tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46876511398993590162024-03-13T04:50:17.179-04:00Alco-Buddy Breathalyzer Vending MachineStart your own cash business with Alco-Buddy!
With the current economic crisis, unemployment and layoffs are at all time highs. Stop the fear of losing your job! Make your spouse and family proud!. Take control of your financial future with Alco-Buddy!Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.comBlogger240125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-68948979776110628422011-11-21T13:22:00.001-05:002011-11-21T13:23:54.086-05:00MADD-RI Urges State to Buckle Down on Drunk Driving Laws<br />
Police officers from across the state joined Rhode Island's Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) at East Providence Lanes Saturday afternoon for the group's annual awareness campaign kickoff. Before the Holiday Highway Safety Awareness Event turned into a bowling tournament, those present used their platform to advocate tougher laws relating to drunk driving.<br />
<br />
East Providence Police Chief Joe Tavares said that he saw Saturday's kickoff event as a reminder "to do more" to curb drinking-and-driving across the state. Tavares, who later accompanied his fellow officers tying a MADD ribbon to police cars, also pointed to efforts in East Providence to curb drinking issues.<br />
<br />
"We're taking on many of the liquor establishments, both retail, restaurants and others, so as to prevent that individual from even getting into the vehicle," Tavares said. Tavares also mentioned the city's youth decoy program as an example of individual communities fighting alcohol abuse. The program has resulted in multiple violations and showcase hearings across the city.<br />
<br />
Saturday's event included a personal example of the pain drunk driving can cause. Cathy Andreozzi brought her now wheelchair-bound daughter, Tori Lynn, before the gathered crowd, speaking of Rhode Island's need to adopt stricter laws regarding intoxicated driving.<br />
<br />
"There is much work to be done," Andreozzi said. "There are [many] steps that can be taken. Rhode Island has been in this battle for over 30 years and certainty it's not for the lack of efforts, but we are still at the bottom."<br />
<br />
MADD has developed a rating system by which it measures each state. Ranging from one to five stars, the ratings are tied to how many of MADD's suggestions a state implements. These include sobriety checkpoints on roadways; administrative license revocation; child-endangerment laws; vehicle interlock systems for first-time convicted drunk drivers; and no-refusal laws.<br />
<br />
By MADD's standards, Rhode Island is lagging in efforts to effectively deal with drunk driving. The group has assigned the Ocean State one star, a sole recognition of its present child endangerment laws relating to alcohol. Yet Saturday's event presented the urgency of the organization and its allies to make Rhode Island subscribe to the additional benchmarks devised by MADD.<br />
<br />
At Saturday's event, Steven Pare, commissioner of Public Safety for the City of Providence and chairman of MADD-RI, referenced the slightly higher ratings handed out by the group to Rhode Island's neighbors, along with a statistic that placed Rhode Island in the "top five states in this country that continually has a high percentage of alcohol-related fatalities."<br />
<br />
The state's legislature has been reluctat to adopt MADD's proposals, citing their potential unconstitutional nature, according to Pare.<br />
<br />
"There's alway a balance with freedom, and there's always a balance with enforcement and incarceration," Pare said in response to Rhode Island's sensitivity to safeguarding constitutional rights. Pare added that, in the legislature, "there's resistance to the tools which we've advocated."<br />
<br />
A resistant General Assembly has not deterred MADD advocate Cathy Andreozzi from focusing on the group's intended results – even if those results mean more of a clamp-down on non-offenders.<br />
<br />
"We need to convey to the legislative body that the rights of the individuals who are doing exactly what they should be doing, when they should be doing it, cannot weigh the rights of those who have made a willful, irresponsible and illegal choice," Andreozzi said.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://portsmouth.patch.com/articles/madd-ri-urges-state-to-buckle-down-on-drunk-driving-laws-0840422a">SOURCE</a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">----</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit </span><a href="http://alcobuddy.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #ab3b1f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">alcobuddy.com</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.</span><br />Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-59033758939147849142011-11-15T12:30:00.001-05:002011-11-15T12:32:49.540-05:00House stops speeding drunk driver<br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
River Falls police dragged a bleeding 58-year-old local man away from a house he crashed into at 701 S. Main St. shortly after dark Friday. The collision caused the house’s water pipes to leak into the basement. There was also concern a gas line had ruptured that could trigger an explosion. The man, eastbound on Park Street in a 2004 Mazda Tribute before making his errant turn, was taken to the hospital. He was later cited for drunk driving.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
Officers diverted traffic around the crash site at Main and Park streets. Firefighters were called in to make sure the gas lines were secured.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
The driver had apparently turned at full speed into the driveway of the house before hitting it. He was found outside his SUV, leaning against a tree with a bloody gash across his forehead.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
Occupants in homes on either side of the house that was hit were evacuated.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
The driver allegedly admitted right away he had been drinking. An empty whiskey bottle was found on the floor of his SUV.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
River Falls police also:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
--Chased an 18-year-old UW-RF freshman student in a stolen car who was allegedly speeding and had already hit a parked car. The pursuit began last Thursday after 3 a.m. The 18-year-old man was first seen speeding west on Cascade Avenue in a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
The unlocked car with keys inside was allegedly stolen near Junior’s Bar downtown. The owner was a female college student who works at Junior’s.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
Because of the high speeds on Spring, Sixth, Hazel and other residential streets, police couldn’t safely catch their suspect driver. In the area of Eighth and Hazel streets he did finally lose control, go over a curb and stop.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
He then tried crawling out of the driver’s side window and fell to the pavement. Ordered to stop, he ran instead.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
An officer gave chase on foot and brought the suspect down. The officer was hurt in the spill and hit in the face by the suspect who got up and got away.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
Campus police and sheriff’s deputies responded to help with the search. A police dog from St. Croix County finally sniffed out the suspect who was hiding behind a large tree in someone’s back yard.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
The suspect was handcuffed face down and brought to the police station.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
There, it was learned he was a college student. He told police that he had come from an off-campus house party, was abducted at gunpoint near North Hall and forced by a mysterious gunman to drive around town.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
Fearing for his life, the student said he did as he was told. At some point the gunman, who was the front-seat passenger, slipped out of the car and fled.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
Police say they found no evidence for the existence of such a gunman.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
