Firm Location

Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea in Heather Glen Court on the West side of Mission Street, 1.5 blocks South of Ocean Ave.

Phone: 831.624.5000
Fax: 831.624.9102

Mailing address:
P.O. Box R-1
Carmel-by-the-Sea
CA 93921

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How Courts View Possible DUI Offenses and Volunteered Information

When witnesses report suspected DUI drivers and provide authorities with their own identities and contact information, courts frequently deem them to be reliable. A Carmel DUI defense attorney can fully explain to a client how such reports might affect his or her case. Here are some pertinent court rulings from around the country:

  • In an Arkansas case, a man identified himself to authorities and then reported what he believed was criminal activity. A local officer then made his own observations that confirmed the tip received. The defendant’s subsequent detention was ruled lawful.
  • A Florida case revolved around a 911 call placed by a fast food manager who fully identified himself and said he thought he had seen a probable DUI suspect drive by. When an officer arrived at the caller’s location, the volunteer further described the vehicle to the officer. The court deemed this report to be highly credible.
  • In a Kansas case, an informant provided the authorities with her own name and address before giving them the description of the car she believed was being driven illegally. The court upheld the validity of her report since she had fully identified herself.
  • A Massachusetts court deemed a possible DUI report credible because it was made by a known citizen.
  • In a Missouri case, an eyewitness gave a police officer a specific description of a Jeep he believed was being driven erratically. The court later ruled that the driver’s subsequent arrest was proper under the circumstances.
  • In a Utah case, an informant’s report was not deemed reliable. It involved a woman filing a nonviolent domestic dispute. She stated that when her boyfriend left, he had been drinking. The court seems to have questioned the reliability of this report because the woman didn’t state that the man was actually intoxicated.

These cases make it clear that courts frequently accord great credibility to many DUI informants who are willing to fully identify themselves to authorities. If you need to speak to a Carmel DUI defense attorney, call Thomas Nash for a free evaluation of your case.