The Huntington Beach city council has voted against a proposal that would have allowed the police department to post mug shots on Facebook of those arrested for DUI in California. One council member had recommended posting the names and faces of repeat drunk driving offenders on the social networking site in an effort to shame them into changing their behavior. His original goal was to post photos of all accused of DUI in California.
The police opposed the plan, saying it would alienate the area residents. Council members voting against the idea said it would damage the city’s image and potentially embarrass family members who were not involved with drinking and driving. California DUI criminal defense lawyers and privacy advocates were concerned about the posting of suspect photos on-line, citing a presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
Huntington Beach and its ocean front location draws many to its downtown bars and restaurants. The city, with a population of 200,000 has the highest ranking in the state for alcohol related traffic deaths among cities of similar size.
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