Devin Dwyer, a councilman in Huntington Beach, CA, wants police to begin posting mug shots of DUI repeat offenders to the Huntington Beach PD's Facebook page. Originally, he wanted all DUI offenders posted, but Dwyer modified the proposal in an attempt to get it past the 7-member city council.
Huntington Beach is a city of about 200,000 residents. Among 56 California cities of a similar size, Huntington Beach is ranked tops in alcohol-related traffic fatalities. In 2009, 195 people were killed or injured. At the same time, drunk driving laws are strictly enforced, and in 2009, there were 1,687 DUI arrests.
Police spokesman Lt. Russell Reinhart said that the PD's Facebook page, launched in November, has proven to be a valuable way of getting information to and from the public. He is concerned public interest might dry up if this practice of public shaming of all repeat DUI offenders were conducted. He said,
"We see no value in doing that. Law enforcement is not about public shaming."Despite this, Dwyer says he has wide support from residents. The vote takes place next Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011.