The UW-RF student was eventually cited for drunk driving and faces criminal charges for fleeing, battery to an officer, obstruction and driving without an owner’s consent. He was taken to county jail in Ellsworth.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
The injured River Falls police officer will miss work until at least Nov. 22.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
--Arrested an 18-year-old student from St. Cloud State University for drunk driving at West Cascade Avenue and Falls Street by the bridge at 4:15 a.m. Sunday. The man apparently lost control while rounding the curve near the bridge, crossed the road, slammed over a curb and ended up in a front yard at 233 W. Cascade Ave.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
Police found the man and his 1997 Ford Mustang, hood up, horn blaring, in the parking lot of the city power plant.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
The man was described as stumbling around but he denied drinking. After being given field sobriety tests, the man was arrested and given an $812.50 fine.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
Unable to find a sober adult to pick him up, the man was taken to county jail in Ellsworth.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
For more, please read Police Beat in the Nov. 16 print edition of the River Falls Journal.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<a href="http://www.riverfallsjournal.com/event/article/id/100409/">SOURCE</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">----</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit </span><a href="http://alcobuddy.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #ab3b1f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">alcobuddy.com</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.</span></div>Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-78800341779266430552011-11-12T12:24:00.001-05:002011-11-12T12:27:54.981-05:00Woman arrested for drunk driving, child endangermentDOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Battle Creek police have reported the following cases:<br />
<br />
• A warrant is being sought for a man, 54, after his girlfriend, 42, said she was assaulted in the first block of Harris Avenue about 1:25 a.m. Thursday.<br />
<br />
• A man, 28, and his roommate, a woman, 31, were arrested after they fought in the 300 block of Webber Street about 1:50 a.m. Thursday.<br />
<br />
• A warrant is being sought for a man, 27, after his former girlfriend, 21, said she was assaulted in the first block of Laura Lane about 2:52 a.m. Thursday.<br />
<br />
• A woman, 28, was arrested after her boyfriend, 26, said he was assaulted in the 200 block of Summer Street about 7:35 a.m. Thursday.<br />
<br />
ASSAULT: Battle Creek police are investigating a report that a man touched the buttocks of a girl, 13, near Mason Avenue and Kellogg Street about 6:39 a.m. Thursday. The girl said she was walking to meet a bus when the man walked past her, then began to follow her and then suddenly ran past her touching her. The girl wasn't sure if the man was trying to touch her or just trying to reach for a cell phone or some other valuable.<br />
<br />
WOMAN ARRESTED: A Battle Creek woman, 28, was arrested on charges of drunk driving and child endangerment after Battle Creek police said she had a minor accident near Columbia Avenue and Main Street about 4:22 p.m. Thursday. Officers said her blood alcohol level was 0.17 percent and she was driving with her son, 3, in the car.<br />
<br />
BREAK-INS: (Values in parentheses) • All You Need Rental, 951 Surby Ave.: attempted. • Wentworth Avenue, 300 block: generator, tool box, tools ($1,370).<br />
<br />
THEFTS: • Marie Avenue, 400 block: cash ($300). • Fremont Street, first block: television satellite box ($200). • Capital Avenue Southwest, 400 block: checkbook (undetermined). • Clark Road, first block: money, medication ($500). • Dahlia Drive, 5600 block: scooter ($500).<br />
<br />
VANDALISM: • South Burdge Street, first block: window (undetermined). • Burr Street, 200 block: window (undetermined). • Allison Drive, first block: tires ($400). • Laura Lane, first block: grill (undetermined).<br />
<br />
Call Silent Observer at 964-3888 or text CRIMES (274-637) Tip 685 with information about crimes.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20111112/NEWS01/111120310/Police-Fire-Woman-arrested-drunk-driving-child-endangerment?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFrontpage%7Cs">SOURCE</a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">----</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit </span><a href="http://alcobuddy.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #ab3b1f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">alcobuddy.com</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.</span><br />
<br />Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-37156407544560960102011-11-08T13:32:00.000-05:002011-11-08T13:32:03.670-05:00Repeat drunk drivers, a growing menace?<br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
On a recent Friday night in Palm Beach County, the Contact 5 Investigators found a driver confused, his Lexus bruised after deputies say alcohol led him to cross over the median and take down a street pole.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
It's a scene that has become all too normal in Florida, because DUI crashes have become all too common.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, last year drunk drivers caused upwards of 50 crashes per day in the Sunshine State and killed nearly one thousand people.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
It's a problem that is dangerous, deadly, and all too often, repeated.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
"It's not fair and it shouldn't be," said Duane Jacobetti. He and his wife, Tina, know what repeat drunk drivers are capable of.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
But, they could never imagine their only child would fall victim to one.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
"I miss her so much. I never would have thought she'd be one of those statistics," said Tina.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
16-year-old Jessica Smith was a popular cheerleader at South Fork High in Martin County when she crossed paths, this summer, with a repeat drunk driver. The driver, 58 year old David Whelan, was driving the wrong way on US-1 In Hobe Sound.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Tina had gone out looking for her daughter, when she found her.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
"I see this accident scene with this truck but I really didn't think it was her truck so I pulled over. I talked to the officer and he's like 'what's your daughters name?' Then he said 'come here.' That's when I knew it was her. I thought maybe she was just hurt. He showed me her picture and then I see this purse her boyfriend got her for her birthday in April and I knew it was her," explained Tina.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Jessica died upon impact that June 23rd. So did her killer, 58-year-old Whelan. According to the Florida Highway Patrol crash report, Whelan's blood alcohol level that night measured nearly four times the legal limit.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
But as more details about Whelan's past started to surface after the crash, the Jacobetti's grief turned to rage.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
"This guy should never have been on the road that night," said Duane.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
David Whelan had a history of alcohol problems. He had been arrested more than 40 times on various charges, most alcohol related.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
The night he crashed head on into Jessica, Whelan had been convicted of three DUIs and his license had been suspended for the fifth time.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
"Other than, literally, putting someone in jail, there's very little we can do to prevent them from getting back in the car. We can't, literally, hold everyone's keys," explains Nelson Baez, an Assistant State Attorney in Palm Beach County, where Whelan lived.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
The State Attorney's office failed to prosecute Whelan three times last year when he was arrested, again, for driving under the influence and, once again, for driving with a suspended license.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
