Category Archives: Prevention

Volusia Uses DUI Court Program for Hardcore Offenders

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17 members of a new Florida DUI Court Program watched as Roger Gilb, a man with no criminal record, was sentenced for DUI manslaughter for the deaths of two people on a motorcycle. The man had no previous criminal record. The point of the program is to show DUI offenders what could happen to them and let the reality of their offense sink in.The DUI Court started in Volusia this April and was started with the help of County Judge Belle Schumann. After the sentencing of the man charged with DUI Manslaughter, Judge Schumann said of the new group, “I know everybody is thinking, ‘There but for the grace go I.'”

Gilb’s blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit when the accident occurred that caused the deaths of Nina Hargis and Gregory Stanley. The selective DUI Court Program is for offenders whose BAC was .15% or higher, or who have a previous DUI conviction.

To participate in the program, the offenders are required to a much higher level of monitoring, and they must attending at two DUI sentencings.

One of the participants at Gilb’s sentencing said, “It shook me up. I felt like it was me. I felt compassionate toward him. Thank the Lord I’ve been protected enough, I never did that.”

Last Call: DWI Penalties May be Displayed in NJ Establishments with Liquor Licenses

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A proposal to require all bars and restaurants with liquor licenses to display DWI penalties in restrooms, entrances, and exits has been introduced by Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande. The bill, A-3463, includes a $50 fine to establishments that would fail to post the notices of DWI penalties.

Casagrande, R-Monmouth said, “This is a last call to stop drunk driving. Those who drink tend to need a restroom and this would give them a final reminder on the way out the door before doing something incredibly stupid like getting behind the wheel.”

Assemblywoman Casagrande pushed for a DWI bill in June 2012 that would significantly increase DWI penalties in New Jersey, including up to 18 months in jail for a 2nd DWI offense, adding an additional year of imprisonment to the previous law.

New Jersey has tough penalties for drunk drivers, and the notices that could go up in establishments would include penalties such as a $400 fine, 30 days of imprisonment, a 3-month license suspension, 12 hours in an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center, and an automobile insurance surcharge of $1,000 for three years for a first offense DWI.

Casangrande said, “One piece of paper displaying the severe consequences of driving drunk might spare a person from going to jail and losing their license, and more importantly, save another person’s life.”

Butte is Booting Drunk Drivers Driving on Suspended or Revoked Licenses

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Butte’s DUI task force met this week to discuss new ideas for DUI prevention in the county. DUI preventions present in Butte include the 24/7 Sober Program, Mariah’s Challenge, and a Butte DUI Court which started last October.

The task force would like to do more to prevent drunk drivers from re-offending, and today are discussing booting the cars of drivers who have a suspended license for DUI, and are caught driving again. If a person driving on a suspended or revoked license is found to be driving again, the county attorney of Butte will recommend to the judge that a boot be placed on the driver’s vehicle. The judge can make a decision on whether to use the boot as part of the sentence.

Police have booted vehicles of DUI offenders since 2010, but have only booted three cars since due to limited resources and working out the kinks of proper protocol for booting vehicles.

Two cars have been booted since last Friday. All the boots are donated, and 8 of which have been donated by Mariah’s Challenge, a nonprofit that shines awareness on underage drinking and driving.

The boot can be placed on vehicles for 30 days, for a total of $3 a day.

Winnebago County, WI receives grant for OWI Task Force

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Winnebago County, Wisconsin received a $75,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Safety in order to put together an OWI (operating while intoxicated) task force that will work through late 2013 to combat OWI during special events and weekends. The grant is going to be used to cover the wages and benefits of the officers who will be assigned to the task force. The OWI enforcement will include bi-montly patrols using 10-squad cars per detail, according to Winnebago County Sheriff John Matz.

