Judge Limits Driving of Man Accused, Along With Father, in Bicyclist’s Death

A Laguna Niguel judge Wednesday limited the driving hours of Gary Haw, who is accused of hitting and killing a bicyclist while at the wheel of a speeding Porsche and then pretending his father was the driver.

At first, Municipal Judge Pamela Iles told Haw that she was suspending his license indefinitely “until I know more about this case.” But Haw’s attorney, Paul Meyer, said that “would drastically reduce my client’s ability to earn a living.”

Meyer asked that Haw, 24, a car salesman who lives in Laguna Niguel and works in Orange, be allowed to drive during the workweek. Iles relented and allowed Haw to drive from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

But Meyer, at Haw’s urging, argued that was too restrictive because Haw “has to work to 9 p.m. every other night, and his boss expects him to be there.” Iles retorted: “Well, Mr. Haw’s boss is going to have to be more understanding. . . . These are very serious charges.”

Haw is charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run, misdemeanor reckless driving and making false statements to the police, a misdemeanor.

Father Also Appears

Haw’s father, Ronald Haw, 47, of Culver City, also appeared before Iles because he is charged with assisting his son in the commission of a felony.

The hit-and-run victim, Jason Klein, 17, of Laguna Hills, was killed on Sept. 8 when he turned into the path of Gary Haw’s car, which was traveling at 70 m.p.h. on Alicia Parkway near a Laguna Hills shopping center, police said.

Gary Haw initially told the California Highway Patrol that he was a passenger in the car and that his father was the driver. Ronald Haw backed up his son’s account, but the following day, after being reminded by the CHP that giving false evidence to a peace officer is against the law, the Haws changed their story.

According to the CHP, they admitted that Gary Haw had been the driving his father’s $80,000 1986 Porsche 911 and said that they had manufactured their account of the accident because the car was not insured for drivers under age 25.

Iles on Wednesday continued the arraignment to Nov. 30 to allow the Haws’ attorneys to gather more information.