Tag Archives: DUI

Legal pot may mean less driving while stoned

Posted on May 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

So says one study. A new study has determined that people in states where cannabis is legal are less likely to drive while stoned than people in states where weed remains criminalized. The study, published this month in the journal … Continue reading →

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Study claims Uber has reduced drunk driving in Houston

Posted on June 14, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Of interest. Paid rides have saved lives and lessened drunk driving convictions in Houston, according to a new study released Wednesday by local researchers that claimed a direct link between more folks hailing an Uber and fewer wheeled into emergency … Continue reading →

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Coronavirus and crime

Posted on April 12, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It’s down around the country. Turns out having everyone stay inside has a salutary effect, for the most part. Crime rates plunged in cities and counties across the U.S. over the second half of March as the coronavirus pandemic drove … Continue reading →

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Back to Buzbee

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like we’re not done with this yet. Prominent Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee on Monday accused Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg of “playing politics,” saying prosecutors are trying to revive a DWI case against him that has already been … Continue reading →

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More on the Buzbee DUI saga

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This just keeps getting weirder. “It appears to have been an under-the-table deal with Devon Anderson,” said Tyler Flood, the president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyer’s Association. “I already have clients calling me saying they want the ‘Tony Buzbee … Continue reading →

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Do the words “appearance of impropriety” mean anything to you?

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Seriously? Outgoing Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson personally has dismissed the drunken-driving case against prominent Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee. Buzbee, who was arrested on March 31, had his case dismissed Dec. 9, after completing “pretrial intervention” a type of … Continue reading →

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New study questions Uber effect on DUI

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. The introduction of ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft hasn’t had any impact on the number of fatalities related to drunken driving, a newly published study finds. Researchers at the University of Southern California and Oxford University looked … Continue reading →

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Bike safety is also car safety

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s been two years since bicyclist Chelsea Norman was killed by drunk hit-and-run driver Margaret Mayer. The city has taken numerous steps to help make the streets safer for bicyclists. How are we doing on that? “I personally don’t feel … Continue reading →

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Austin passes new vehicles for hire regulations

Posted on December 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’ll be very interesting to see how this plays out. Defying implied threats that such a vote would chase Uber and Lyft out of town, the Austin City Council late Thursday put into city statutes mandatory fingerprint-based background checks for … Continue reading →

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More on Uber and drunk driving

Posted on September 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We have a study. In this work, we investigate how the entry of the driving service Uber influences the rate of alcohol related motor vehicle homicides. While significant debate has surrounded the entry of driving services like Uber and Lyft, … Continue reading →

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On Uber and DWI

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This was from a few weeks ago, and I just hadn’t gotten around to finishing the draft post I’d started till now. The entrance of app-based transportation companies in American cities decreases the likelihood that people living there drive drunk, … Continue reading →

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Possibly the last thing I’m going to say about the Perry indictment for now

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Certainly not the last thing I’ll ever say, since there’s a vast amount of the story left to be told, and I reserve the right to change my mind. But for now, since the indictment came down on Friday there’s … Continue reading →

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Three Uber stories

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

We’re still waiting for Council to take action on vehicles for hire, so here’s some more reading on the subject to keep you up to date on what’s happening elsewhere. Wonkblog: Are Uber and Lyft responsible for reducing DUIs? Wonkblog: … Continue reading →

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Perry grand jury may be winding down

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

We are getting close to some action on this. A grand jury looking into whether Gov. Rick Perry abused his power with a veto threat appears closer to wrapping up after current and former Perry staffers were behind closed doors … Continue reading →

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Harris County tries to get smarter about drunk driving

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

That seems to be the thrust of this story. Convicted drunken drivers soon could face tougher scrutiny through a series of reforms designed to reduce the rate of drunken driving fatalities in Harris County, among the highest in the nation. … Continue reading →

