Honolulu cops posting DUI mug shots on Internet

Published 9:43 pm Wednesday, November 25, 2009

HONOLULU — Mug shots of drunken driving suspects are landing on the Honolulu Police Department’s Web site, creating a virtual wall of shame long before suspects get their day in court.

Supporters say the experiment in public humiliation to be launched Wednesday should be used elsewhere in the nation if it reduces the number of drunks on the road.

Critics counter the photo gallery is a heavy-handed tactic that threatens to violate constitutional rights and stain reputations without court convictions.

“We’re not trying to embarrass anybody,” said police Maj. Thomas Nitta, head of the traffic division. “This is public record, and we want people to be aware of this.”

Defense attorneys doubt the strategy will stop intoxicated drivers from getting behind the wheel.

“There’s no empirical data to show it does anything other than embarrass them,” said attorney Pat McPherson, who handles hundreds of DUI cases a year. “There may be a good intent here, but it doesn’t necessarily make it a good thing and really opens the police up to liability.”

Arrest records and photos are considered to be public records and have been published in newspapers and shown on TV for decades. The Honolulu program is different, however, because the police themselves are publicizing the images.

Recently released DUI mug shots in Hawaii include lawmakers and several stars of the ABC drama “Lost,” which is filmed in the state.

Honolulu police arrest more than 80 people a week for investigation of drunken driving, said Nitta, who believes the cost of the online program will be minimal.