Does the city of Huntington Beach have a DUI problem? (KTLA-TV) |
HUNTINGTON BEACH (KTLA) -- The state Office of Traffic and Safety has released new data suggesting that Huntington Beach has the largest number of alcohol-related crashes per-capita in California. And one bar in particular is in hot water, after police complaints that it's been linked to an excessive number of drunk driving arrests.
The bar in question is Baja Sharkeez. In 22 months, 72 Sharkeez patrons were arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, according to Huntington Beach police. Authorities say they ask people arrested on suspicion of DUI where they have been drinking.
Hurricanes Bar & Grill had the second highest number of DUI arrests linked to it in the same period, at 52. Killarney Pub & Grill was third, with 33.
The owner of Sharkeez, Ron Newman, maintains that his bar can't be directly linked to the DUI problems. "What happens on the highway, we cannot control," Newman told the Los Angeles Times.
Still, it appears there may indeed be a problem in Huntington Beach.
Overall, there were 195 people killed or injured in alcohol-related crashes in Huntington Beach in 2009, according to the Office of Traffic Safety figures. Huntington Beach police made 1,558 DUI arrests in the same year.
The city has been in the top 10 percent per-capita for DUI accidents for the last half-decade.
And in 2009, Huntington Beach ranked first among cities with populations between 100,000 and 250,000, ahead of 55 other cities.
Authorities say they were aware the city had a high number of DUI accidents in 2009, but they were surprised to learn the city was ranked number one.
The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is now looking into the problems.
The bar in question is Baja Sharkeez. In 22 months, 72 Sharkeez patrons were arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, according to Huntington Beach police. Authorities say they ask people arrested on suspicion of DUI where they have been drinking.
Hurricanes Bar & Grill had the second highest number of DUI arrests linked to it in the same period, at 52. Killarney Pub & Grill was third, with 33.
The owner of Sharkeez, Ron Newman, maintains that his bar can't be directly linked to the DUI problems. "What happens on the highway, we cannot control," Newman told the Los Angeles Times.
Still, it appears there may indeed be a problem in Huntington Beach.
Overall, there were 195 people killed or injured in alcohol-related crashes in Huntington Beach in 2009, according to the Office of Traffic Safety figures. Huntington Beach police made 1,558 DUI arrests in the same year.
The city has been in the top 10 percent per-capita for DUI accidents for the last half-decade.
And in 2009, Huntington Beach ranked first among cities with populations between 100,000 and 250,000, ahead of 55 other cities.
Authorities say they were aware the city had a high number of DUI accidents in 2009, but they were surprised to learn the city was ranked number one.
The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is now looking into the problems.