The Contact 5 Investigators asked Baez why the state never pursued charges against Whelan for those arrests.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
"I have nothing to say, specifically, about David Whelan's situation," Baez said, further explaining his office doesn't comment on individual cases.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
But while the State Attorney's office isn't talking about the Whelan case, Palm Beach County Judge Barry Cohen, is.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
"No one likes to say this, but no system is perfect. The criminal justice system cannot provide 100% public safety," Judge Cohen said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Cohen signed a warrant for Whelan's arrest, issued just two weeks before the deadly crash. The warrant was issued after Whelan consistently violated the terms of his release from a 2009 DUI conviction.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
But even though a warrant had been issued for Whelan's arrest on June 9th, warrant cops couldn't catch up with him before the crash on June 23rd.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
"An attempt was made at his home address, but he wasn't there. Whelan was one of those offenders who had had multiple addresses, he had 8 different addresses on file from various encounters with law enforcement, " explained Lt. Chris Keane of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office warrant division.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
But Judge Cohen explains Whelan's case is an unfortunate reality of a criminal justice system overloaded by cases, grossly underfunded and understaffed.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
"When you look at volume, it's a miracle people get out of the courtroom at all and anything gets done," he said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
"Was this a system failure?" asked the Contact 5 Investigators.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
"Well, obviously an innocent young woman is dead. She was killed by a guy who's got a record and she was killed by a guy driving under suspension, who was on probation for DUI. Um, I'm not prepared to say the system failed this victim," he said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
"Are you prepared to say the system worked," asked Contact 5 Investigator, Katie LaGrone.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Judge Cohen replied, "No, not at all."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Nearly 4 months after the crash, Jessica's memory remains where she died. A roadside memorial on US-1 in Hobe Sound is covered with messages from friends and family.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
But her parents continue to ask questions, knowing the man who killed their only child, should never have been driving behind the wheel to begin with.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
"How could this guy have gotten away with so much?</div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><a href="http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/local_news/investigations/repeat-drunk-drivers,-a-growing-menace%3F-#ixzz1d8jxyCnP">READ MORE HERE</a></span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">----</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit </span><a href="http://alcobuddy.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #ab3b1f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">alcobuddy.com</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.</span></div>Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-6972295286575173632011-11-07T11:28:00.001-05:002011-11-07T11:28:42.178-05:00Something has to be done about Drunk Driving<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>'Something has to be done,' Solicitor General says as drunk driving charges laid in Calgary double-fatality</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
Two people died early Sunday after a high-speed crash in northeast Calgary allegedly involving an impaired driver.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
Police have charged a 23-year-old man with impaired driving causing death in connection with the crash on McKnight Boulevard N.E. at Deerfoot Trail.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
The victims were a 27-yearold man and 24-year-old woman inside a westbound Dodge Avenger that was stopped for a red light when a Lexus GS300 plowed into the back of their car.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
The driver of the Dodge was killed in the impact, which pushed the car more than 50 metres. The woman died in hospital a short time later.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
Police said the Lexus travelled an additional 30 metres before coming to a stop.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
Police at the scene arrested the driver of the Lexus, who wasn't injured.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
A 24-year-old passenger in the vehicle suffered only minor injuries.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
Their names haven't been released.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
Ryan Thomas Kramer, 23, has been charged with two counts each of impaired driving causing death, driving over .08 causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
The crash is the second multiple fatality involving alcohol in Calgary the span of a week and comes as the provincial government mulls tougher penalties for impaired drivers.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
Alberta's solicitor general said impaired driving has been a persistent problem for years.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
"This is not a knee-jerk reaction. It's an ongoing issue, and I think something has to be done about it," Jonathan Denis said Sunday.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
Alcohol-related deaths have been decreasing in Alberta but still made up a significant portion of the 351 traffic fatalities recorded in 2010.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
Among those, Alberta Transportation reported 90 drivers had been drinking prior to the crash - 57 of whom were legally impaired. That number represents a 25 per cent decline since 2007.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
In the past year, however, neighbouring B.C. has logged a 50 per cent decline in alcohol-related fatalities since introducing tough administrative penalties targeting impaired drivers.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
B.C.'s administrative rules impose penalties for drivers with a bloodalcohol concentration above .05 but below the criminal standard of .08.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
Drivers who register within that range can be subject to a 72-hour licence suspension and pay fines and associated fees totalling more than $600. The suspensions and fines increase for drivers repeatedly caught within that range.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
Between October 2010 and July 2011, B.C. recorded 49 alcohol-related fatalities, down from an average of 93 deaths over the same period in the past five years.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
"Something obviously is working when you have such a marked reduction," Denis said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
Denis, Justice Minister Verlyn Olson and Transportation Minister Ray Danyluk were given mandate letters from Premier Alison Redford last week instructing them to develop administrative penalties targeting impaired drivers.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
While B.C.'s measures have attracted significant attention, Denis said the government is looking for a "made in Alberta" regimen that incorporates what works best in B.C. and other provinces.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
B.C.'s legislation has drawn criticism from civil libertarians because of the heavy penalties it imposes against motorists who haven't exceeded the criminal threshold and the limited avenues of appeal available to drivers.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
Denis said Alberta is looking at a fair appeals process and the intent of the legislation isn't to target drivers "who have a glass of wine with a meal."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
Current provincial traffic regulations allow police to issue 24-hour suspensions against drivers who appear impaired but do not exceed the legal limit of .08.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
