The Guinness Book of World Records might want to make space for another entry…
An Imperial Beach, California man recently went on a DUI spree that might have set the standard for repeat drunk drivers. According to a story posted to the website of San Diego television station KGTV, on January 17, 2012, 44-year-old David Lakarnafeaux pulled into a gas station and hit another car there after he forgot to shift his own car into park. His blood alcohol concentration (BAC) as measured by a breathalyzer was found to be between .05 and .06 percent. San Diego police, who made the arrest at the gas station, are awaiting the results of a blood test.
Two days later, Lakarnafeaux was pulled over and arrested by California Highway Patrol officers for drunk driving; his BAC this time was .18 percent.
But wait, there’s more…
Three days after being stopped by the C.H.P. for driving under the influence, he ran afoul of the law again. According to the KGTV story, Sheriff’s Deputies were alerted to the possibility of a drunk driver on Seacoast Drive in Imperial Beach at about 6:30 in the morning. When they arrived they found David Lakarnafeaux in a bar, perhaps to no one’s surprise. His blood alcohol level was measured at .14 percent.
All told, Lakarnafeaux managed to get arrested for DUI three times in 5 days. And since committing the same crime three times in so short a time could get boring, he decided to mix it up a bit by getting three different Southern California law enforcement agencies into the act – the San Diego Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. If the good people at Guinness (yes, the Irish brewing company) recognize Lakarnafeaux’s feat, the Police, C.H.P., and Sheriff’s Deputies ought to get some billing as well.
Joking aside, Lakarnafeaux’s actions put many people at risk of death or injury, and he is facing serious charges with potentially very severe consequences. Bail was set at $40,000 for one of his two earlier DUI arrests, and $100,000 for the latest arrest in Imperial Beach. He has pleaded not guilty to one those DUIs. His lawyer told reporters that Lakarnafeaux had been sober for over two years. The prosecutor, however, did not mince words when describing Lakarnafeaux as being “an extreme danger on the road.”
Drivers like Lakarnafeaux who are arrested and charged with DUI face tough penalties if they are convicted at trial. They include possible jail time or probation, community service, fines, suspension of a driver’s license, and mandatory installation of an ignition-interlock device (which prevents a car from starting if the driver’s BAC is above a preset limit), among other things.
Drivers who are convicted of multiple drunk driving offenses, which may also happen to Lakarnafeaux, face even tougher penalties, including mandatory jail or prison time, community service, heavy fines, longer suspension of a driver’s license, restricted driving privileges, and other penalties that make life difficult.
If you have been arrested and charged with drunk-driving, contact an Orange County DUI lawyer right away. An Orange County DUI lawyer with experience in this complicated area of the law can study the facts of your case and suggest a course of action. Depending on the circumstances, your lawyer may be able to negotiate a reduction of the charges against you, or have them dismissed altogether. Although nothing can be guaranteed, it is also true that a DUI arrest does not have to be the end of the world. An Orange County DUI lawyer can advise you every step of the way, help you navigate the legal process, and potentially achieve a fair and reasonable outcome for you.
