CM PRESS # 436

LAST NIGHT'S DUI CHECKPOINT RESULTS

The Costa Mesa Police Department conducted a DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint on Saturday, March 12, 2011 on Adams Avenue east of Mesa Verde Drive West. 

1236 Vehicles through the checkpoint
648 Vehicles Screened
6 Drivers given field sobriety tests
4 DUI suspects arrested
1 DUI arrest warrant served
34 Driver’s license investigations
17 Citations issued
11 Vehicles towed
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COSTA MESA'S $ 1,800 PER HOUR HELICOPTER HELPS NAB GUY WHO STOLE A SEVERAL DOLLAR BOTTLE OF DRUG STORE TEQUILA
Link
We didn't plan it this way, but this is starting to look like an all helicopter issue of the CM PRESS.
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BREAKING NEWS: HELICOPTER CRASHED AND BURST INTO FLAMES IN LA AT AROUND 9:40 AM THIS MORNING
Link
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WHEN COSTA MESA'S HELICOPTER CRASHED AND KILLED TWO COPS IT ALSO KILLED A CIVILIAN WHO WAS GETTING A FREE RIDE IN THE CHOPPER

In Rob Dimel's column [HERE] written to try to save the very expensive helicopter program, Dimel apparently forgot to mention that a civilian named Jeffrey Pollard, of Tustin, who was getting a free ride in the helicopter, also died when it crashed. [LINK to LA TIMES article from 1987]

One has to wonder whether or not rules were put in place after that tragedy to not allow civilians to ride in the helicopter. 

If rules were put in place, then why were Wendy and Barbara given rides in the helicopter? 

If rules to protect civilians--and the city from lawsuits--were not put in place, then why not?

Costa Mesa's helicopters are owned by the citizens of Costa Mesa. City government is expected to act responsibly and not expose the City to lawsuits if employees endanger civilians by giving them rides in the helicopters.

Suppose a chase of some kind happened while Wendy and Barbara were joy riding in the helicopter. Do you think the helicopter would land and let Wendy and Barbara out?  Of course it wouldn't.  They'd be stuck in the helicopter as was Jeffrey Pollard back in 1987.
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