(Press Release) On Saturday, April 12, 2014, at approximately 8:34 P.M., a California Highway Patrol (CHP) Bridgeport Area officer was requested to assist a Mono County Sheriff’s Deputy with a traffic stop on US 395, just north of Topaz Lane. The deputy had stopped a Nissan Altima for driving at a speed greater than 80 MPH in a 55 MPH zone. The deputy advised the Altima was honking its horn and flashing its high beam headlamps at a vehicle in front of it before passing the vehicle at a high rate of speed.
The deputy conducted an enforcement stop on the vehicle, contacted the driver and observed signs consistent with alcoholic beverage consumption. The deputy requested a CHP officer respond and conduct a DUI investigation. The CHP officer arrived on scene and contacted the driver, Mr. Konstantin S. Zaigralov, age 30, who was visiting from Russia. The CHP officer also observed signs of alcohol consumption, administered a series of field sobriety tests, which included utilization of the preliminary alcohol screening device which indicated Mr. Zaigralov’s blood alcohol content was approximately .14% to .16%, twice the legal limit of .08%.
Mr. Zaigralov was arrested for driving under the influence, his car was towed, he was issued a notice suspending his driving privilege, the Russian Consulate was notified that a Russian citizen had been arrested and Mr. Zaigralov was booked into the Mono County Jail in Bridgeport. Mr. Zaigralov’s passenger was provided a ride to the Topaz Loge, in Nevada, by the Mono County Sheriff’s deputy that had initially made the traffic enforcement stop.
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pull that lights flashing ,horn honking stuff in L.A. or riverside and youll end up with a cap in your arse,its ridiculous to be that rude and impatient in the sierras…chill out
He’s a long way from Mother Russia 🙂
Sugar Magnolia, sometimes they just (ahem) older folks out for a “Sunday drive” to enjoy the beautiful scenery the Eastern Sierra has to offer. If you’re crowding them and their reactions aren’t as swift as yours but still good enough to drive, they may think they can’t pull over. Give a little, have a little more heart, and let folks a little more of a break, already!
Maybe tequila isn’t the same as vodka…
Glad to hear this dude is off the road.
It has nothing to do with the choice of beverage. In Russia money will get you out of almost any trouble with the law as long as the transgression isn’t political. That doesn’t work so well over here.
Poke your head out of the shell once in while Mr. Turtle – it was a stupid joke.
I am glad he’s off the road though.
I hope this guy has to pay DOUBLE the normal bail amount…I don’t think he’ll return to the U.S. to appear on a misdemeanor warrant that gets issued when he doesn’t show for court. In some STATES, if you’re not a resident, you pay the entire fine on the SPOT, or…go to jail.
Some years back I was popped for speeding by Utah Highway Patrol out in the desert between Kanab and Page, AZ. Right after the cop pulled me over a big green station wagon pulled in behind him. It was hizzoner, the judge, right there on the side of the road to collect the fine, or be arrested, since I wasn’t a Utah resident. Kangaroo court on the side of the road. And you complain about California.
It comes down to jurisdiction and department policy… It’s not that deputies can’t do DUI’s it’s that CHP’s are professionals at it. Even where I live… Over 900,000 in population and as a deputy I don’t take DUI arrests…. I do the preliminary investigation and then call CHP if I feel the subject may be too intoxicated to drive.
It does seem odd at the number of press releases for rather standard duty stuff. You don’t hear or see the Mammoth PD, Bishop PD, or Inyo SO issuing these types of press releases day in and day out like the Mono Sheriff. It almost seems like an election year…oh wait, it is! Anyway, one question…how did the Sheriff know he was doing 80 mph? Mono SO does NOT have radar and they are to keep the peace, not for general traffic enforcement. Which, brings me to another point. US 395 is well covered by CHP, so why are so many Mono Sheriffs patrolling 395 too? Seems like if they have too many to cover the communities where they should be patrolling rather than the highway, then maybe its time to cut the budget and reduce patrols. Didn’t I hear that Mono has serious budget issues?
It was a CHP press release.
BK
they pace the car…
Johnny….I rather like the idea of these recent press releases on the DUI drivers being caught and arrested here….sending a message not to be coming up here to Inyo and Mono and thinking its O.K. to drink and drive and do as you please when you visit or pass through this area….like some think it to be.As in this case,could have turned out a lot worse with some guy (allegedly) honking his horn and flashing his lights and passing someone he obviously felt was driving too slow….
I sometimes flash my lights at people, and on rare occasion will honk my horn too. Most often its on small two lane roads where the people are driving very slowly, enjoying the scenery. I have no problem with that at all, but I am trying to get somewhere.
The only thing I ask when they are doing so, is that they use the turnouts provided to allow others to safely pass. If they pass a turn out, I will politely as possible, flash my headlights to point out that they just missed a chance to pull over. If they pass the next one too, I flash my lights a little more boisterously. Then if they pass a third, at that point I know they are just mean little small minded people who are enjoying the power of being in front of someone who wishes to go faster than them….and I will flash my lights and honk as they approach the next turnout, hoping they will come to their senses and use the turnout!
