White knuckle drive

[whipartist]

Last night I drove home from San Diego, leaving around 3 p.m., stopping in Irvine for a few hours, and then arriving home at around 4:15 a.m. Most of the drive was peaceful and pleasant, but the last hour involved multiple calls to 911

Comments

[jcdill]

I reported a drunk on Hwy 1 northbound near Watsonville many years ago (1990s - I had a "bag phone" in my truck). He was going from 45 to way over 80, weaving all over the road, etc. I got his plate number when he was going slow, called it in. When he was going slow and straight I passed him in the far left lane and got out well ahead of him (in case he decided to go back into "speed back up" mode I wanted to be WELL away from him). Apparently a cop at the Freedom CHP station got on the freeway and pulled him over immediately. He blew a 2.x something, was hauled off to jail.

About 6 months later a DA or PD called me to ask me about my 911 call. I said I remembered the vehicle very well, small white pickup, swerving all over the road, speeding up and slowing down, etc. Apparently his attorney was trying to get the stop thrown out because the cop didn't follow him for "long enough" to establish his drunken driving behavior, but I convinced the DA/PD that it was extremely clear *to me* that he was drunk and that I relayed this to the 911 operator, and that I'd show up in court if they went to trial. So he took a plea bargain deal and I didn't have to go testify.