However, the current law has no method of sanctioning drivers who habitually rack up 24-hour suspensions - new administrative penalties akin to B.C.'s would address that loophole, said Denis.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
"We're after the people who persistently drink and drive," he said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">
"I feel there should be some escalation in the penalties."</div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Something+done+Solicitor+General+says+drunk+driving+charges+laid+Calgary+double+fatality/5667684/story.html">SOURCE</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">----</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit </span><a href="http://alcobuddy.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #ab3b1f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">alcobuddy.com</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><br /><br /></span>Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-29360431681110287832011-11-06T01:47:00.001-05:002011-11-06T01:47:55.356-05:00Drunken driving madness in the courts<br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It’s so hard to decide which is the craziest part of today’s eye-popping Globe Spotlight story on judicial leniency in drunken driving cases.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Is it the episode where the judge believed a defendant who said, yes, he was driving while hammered, but also believed his lawyer, who claimed his client hadn’t driven on a public road before ramming into a house three times?</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Or maybe it’s the one where the judge took the word of a teenager who blew 0.11 in a breath test, failed field sobriety tests, and then changed his story in court, claiming a friend had actually been driving.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div id="skip-target" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Not guilty, despite the fact that he had admitted to lying under oath just minutes before.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
So many barmy choices! We’ve got judges all over the state who are abandoning common sense, and in some cases, it appears, sanity, to free drivers who slide behind the wheel while wasted.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
And we’ve got a savvy club of defense attorneys shamelessly working the system to make sure the jurists most hell-bent on acquitting drunken driving defendants are the ones who hear their cases.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Yet District Court Chief Justice Lynda M. Connolly told the Globe, “I’m not sure that there’s something wrong there.’’</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
There’s something wrong there.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
And it’s all happening out of view, in near-empty courtrooms, beyond the reach of even the court’s spanking-new, $75 million computer-tracking system.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Judges would never get away with so little scrutiny for so long if they were taking this lax an approach to, say, weapons charges.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
To illustrate, I offer a reimagining of the loopiest anecdote from today’s Spotlight story - you’ll recognize it as the one where Taunton District Court Judge James McGovern encountered Jorge Pinto, who had showed up apparently inebriated for a hearing on his second OUI offense. The judge let Pinto leave the courthouse - behind the wheel of his car.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
That made the judge annoyed - not at Pinto, but at those who had dragged him back to court.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Imagine, if you will, the same scenario with loaded guns substituted for loaded drivers: Police see a man brandishing a gun on a public street, and arrest him. Then when he arrives for a pretrial hearing, prosecutors suspect he’s been waving a weapon around again, and tell the judge.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“You waving a loaded gun around?’’ the judge asks the defendant.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“I waved a loaded gun around this morning, yes,’’ the man replies.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Then the judge does nothing. Free to go, the defendant heads right back out to the street, where he proceeds to pull out his piece again. And instead of throwing the book at him, the judge threatens to dismiss the whole case.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Gun charge or OUI, this is absolute madness. Driving a car drunk is just as dangerous as running around with a loaded weapon.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
An astonishing 108 people died in drunken driving crashes in Massachusetts in 2009, the latest year for which figures are available. And this staggering figure was one of the lowest in the country. Nationally, 34,000 people died in crashes caused by impaired drivers.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
But the fatalities tell only a tiny part of the story. There are a whopping 17,000 OUI arrests in Massachusetts each year. And those are just the ones overstretched police manage to stop.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Imagine how many others are out there, in the bag, racing around in tons of metal, sure they won’t get caught, or worse.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“People just look at it and think . . . this is not going to happen to me,’’ says David DeIuliis, a spokesman for Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Massachusetts.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
What is it about the mortal danger of drunken driving that is so hard for so many motorists - and judges - to take seriously?</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In courtrooms, and on the roads, it has to end.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://bostonglobe.com/metro/2011/11/05/drunken-driving-madness-courts/h0pF4Htl09dusNDcqcXKSN/story.html">SOURCE</a></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.125em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">----</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit </span><a href="http://alcobuddy.com/" style="color: #ab3b1f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">alcobuddy.com</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.</span></div>
<br />Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-83464739398601761012011-11-03T14:47:00.000-04:002011-11-03T14:48:25.223-04:00Public Meeting About Dangers of Drinking and Driving<br />
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
A public awareness event about the dangers of drugged, drunk and impaired driving will be held Monday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School in Washington.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
Father Finbarr Dowling, St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish, is helping to organize the event with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).</div>
<div id="in-story" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
Father Dowling described the meeting, which will be open to the public, as an exchange of information among concerned parents.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
“We hope to encourage parents who are trying hard to keep kids safe,” Father Dowling said. “We want to keep the emphasis on how parents are discouraging their kids from drinking and driving.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
Meghan Carter, executive director of the gateway affiliate of MADD, will speak at the event. The St. Louis chapter covers nine counties in the region, including Franklin County.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
“My presentation will give people an overview of what we (MADD) do in the St. Louis area, how to get involved and to reach out to victims,” Carter said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
Carter will invite those who have been affected by drunk driving to share their personal stories about the “victimization that they’ve experienced and what MADD has done for them.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
Washington police and Franklin County Sheriff’s Department deputies also have been invited to speak.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Accident Statistics</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