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Lehmberg beats the rap

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good for her. District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg will remain in her position as the top felony prosecutor in Travis County, visiting Judge David Peeples ruled Wednesday. Lehmberg hugged her supporters in the courtroom after the decision was read, shedding tears. … Continue reading →

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Lehmberg civil trial this week

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I’d almost forgotten about this. Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg heads to court this week as a defendant in a civil trial that could result in her ouster from office. The trial, set to start Monday in Austin before … Continue reading →

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Perry special prosecutor seeks to hire investigator

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Moving right along. The special prosecutor in an ongoing investigation into whether Gov. Rick Perry violated state law by vetoing funding for the Travis County ethics-enforcement unit is seeking to hire an investigator and researcher, the first public hint the … Continue reading →

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Grand jury convening in Perry/Lehmberg veto threat case

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t wait to see how this turns out. A visiting state district judge began convening a special grand jury Wednesday to consider two possible criminal cases stemming from the April drunken driving arrest of Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg. … Continue reading →

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DUI and blood testing

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Not sure what I think about this. A decision by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office to demand blood tests for every drunken-driving suspect who refuses breath tests has drawn an unusual opponent: Houston police officers. “We’re just very concerned … Continue reading →

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Perry will veto Integrity Unit funds unless Lehmberg resigns

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This could be checkmate for Rosemary Lehmberg. Gov. Rick Perry will veto financing for the public integrity unit — the state’s ethics enforcement division — unless embattled Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg resigns, an official close to the governor … Continue reading →

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Another petition filed against Lehmberg

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The filer is a former colleague as well as a former opponent of Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg. Rick Reed, who ran against Lehmberg in 2008 and is now a defense attorney in Austin, filed the petition with the district … Continue reading →

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Lehmberg out of jail

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Her incarceration may be over, but Rosemary Lehmberg’s problems are far from it. Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg was released from jail early Thursday after serving half of a 45-day jail sentence for pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated. … Continue reading →

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What to do with a problem like Rosemary?

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Austin Chronicle has a great overview of the Rosemary Lehmberg situation. All speculation aside, Lehmberg has vowed that she will not resign. In a letter to Travis County residents (apparently dictated to friends from jail and posted to her … Continue reading →

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Who resigns after a DUI arrest?

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Statesman asks the question and gets some answers. In 2006, District Attorney Tim Cole had a decision to make. The then-chief prosecutor for Montague, Clay and Archer counties had been arrested for drunken driving after a day of July … Continue reading →

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Lehmberg pleads guilty, gets 45 days

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Off she goes. District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg has pleaded guilty to drunken driving, was sentenced to 45 days in jail and immediately taken into custody. Lehmberg’s blood alcohol level registered at 0.23 when she was arrested April 13, her attorney … Continue reading →

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Should Travis County DA Lehmberg resign?

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Perspectives on that are colored by politics right now. While Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg sought to put her weekend drunken driving arrest behind her, debate over her political future reached the State Capitol on Monday, where lawmakers weighed … Continue reading →

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Travis DA Rosemary Lehmberg arrested for DUI

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Oops. Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, arrested and charged with drunken driving overnight, plans to remain in office and will not resign, according to a spokeswoman. According to county records, Lehmberg, 63, was arrested by Travis County deputies in … Continue reading →

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Anderson’s DWI proposal

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

You may recall that former Harris County DA Pat Lykos’ DIVERT program for DWI offenders was a major point of contention in the GOP primary fight that was eventually won by new DA Mike Anderson. (If you don’t recall, see … Continue reading →

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Former HPD lab supervisor files sues Lykos, county

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a nice little going away present for District Attorney Pat Lykos. Two former Houston Police Department crime lab supervisors have filed a federal lawsuit against Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos, saying the county’s top prosecutor retaliated against them … Continue reading →

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Report: Most elected officials refuse to contribute to their own prosecution

Posted on February 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

That’s what the headline to this story should read. Public records examined by the Austin American-Statesman show that most elected officials who have been stopped on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in recent years have declined to consent to a … Continue reading →

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