California and Other States Contemplating Posting Facebook Photos of DUI Offenders
For people who get behind the wheel after they’ve been drinking, it’s more than injury, legal penalties and a long-term police record that will remind them of the offense. Some cities are considering using Facebook to post photos of people who have been arrested more than one time for drunk driving, letting the element of shame help encourage drivers to make a safer decision.
Huntington Beach, Calif., is one of the cities considering using Facebook to let viewers know who has been participating in the deadly behavior of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, with city council representatives saying the shame factor is worth it to help prevent loss of life from alcohol-related car crashes. The city has one of the nation’s highest fatality statistics for driving under the influence.
Though some councilmen were hoping to post a picture of everyone with a DUI offense, resistance from the community prompted them to decide to post the photos of people with more than one drunk driving offense. The proposal is spearheaded by Councilman Devin Dwyer, who has been encouraged by families who have lost loved ones to drunk driving accidents and the fact that local media sources no longer print records of arrest.
In 2009, nearly 200 people were hurt or killed in alcohol-related accidents in Huntington Beach, Calif, numbers that helped coin a phrase about guests exiting the city on probation, even if they just come for a vacation. The city strives to enforce laws toward drunk driving, resulting in nearly 1,700 arrests in 2009 for DUI offenses.
Critics of the Facebook concept for preventing DUIs say the measure wouldn’t work, would infringe on people’s privacy rights, and would harm relationships between the community and local law enforcement agencies. Huntington Beach has used Facebook pages created by law enforcement officials to help gain information about suspects in cases and to potentially protect the public from harm. They fear this use of Facebook would end if DUI offender photos were posted.
Similar projects that have posted photos of DUI offenders on Facebook have been stopped in Honolulu and in Evesham Township, N.J However, other cities continue to use the popular social media tool to help locate people who have committed dangerous crimes, including people suspected of molesting children. In most cases, the photos can only be posted if the person has been convicted of the crime.
Statewide, it is legal in California to allow public access to information about someone arrested for a crime, including details about their physical appearance and their place of employment. Critics of the Facebook strategy for stopping DUIs say the action may cross the line if pictures are posted before people receive an actual conviction.
While the Facebook strategy for preventing DUIs is still under debate in California and other states, it may encourage more innovative and widespread campaigns against the deadly behavior of driving while intoxicated.