Matz said, “We’re not trying to prohibit the consumption of alcohol. We’re trying to make our highways safer through responsible alcohol consumption.” A similar task force with a focus on drunk driving has been implemented in Brown, Outagamie, Marinette, and Sheboygan counties. Task forces in Winnebago and Manitowoc counties are set to begin operation in November, according to Michael Panosh, the regional program manager for the Bureau of Transportation Safety.

These Northeast Wisconsin task forces work together, and do not stay within jurisdictions. During deployments officers in one community can work in another. Panosh said, “The days of the corner bar are really over. People are driving between communities and counties.”

Georgia Bill Allows for Greater Driving Privileges with Ignition Interlock Device

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Georgia has been overdue for DUI law reform, and in April the State Senate expanded SB 236, an Act which allows repeat DUI offenders to have more flexibility in their driving privileges.

Georgia suspended the licenses of two-time DUI offenders for 12 months, but the bill has reduced that to a minimum of 4 months. If convicted within a 5-year period, offenders can obtain a limited driving permit if they meet all requirements, including the installation of an ignition interlock device on their vehicle for at least 8 months.

The new law will allow offenders to drive to and from their place of employment, school, or substance abuse treatment facility, and will allow for greater autonomy while completing their probation. The court may exempt the offender from the requirements of the ignition interlock device limited driving permit if the court can determine that the requirements would put undue financial hardship on the offender.

NJ Receives Millions in Federal Grants to Prevent DUI

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New Jersey will receive millions in federal grants to combat drunken driving and increase safety on the roads.

Nearly $5 million in funding is being awarded from four U.S. Department of Transportation grants.

The funds are being distributed through the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, and the allocation of the funds includes:

  • $2,960,000 for drunk driving efforts;
  • $1,260,349 for highway safety programs, including reducing drunk driving and distracted driving, increasing seat belt use and improving pedestrian safety;
  • $486,751 to improve traffic flow monitoring systems;
  • $266,580 to enforce child seat belt laws

Senator Lautenberg, a member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds the Department of Transportation, has said, “Traffic deaths on our highways are a tragedy and we will continue to fight for funding that will keep New Jerseyans safe.”

Hunterdon County was the recipient of a four-year, $200,000 grant provided by the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act. The grant money is hoped to change the environmental influences which can lead to teenage drinking.

Wyoming May Adopt 24/7 Sobriety Program

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No Alcohol, SobrietyWyoming is considering adopting a sobriety program for repeat drunk-drivers. Those accused of drunk driving could avoid jail time by staying sober. The 24/7 Sobriety Program is being discussed by state officials who are trying to decide if the program is the right fit. Repeat offenders would need to submit to twice-a-day breathalyzer tests while they await trial instead of going to jail.If a test is failed then they would be immediately taken into custody and their bond would be revoked. State Legislators Gov. Matt Mead and Attorney General Greg Phillips along with the Governor’s Council on Impaired Driving have been discussing the 24/7 Sobriety Program as an alternative to jail time.

Texas Program Uses Sober Court to Reform DWI Offenders

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A new program aimed to treat hardcore drunk driving offenders makes an attempt to prevent repeat offenses by simply keeping them sober.Harris County, Texas is intensifying the SOBER Court program, and is funding overtime for 14 deputies to participate using seized assets from criminals. The program involves random, surprise home inspections, in which a deputy will perform breath tests on defendants and inspect for non-compliance with the program, which requires no possession of alcohol or illegal drugs. Offenders must also meet with a DWI judge twice a month and use an alcohol-monitoring device 3-4 times a day from work, home, or their vehicle.

Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia addressed new graduates of the SOBER Court program, he said, “I will do anything in my power to get Harris County, Texas off the top of the list of DWI-related traffic fatalities in the country.”

In 2009, Harris County had the highest rate of alcohol-related traffic deaths in the country among the nation’s most populous counties.

“We don’t want you before these judges being tried for involuntary manslaughter,” Garcia said. “If you think my deputies or any of these judges are playing, try us. We’ll hold jail space for those of you not listening. We’re going to be extremely serious about your success.”