Week in Review : MISCELLANY/ NEWSMAKERS AND MILESTONES : CITIES : Two Brea Men Charged With Dumping Toxic Waste in Sewer

The county’s fight against illegal dumping of toxic wastes has been an ongoing battle that was marked by a major escalation last week when two Brea businessmen were arrested on suspicion of putting chemicals into the sewer system.

Vinod S. Shah, 47, and Narenda Shah, 39, were arrested at S&B; Plating and Metal Finishing Inc. They were charged with 54 misdemeanor violations involving alleged illegal dumping of cadmium, copper, chromium and zinc in highly acidic solutions, discharging without a valid permit and state Health and Safety Code violations.

County sanitation officials characterized Vinod Shah, who lives in Fullerton, as a “chronic violator” of discharge requirements.

Last February, the sanitation districts and the Orange County district attorney’s office filed civil charges against him and an Anaheim firm he reportedly owns, Aerotech Plating Co.

However, Shah’s attorney, Barry Bisson, said the criminal charges constitute harassment of his client.

Drivers on the Wagon to Drive Drinkers Home

If you’re driving, you can drink for free--provided the drinks are of the non-alcoholic variety.

That’s the program announced last week by the Orange County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), in an effort to put sober people behind the wheel and to promote responsible habits among restaurant and bar patrons.

About 20 Orange County restaurants and bars have signed up for the program. Participating businesses will offer free, non-alcoholic drinks to each person designated as the driver for a group of two or more friends. In return for the complimentary drinks, the driver pledges to remain completely sober and to drive home the friends who are drinking. The designated driver is identified by a pin, purchased for $1 at participating businesses, which shows a driver with two hands on a steering wheel.

Additional restaurants and bars will be recruited as the program picks up steam, MADD members said, adding that they hope the pilot program will catch on elsewhere throughout the country. Los Angeles and San Diego chapters have already expressed interest, officials said.

“We’re not prohibitionist and we never have been. But we are for responsible driving,” said MADD national president Norma Phillips at a press conference. The designated driver program “makes it possible to go out and party and have fun and still have a safe ride home,” she said.