does not provide probable cause for the stop of these drivers. All those "affluent" Northsiders will have to do is hire an attorney, and get their cases thrown out of court. Then everyone will say their cases were dismissed because they were rich and powerful (so to speak), but it will actually be due to police overstepping their duties.

It's about time!

It's about time! Now Northerner can't get away with it. Be very afraid, oh yes, be very afraid!