That behavior does not equal impaired driving….just impatient driving!
Fine.
But you do all of that while “driving at a speed greater than 80 MPH in a 55 MPH zone” and you most certainly deserve to get pulled over.
Perhaps your impatience would be better suited to LA or SF.
I have no problem with someone being pulled over for driving 80 in a 55….just don’t say that honking a horn and flashing one’s lights are signs of impaired driving!
And sorry, just cause I live here doesn’t mean I have to patiently drive behind someone going 35 in a 45 because they are enjoying the scenery or are afraid of two lane roads! If there’s no turnout or opportunity for them to pull over, I leave them alone.
You know S-M, if I’m driving alone in my car on a curvy mountain road it is highly unlikely you will ever pass me. I like to push cars a little on roads like that as long as there is no traffic around, and no chippies to give me a certificate of achievement for my driving.
But when I fold the back seat down and put the doggies back there, I just trickle along, especially in the corners because the doggies don’t appreciate being jostled around on curvy roads. The same is true of my fiancee, who protests loudly if I drive “too fast”. Plus she gets car sick. It’s just how it is. I use the pull offs and don’t clog the road but have a little heart for those who are not aggressive in the twisties. Wait for an opportunity and just pass. Don’t antagonize people needlessly.
sugar magnolia…..If you were to do that if you were driving behind me,flashing lights,honking the horn,etc.,I’d think there was some kinda nut behind me,thinking maybe you wanted me to pull over and do something crazy as you passed by…and maybe thinking I wouldn’t want you driving ahead of me…either I’d do that,or if I wanted to participate in your “road-rage”,I’d slow down so much you could walk to where you were in such a hurry to get to quicker than you would driving behind me.
I’m sure I am sometimes (often?) a nut!
Basically, it’s just common courtesy to use pull outs for traffic what wishes to travel faster than you, no matter what speed you are driving.
We can all co-exist on the roads…we just have to be cognizant of others and that we don’t all have the same needs and be respectful.
sugar magnolia….I agree with you about the courtesy thing…and when I’m driving and there are turn-outs on the road and if I see someone in a big hurry coming up fast,when it’s safe I usually do use a turn-out and let them pass….it doesn’t happen often,cause there aren’t that many high-speed one lane areas on HWY 395 or anywhere else around here that I travel….and when I’m on a mountain road,I’m usually going a safe speed…not slow or fast….but if I’m on one of those type of mountain roads,if someone is speeding ..or worse,if they were to start honking their horn and flashing their lights at me,.if tailgating is included in their “rage”,they might end up with a dashboard and a lap full of whatever they happen to be drinking.
One day, you’ll flash your lights and honk your horn at the wrong person. I’m sure all that posturing only gains you a few minutes when you do finally pass. Why can’t you wait a few minutes and pass them in a legal passing zone? One day your actions may even cause an accident when you fluster the other driver.
If you want to co-exist on the roads..then you should do your share and PASS THEM when you have the chance. I have always been amazed at how other people feel their time is more valuable then someone elses.
I’ll disagree with you on that one Linda. On long mountain highways where passing opportunities are lacking (not talking about 395 for the most part), going 30-35 or going 45-50 makes over 60 miles or more makes a big difference. Not to mention the frustration level.
In addition, the safest passing is when the slow moving vehicle uses a turnout.
Furthermore, turn outs tend to be in areas where passing opportunities are rare…ie. solid line. I refuse to pass by going into the oncoming lane unless it’s a legal passing area and has a long site distance.
Again, it is rude not to use pull outs if one wants to drive slow and other cars behind you do not.
If they had been doing the right things on their previous stops would this really be news? Just saying…
Wow, is mono county sheriffs department on a PR saturation now! Let’s put out as many traffic stops as we can! Funny, they dont for the ones that are at best questionable! For example, violation of search and seizure! I have yet to see one involving any within the community for whom they serve!
Still this intoxicated driver needed to get off the streets!
I also noted, that this deputy followed ongoing department policy and called for a professional DUI chp officer to evaluate this driver!
Yet deputy Torres and recently promoted sgt Rick Hahn did no such thing! Remember, deputy Torres stated that he pulled over Youssef Boulaalam for suspected DUI! Hmm guess at least one deputy follows procedure!
Can someone explain to me why a Mono Deputy can’t make a DUI arrest by themselves without having to call a CHP to come and make the arrest… I have stopped and arrested hundreds of drunk drivers in CHP policed areas and never once called a CHP to come assist, nor Did I ever hear of a fellow Deputy ask for CHP help for a drunk driving arrest…
Roy, MCSD has an MOU with the CHP where the CHP will take DUI’s of their hands so the Deputy can stay on patrol. There are times when there is only one deputy on for close to 100 miles.
You know Roy I thought the very same thing! Excellent question. It isn’t like they are so overwhelmed with work and they need to get another call. They stay there with the CHP through the entire stop. Seems to me like a perfect waste of taxpayers dollars to me!