According to the Statistical Analysis Center of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, in 14.8 percent of fatal crashes involving drivers under the age of 21, the driver’s drinking condition contributed to the cause of the crash.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
In 2010, there were 18 drivers between the ages of 15-20 who were killed in accidents involving alcohol statewide.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
There were 319 personal injuries reported from accidents involving alcohol in that same age group in Missouri last year.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
According to the patrol, there were 138 crashes involving drinking, in Franklin County last year. Of those 15 involved drivers under the age of 21.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
Franklin County ranked eighth among all of the counties for the highest number of crashes involving drinking and drivers under 21.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
In Warren County, the patrol reported 33 crashes involving drinking and two of those involved drivers under the age of 21.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
In Washington, Lt. Mike Stapp said there have been no alcohol- or drug-related-accidents involving drivers under 21 and alcohol so far this year.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
In 2010, there were three alcohol- or drug-related crashes where the drivers were under the age 21 and in 2009, there were four.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.emissourian.com/news/top_stories/article_0bde48f6-afe5-5e9d-9b02-f38deb2e1877.html">SOURCE</a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">----</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit </span><a href="http://alcobuddy.com/" style="color: #ab3b1f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none;">alcobuddy.com</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.</span></div>Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-26142431931064703932011-11-02T15:54:00.001-04:002011-11-02T15:57:09.213-04:00Maryland's Drunk Driver Ignition Interlock Program Requires More ParticipationGLEN BURNIE, Md. (November 2, 2011) -- Maryland officials recently announced that the 2011 Drunk Driving Reduction Act, implemented on October 1, will expand Maryland's ignition interlock program by requiring more drivers to participate. Currently, Maryland has the highest per-capita participation in ignition interlock on the East Coast with numbers that have nearly doubled in the past few years. <br /><br />Over the last 3 years, Maryland's ignition interlock program has increased 66%. In November 2008, there were 5,500 participants in the program. One year later, there were 7,971 participants. Currently, Maryland estimates that there are almost 9,100 participants in the MVA's ignition interlock program, and it is expected to grow even larger. This increase in participation was promoted by the education of judges and law enforcement about the effectiveness of the device and now will be enhanced even further under the new legislation passed by the State Legislature. <br /><br />"Our commitment to impaired driving prevention and our efforts to increase awareness of the consequences of impaired driving are stronger than ever. If you drink and drive, you will get caught and the odds have increased dramatically that you will be required to install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle," said Maryland Motor Vehicle Administrator John Kuo at a media event today at the Maryland State Police Barrack in Jessup. <br /><br />Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Marcus L. Brown and National Highway Traffic Safety Regional Administrator Dr. Beth Baker also participated in the media event which highlighted the changes in Maryland's drunk driving laws and demonstrated an ignition interlock devise. <br /><br />"Unfortunately, Maryland police officers deal almost daily with the tragedies caused by a drunk driver," Colonel Brown said. "One of the most frustrating experiences for police officers is to arrest a drunk driver for repeating the same offense. This new law will reduce the opportunity to re-offend, while helping us decrease injuries and deaths and increase safety on Maryland roads." <br /><br />"We need to use all weapons in our arsenal in our fight to prevent drunk driving. We have the technology on our side, we just need to use it - as much and as often as possible," said Dr. Baker. Research shows that ignition interlocks, while installed on an offender's vehicle, reduce recidivism among both first-time and repeat DWI offenders." <br /><br />Officials also announced that Maryland is the first state in the nation to automate its comprehensive ignition interlock program, managing the program through the aggressive use of technology. Currently, five vendors in the State of Maryland have been approved by the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to operate interlock programs. Drivers who participate must report to the interlock vendor every 30 days to have their devices calibrated and to have their monitoring data electronically downloaded and sent to the MVA. Program violations are automatically flagged from the data that is sent by the ignition interlock providers.<br /><br />Representatives from Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the American Automobile Association also attended the media event in support of the message. The 2011 Drunk Driving Reduction Act allows many more drivers, who have been found to drive while intoxicated, to drive if they install an ignition interlock devise. The new law also sanctions drivers who do not complete their ignition interlock period or drive without the ignition interlock device that has been installed in their vehicle. <br /><br />The law makes it possible for drunk driving violators to enroll in an ignition interlock program even if they initially chose suspension. The program is required for six months for a first ignition interlock restriction, one year for a second ignition interlock restriction, and three years for a third or subsequent ignition interlock restriction. <br /><br />"Over the past few years, AAA Mid-Atlantic has advocated in Annapolis for mandatory ignition interlocks for drunk driving offenders. While ignition interlocks are no panacea, they are certainly an integral part in the solution to address impaired driving, by keeping drunk drivers off the roads and subsequently saving lives in Maryland. We commend the legislature and the MVA for the expansion of this important tool to fight drunk driving in our State," said Ragina C. Averella, Public and Government Affairs Manager, AAA Mid-Atlantic. <br /><br />Drivers who are now required to enroll in the ignition interlock program or face suspension or revocation under the 2011 Drunk Driving Reduction Act include: <br /><br />-- Drivers who are under 21 and violate their alcohol restrictions, <br /><br />-- Drivers who have a second alcohol conviction of any kind within 5 years, <br /><br />-- Or drivers who register a blood alcohol content of .15 or greater and are subsequently convicted of driving under the influence. <br /><br />Drivers who have high blood alcohol convictions are required not only to participate in the ignition interlock program, they must successfully complete it. Others who violate the ignition interlock program face a fine of $1,000 and /or 1 year in prison for a first offense and a fine of $1,000 and /or 2 years in prison for a second offense. <br /><br />It has been observed that drivers who drink and drive will do so on suspended licenses. The Maryland Ignition Interlock Program is designed to eliminate the drunk driver from the road. Studies have found that up to 65 percent of people with suspended licenses still drive. It is believed that ignition interlock devices will help ensure that all offenders will not drink and drive again. <br /><br />Maryland has long recognized that an ignition interlock program is a valuable deterrent that saves lives and first enacted an ignition interlock program in 1989. <br /><br /><a href="http://somd.com/news/headlines/2011/14515.shtml">SOURCE</a><br /><br />----<br /><br />Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit <a href="http://alcobuddy.com">alcobuddy.com</a>. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-2757677655775550072011-07-12T11:44:00.001-04:002011-07-12T11:46:21.622-04:00Alco-Buddy Leading Tool in DUI PreventionOne of the most common, and saddest, tragedies in America today is that of the traffic accident caused by drunk driving. It is almost as though one cannot turn around or even blink without hearing the news of another accident in the paper, online, or on television.