Former Mayor of Los Alamitos, Catherine Ann Driscoll, 42, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after she hit a tree off the Katella onramp to the 605 freeway, reports the Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch.
She reportedly entered the onramp, drove over the side, and collided with a tree. She was transported to a hospital, a blood sample was obtained, and she was cited with suspicion of DUI. She was released into a friend's custody.
According to a CHP spokesman, the charge was driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs.
Though she was arrested, do not mistake that for actual guilt. Granted, the officer had to have some reason to suspect intoxication to require her to give the blood test and arrest her. However, until the blood is tested, and she is charged and convicted, she is presumed innocent.
None of the three have yet been done.
There is some good news for her. The onramp seems to be barely over the Orange County line, on the OC side. The line is literally just a few feet east of the intersection of the 605 freeway and Katella Ave.
According to Google, the County Line is right next to the Coyote Creek Bikeway, just past the intersection. She practically could have thrown a rock onto the Los Angeles side.
If Driscoll had been on the L.A. side, she'd be subject to the ignition interlock device pilot program, which would not be a good look for her, or her political career.
For now, she will be mired in the waiting game that accompanies blood tests, which do not give the same instantaneous results as breath tests. Blood tests are more accurate and can detect drugs.
Should they find drugs, she'll face a driving while impaired charge. If it's alcohol, she'll be tagged with impairment and 0.08 or higher charges. She'll also face a DMV hearing on whether or not she gets to keep her driver's license.
Related Resources:
- Find a Los Angeles DUI Lawyer (FindLaw)
- Huntington Beach Official, City Council Hopeful, Tim Ryan DUI (FindLaw's Los Angeles DUI Blog)
- Jenna Jameson Wraps Herself Around a Pole; Gets DUI (FindLaw's Los Angeles DUI Blog)
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