Huntington Beach police may identify suspected drunk drivers on its website

The Huntington Beach Police Department is considering posting the names of drunk-driving suspects on its website as part of a stepped-up strategy to address the problem downtown and citywide.

In a report submitted to the City Council this month, police said drinking and driving is a “significant problem” in Surf City and suggested that publicly posting names sends a message that police are cracking down.

“It’s not a wall of shame we’re looking to put up,” said police Lt. Russell Reinhart. “Public awareness of the problem, and scope of the problem, is one way of addressing any public safety concern.”

The Police Department considered publishing the names of those arrested on a drunk driving charge after the Huntington Beach Independent newspaper stopped publishing a weekly list of possible offenders in December, according to the city report.

The Independent decided to drop the standing feature after a change in editorial policy.

Huntington Beach would not be the first Orange County city to publish the name of those arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Irvine already posts the names of adult arrestees in a wide range of crimes, including drunk driving, on its Police Department website.

For the last three years, on average, Huntington Beach police have made 1,700 drunk-driving arrests a year — the third-highest for cities in California with similar populations in 2008, according to the report.

The city also has the fourth-highest number of alcohol-related traffic collisions for its population.

“We have a murder once every couple of years in Huntington Beach, but we have a dozen or so people killed in alcohol-related crashes every year,” Reinhart said.

Reinhart said officers are trying to focus on being proactive instead of reactive when it comes to drinking and driving.

In March, the Police Department began tracking where those arrested on suspicion of drunk driving had their last drink.

Police compiled the data and then began notifying the managers of those businesses on a monthly basis to inform them that they may have been over-serving customers. The hope, Reinhart said, is that the establishments take action by serving fewer drinks and directing intoxicated patrons to taxis.

“There’s an expectation that they don’t serve people to the point of intoxication,” he said.

For the period from March 1 to June 30, the highest number of drunk-driving arrestees claimed to have had their last drink at two Main Street restaurants.

Fourteen arrestees claimed to have their last drinks at Baja Sharkeez, while eight said they were at Hurricanes Bar & Grill.

Representatives from both businesses said they don’t serve those who are obviously intoxicated and offer designated drivers free sodas.

Sharkeez will pay cab fare for those who can’t drive and Hurricanes directs patrons to taxis outside.

“Whatever we can do to support the P.D. and stop this happening, we’re more than willing,” said Hurricanes general manager Kerry Lovett.

britney.barnes@latimes.com