<br /><br />Legislation has been enacted to punish drunk drivers, and there’s a heavy social stigma on the action as well, with programs like DARE and organizations like MADD. However, both of these things and preventative education haven’t stopped this all-too-common tragedy.<br /><br />One sector, though, of society, has yet to really contribute to the fight against drunk driving, until now. This sector of society has taken a good hard look at one device used widely in law enforcement and thought, “Why isn’t this more commonly found around regular people?<br /><br />I’m speaking, of course, of industry, and the breathalyzer. The breathalyzer is a standard tool amongst police officers because it is quick and easy to use, and it is accurate enough to be admissible in court as well as to legalize an arrest. However, one finds that the breathalyzer hardly exists outside the justice system.<br /><br />The Alcobuddy is the remedy to this. It is a wall-mounted breathalyzer machine intended for installation in barrooms and other alcohol-serving establishments in order to provide the average joe or jane with easy access to the hard data they need to make an informed decision as to whether they can or should drive home. Most people never feel as drunk as they actually are, and finding out their blood-<br />alcohol level could be the wake-up call they need.<br /><br />Some of the features of the Alcobuddy are aimed at the bar patrons, like its attractive design – meant to attract attention, the first step in promoting use – and its digital video screen. The Alcobuddy will guide a patron through the process of testing their breath, and will provide them with a number accurate within plus or minus .01 units. Ease of use and accuracy of numbers are the most important features to the Alcobuddy.<br /><br />There are also plenty of advantages for the bar or club owner who installs the Alcobuddy in their venue. The Alcobuddy is extremely autonomous; it has the longest lasting alcohol sensor in the industry, which only needs to be changed with every 800 to 1100 uses. It also contains 600 straws – and any kinds of straws can be used with the machine. Beyond that, the Alcobuddy is extremely adaptable – it can be programmed for any currency or language in the world, and can even be made bilingual.<br /><br />If you’re interested in what the Alcobuddy can do for you, your business, and the safety of your patrons, check out the website at <a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">www.alcobuddy.com</a>. Trust me, you won’t regret it.Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-2702789976407008762011-07-12T11:42:00.001-04:002011-07-12T11:44:25.643-04:00A New Way of Stopping Drunk Drivers – Before they Even Leave the BarEveryone knows that driving while under the influence is a bad idea. People regularly wind up hurt or dead because somebody had the bright idea of driving home after a few — or more than a few - drinks; sometimes it’s like you can’t turn around or even blink without a new headline staring at you from the newspaper or computer screen: “THREE DEAD IN CRASH; SUSPECTED DUI.”<br /><br />Legislation been enacted over it, punishing people who get behind the wheel when they’ve had a few too many and then are subsequently caught. Social activism organisations like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) turn the act into a social as well as legal wrong and crusade for preventative education. Many kids know that driving while intoxicated is a Bad Thing long before driving — and, hopefully, drinking — is ever a real consideration in their minds. Despite all of these things, despite everyone’s best efforts, drunk driving is still a huge problem.<br /><br />But there is one path very few people have trodden, and it has to do with a little device called a breathalyzer. Breathalyzers are standard issue for law enforcement, and are what provide probable cause for arrests in a majority of arrests in DUIs that don’t cause — possibly fatal — accidents. They’re simple to use and extremely accurate, but, outside the justice system, you’d be very hard pressed to even prove they exist.<br /><br />The Alcobuddy aims to change all of that. The Alcobuddy is a breathalyzer machine that is meant to be installed in barrooms and other venues that serve alcohol, so that the common bar patron has access to the knowledge that could wind up saving their own life or the lives of others. It is intended to be mounted at eye level and is attractive and attention-getting in its design, piquing the curiosity of<br />Average Joe or Jane — which is, of course, the very first step to getting them to use it. Once that has happened, the digital video screen can step in to guide the patron through the rest of the process of testing their blood alcohol content. It is accurate within .01 of one’s actual levels, making it the most accurate in the business.<br /><br />For the owner of an Alcobuddy there are also plenty of benefits. The Alcobuddy is extremely adaptable, and all of its customizable features are controlled by nine easily-accessible switches inside the Alcobuddy. It can be adapted for many different languages and currencies, and the owner can set how many bills or coins are accepted per use. One can also order an Alcobuddy equipped to handle credit cards – given the rising prices of alcoholic beverages, most patrons probably won’t bother with cash.<br /><br />Convinced? Unconvinced? Check out the Alcobuddy’s website at <a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">www.alcobuddy.com</a> for<br />more information, including testimonials from people who’ve bought or used the machine.Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-791235409077937612011-07-12T11:39:00.001-04:002011-07-12T11:42:06.388-04:00Making DUI History, One Bar at a TimeUnfortunately, drunk driving is one of the greatest problems society faces today. Children are warned repeatedly that drinking and driving is bad, even before driving is even really a thought in their minds. Everyone knows you shouldn’t get behind the wheel of a vehicle, and yet it seems like you can’t even blink without seeing another story on the news or in the papers about some tragedy or another caused by someone doing just that.<br /><br />It seems like everything that can be done has been. Preventative education hammers it into kids’ heads that drinking and driving is bad long before they’re even remotely old enough to even think about doing either thing. Legislation has enacted stiff penalties for people who get DUIs or DWIs: liscense suspensions, fines, even jail time. Organizations like MADD have turned drunk driving into almost a demonic specter hanging over everyone’s heads in terms of social stigma. What else can be<br />done?<br /><br />Not much. However, there is one option that remains virtually unconsidered. It’s easy, simple, and law enforcement already makes extensive use of it during their DUI and DWI stops. The breathalyzer is standard equipment for many police officers because you get quick, accurate results. However, outside of the law enforcement field, breathalyzers are exceedingly rare.<br /><br />The Alcobuddy is a product made to change all of that. It is a wall-mounted breathalyzer machine intended for installation in bars and other venues that serve a lot of alcohol, like nightclubs and vineyards. The Alcobuddy is mounted at eye-level and has an attention-grabbing design to arouse the curiosity of bar patrons — which is, of course, the first step towards encouraging use. Once Average Joe is curious enough to go and inspect the Alcobuddy, he’ll find the digital video screen that will guide him through the quick and easy process of testing his blood-alcohol levels. For the bar owner, a great feature the Alcobuddy is its adaptability. The Alcobuddy can be reprogrammed for any language or languages (it can be bilingual) and any currency, and it can be altered to accept credit cards as opposed<br />to cash.<br /><br />The most important thing about the Alcobuddy, though, is that it can, and will do a lot to deter drunk drivers. If you know exactly – within .01 units – just how drunk you really are, you’re probably not going to be able to convince yourself that you’re only “buzzed” and are therefore fine to drive home. This device can literally help save lives – not many other gadgets sold to bars can make that claim.