Calif city rejects Fcebook shaming of DUI suspects

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Police will not be posting the mug shots of habitual drunken driving suspects on Facebook.

The City Council shot down a proposal late Tuesday by Councilman Devin Dwyer that would have directed police to post repeat DUI suspect photos online.

He had sought to shame people into changing their behavior, but the Police Department opposed the move, saying it would alienate residents.

Huntington Beach, with a population of 200,000, has a downtown packed with bars and is ranked first in the state for alcohol-related traffic fatalities among cities of similar size.

Dwyer’s proposal alarmed privacy advocates and defense lawyers who worried it might impact the presumption of innocence for suspects.

Council opponents worried it could embarrass family members of habitual drunken drivers, or that it could damage the city’s image.

Dwyer said he received wide support from residents, including a woman whose husband and three children were killed in an alcohol-related crash.