<br /><br />If you’re still unsure of the uses of the Alcobuddy, the website (<a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">www.alcobuddy.com</a>) has a long list of the features the Alcobuddy possesses to the advantage of the bar owner, as well as testimonials as to its usefulness. Give it a shot; you won’t regret at least looking.Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-6057686388844576672011-07-12T11:37:00.001-04:002011-07-12T11:39:39.238-04:00A New Idea in Accident PreventionEveryone knows that you are not supposed to drink and drive. Today’s generation have had it pounded into their heads in school that drinking and driving can lead to horrible consequences. Nonetheless, it seems like you can’t even blink without being faced with a new story online or in the paper about the horror and tragedy of an accident that is connected to drinking and driving.<br /><br />Legislation’s been enacted, debates have been had, and a social stigma has been laid firmly in place over drunk driving, and yet the epidemic doesn’t seem to be healing. Despite the fact that people “know,” intellectually, that getting behind the wheel while drunk is a bad idea, they will still do it.<br /><br />While it may seem like there’s nothing else that we can possibly do to stem the growing booze-tinged tide of accidents, there is one more thing that really hasn’t been done. Most people are a aware of a device called a breathalyzer, which uses the exhalations of a subject to calculate how much alcohol is present in their bloodstream. The breathalyzer is standard equipment in law enforcement, but,<br />outside of that particular field, very few people have access to such a device.<br /><br />The Alcobuddy aims to change that. The Alcobuddy is a wall-mounted breathalyzer machine that is the size of a large backpack, and its purpose is to provide the common bar patron access to a breathalyzer, banking on the idea that, if more people knew exactly how much alcohol was in their blood, they’d be less inclined to brush it off as just a “buzz” that they could drive home through.<br /><br />Mounted at eye-level, the attractive design and significant size of the Alcobuddy is intended to draw the interest and curiosity of passers-by, which, of course, is the very first step to convincing them to try it out. Once a patron examines the Alcobuddy, they will find a video screen that will guide them through the very simple process of testing their blood.<br /><br />On the side of the owner of the venue, there are also plenty of benefits, mainly in the area of adaptability. Owners will be glad to hear that all of the Alcobuddy’s features can be controlled by nine switches on the inside of the machine, as well as how many features there are. The Alcobuddy contains six hundred straws, and any straws can be used with it, and the alcohol sensor lasts for a maximum of one thousand one hundred uses, the longest in the business. It can be programmed for many different currencies and languages as well, meaning that this isn’t just an English-speaker’s innovation.<br /><br />If you’d like more information on the Alcobuddy, check out the website at <a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">www.alcobuddy.com</a>!Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-86433316378030145322011-07-12T11:35:00.001-04:002011-07-12T11:37:37.460-04:00The Latest, Greatest Weapon in the Battle Against Drunk DrivingDrunk driving. It’s an issue, one that gets a lot of play in the media — some days it seems you can’t turn around without hearing a new story in the news that goes a little like this: “There was an accident on Such-and-such Parkway this morning at three a.m. Two people were killed, three injured. The driver of one of the vehicles will be indicted for DUI.”<br /><br />Everyone knows the dangers of driving while under the influence; most children are taught that drinking and driving is bad long before driving is even a consideration in their young minds. Legislation is enacted in every state, punitive measures put in place against those who are caught in the act of drunk driving as well as those who cause such accidents. A great social stigma, as well, is enforced, helped along by the media. And yet, this epidemic seems unaffected.<br /><br />There is one thing, though, that remains mainly untried. The breathalyzer is a small device carried by most police officers in order to test suspected drunk drivers’ blood alcohol levels when they’ve been pulled over. However, police officers can’t catch every drunk driver in the act, and certainly can’t catch all of them before tragedy strikes, and the breathalyzer, though quick and accurate,is hardly ever seen outside of the justice system.<br /><br />The Alcobuddy exists to change all of that. It is a wall-mounted breathalyzer, about the size of a large backpack that is meant to be installed in places that serve copious amounts of alcohol — i.e. bars, clubs and vineyards. It’s bound to catch the attention and curiosity of many a patron. Once curiosity is piqued, the patron will find that the Alcobuddy has a digital video screen to walk them through the<br />process of testing their blood-alcohol level. The owner of an establishment will be happy to note the autonomy of the Alcobuddy, as well; it holds six hundred of the straws needed for use, and the alcohol sensor itself lasts for between eight hundred and eleven hundred uses, the longest lasting sensor in the business.<br /><br />The accuracy of the Alcobuddy is great, too, in that it will give a BAC within .01 units of the patron’s actual levels. This cold hard number is likely to put Average Joe off from driving if he, like most people, has assured himself that he’s “not drunk, just buzzed,” and intended to drive home. If he’s faced with the actual numbers, he’d know exactly how “buzzed” he really is, and maybe, just maybe, he’ll call a friend or a cab.<br /><br />The fact of the matter is, the Alcobuddy has the ability to save lives. If you’re interested, or unconvinced, please, check out <a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">www.alcobuddy.com</a> for more information.Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-63428824049641456042011-07-01T23:36:00.000-04:002011-07-01T23:37:37.552-04:00The AlcobuddyIt’s an unfortunate reality that way too many people try to drive while inebriated, despite the fact that everyone knows what can happen when one drives drunk. Every time you turn around, it seems you’ll find another tragic story about the consequences of driving while under the influence. It affects everyone when someone gets behind the wheel of a car with alcohol in their blood.<br /><br />Dozens of legal measures, educational programs, and social stigma across America have tried to slow down or stop what can truly be called an epidemic, but there doesn’t seem to be a cure in sight no matter what is done.<br /><br />However, there is one simple solution that has been glaringly omitted during all of the legislation and debate and protest – the breathalyzer. Breathalyzers are standard equipment for police officers, are easy to use, and are quick and accurate. Despite this, they are not widely available to those of us who do not work in law enforcement, and, well, obviously not every drunk driver is apprehended before tragedy strikes.<br /><br />Making the breathalyzer and its hard data available to the average Joe or Jane is what the Alcobuddy is all about. The Alcobuddy is a wall-mounting breathalyzer machine designed to be mounted on a barroom wall. The size of a large backpack, brightly coloured, and meant to be mounted at eye level, it’s bound to catch the attention and curiosity of many a patron, be they sober or intoxicated. Once their curiosity is piqued, the patron will find that the Alcobuddy has a digital video screen to walk them through the process of testing their blood-alcohol level. The owner of an establishment will be happy to note the autonomy of the Alcobuddy, as well; it holds six hundred of the straws needed for use – any kind of straw will do, and the alcohol sensor itself lasts for between eight hundred and eleven hundred uses, the longest lasting sensor in the business. Along with this emphasis on autonomy comes an emphasis on adaptability. The Alcobuddy accepts ones, fives, tens, twenties, and credit cards in America, but can be reprogrammed for any currency in the world. Also adding to this positively global adaptability is the wide range of available languages and the fact that the Alcobuddy has a bilingual capability.<br /><br />These features, however, while numerous, are not nearly the best reason to purchase and install an Alcobuddy in your barroom or club; the most obvious and most ethical reason to install one (or two, or two dozen) is that the presence and use of a breathalyzer would make a great deterrent. I’m sure of it. Most people don’t ever feel as drunk as they are, and so the presence of cold, unfeeling numbers will set them to rights in that regard.<br /><br />Interested? Check out the web site, <a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">www.alcobuddy.com</a>, and who knows? You just might save a life or two.Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-53697460910226547022011-07-01T23:35:00.000-04:002011-07-01T23:36:33.977-04:00Could this be The Key to Stopping Drunk Driving?Don’t drink and drive.<br /><br />It is a slogan we hear from the time we are in elementary school; they try to drill it into us like they drill our letters and numbers. Even before we really understand what alcohol is, we’re ordered not to consume it and then drive.<br /><br />Nevertheless, people still do it. Everywhere you turn, it seems, there’s another tragic story of an accident that happened because an inebriated person got behind the wheel of a car. This epidemic – for it can definitely be called such – has been the subject of legal measures, societal stigma, and preventative education, but it still has not been “cured.” Frustrating, no? Also extremely frustrating is the simple, easy solution that everyone seems to miss. It’s so easy to take a person’s blood alcohol level these days with a breathalyzer test. Police officers carry them as a matter of course, after all. But there is no easy access to a breathalyzer outside law enforcement.<br /><br />The Alcobuddy intends to change that. The Alcobuddy is a breathalyzer machine, about the size of a large backpack and made of steel, meant to be mounted at eye level on a bar wall. It vends straws – any kind may be used – and walks the customer through the process of testing their blood alcohol level using a digital video screen. The eye-catching design ensures that both sober and intoxicated people will be curious enough to come over and look at it. The Alcobuddy is the best of its kind, featuring the best – and longest-lasting – alcohol sensor. The sensor only needs to be changed once every eight hundred to one thousand one hundred uses, and a replacement sensor is only one hundred dollars. It is also an internationally useful machine, as it can be programmed for any language and any currency, and can be customized to accept credit cards as well as or instead of bills and coins. In the states, it will accept ones, fives, tens, and twenty-dollar bills, though you can set it so that it only accepts up to four bills during any one use. All of these features are controlled by nine switches inside of the Alcobuddy, making it easy to customize every aspect of your breathalyzer vending machine.<br /><br />But these features, among others, are not the reason why the Alcobuddy makes a great investment for any bar, club or other drinking establishment. The Alcobuddy is not a mere vending machine; it is a vending machine that is entirely capable of saving people’s lives if it is only given the chance. I’m of the opinion that many drunk drivers would not drive if they were aware of their blood-alcohol levels; cold, hard numbers have a way of opening people’s eyes, I suppose.<br /><br />If you own a bar, check out the website (<a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">www.alcobuddy.com</a>), and see what the Alcobuddy can do for you and your community.Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-31788675329899501942011-07-01T23:33:00.000-04:002011-07-01T23:35:22.564-04:00The Alcobuddy – A True Drunk-Driving DeterrentIt seems that every time someone turns around, there’s another story in the paper or on televised news broadcasts, or even on the wide, impersonal Internet, about some tragedy involving drunk driving. It’s perfectly safe to say that drunk driving is a huge problem in America, and there’ve been dozens of legal measures and debates and organisations made about preventing it and the deaths it continues to cause. Legal measures, social stigma, it seems like pretty much every trick in the book has been tried.<br /><br />However, there’s one glaring omission in the crusade against drunk driving. Nobody ever talks about the availability, or, really, lack thereof, of breathalyzer testing. Sure, police officers carry breathalyzers as a matter of course, but not every drunk driver gets pulled over for reckless driving before it’s too late and someone’s been hurt or killed by the recklessness they’ve shown. It seems unfair that you already have to be posing a threat to just find out that your blood alcohol level is dangerously high. It’s an unfortunate truth, and a simple solution has been mainly ignored.<br /><br />Until now.<br /><br />The Alcobuddy is a breathalyzer machine meant to be mounted at eye-level in a bar or club. Its catchy design draws the attention of passers-by, and it is large enough (about the size of a large backpack) to be obviously visible. It is made of steel and has a digital video screen to guide a possibly-intoxicated patron through the simple steps to test their blood alcohol levels. It’s accurate to within .01 of your actual BAC, and it takes between 800 and 1100 uses to completely deplete the alcohol sensor. This sensor is the longest-lasting in the business, and, coupled with the six-hundred straw (any kind of which will do) capacity, this means that you don’t have to worry much at all about changing the sensors and straws. The machine can be customized with your own ads, your own currency, and even can replace the bills-and-coins, traditional payment mechanism with a credit card slot. Seven easy to use switches control the accepted currency, language, and amount of payment from inside the Alcobuddy, making the thing even more efficient and adaptable. It’s also profitable due to its relative cheapness to you – the alcohol sensor I mentioned before only costs one hundred dollars to be replaced.<br /><br />These are only some of the features of the Alcobuddy, but it really isn’t the features that make me think of this as an incredibly worthy investment. What makes this a worthy investment is absurdly simple – it offers a service that nearly no one else does, and this is one of the best services one can offer, because it can save lives.<br /><br />Interested? Check out the website (<a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">www.alcobuddy.com</a>) for more info!Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-78301355389180963342011-07-01T23:31:00.000-04:002011-07-01T23:33:14.466-04:00The Alcobuddy – a True “Buddy” to any BarroomThere is no that one of society’s biggest issues these days is that of drunk driving. Every time you turn around, there’s another story in the paper or on the news about this or that tragic accident on the road caused by drunk driving. It’s an unfortunate truth and a real tragedy that people never feel as drunk as they are, and these people are the people who wind up endangering the rest of us when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">Alcobuddy</a> intends to change all of that, though. It is a wall-mounted machine designed to work like a police breathalyzer test, showing a patron exactly how much alcohol they’ve consumed, within .01 of their blood-alcohol levels. Placed in a bar, it makes it easy for a patron to have the cold, hard, numerical truth about whether they’re able to drive themselves home; and I’m sure these numbers can save lives.<br /><br />This machine is made of steel and can hold up to six hundred straws – any kind of straws will do – and has a video screen on the front to help walk the customer through the process of testing their blood-alcohol level, and this set of instructions can be translated into any language you may need. The Alcobuddy is about the size of a large backpack, and can take credit cards instead of bills or coins. The size of the machine insures plenty of surface area for you to advertise your venue on, and should be mounted at eye-level to draw the most attention and curiosity from passers-by and patrons of your venue. The capacity of six-hundred straws and the long-lasting alcohol sensor mean that you’ll not have to make as many refill trips to each of your machines, and they’re the longest lasting of any in the industry. These facts are merely some of the features of the Alcobuddy, and there are many more for you to explore at the web site, www.alcobuddy.com.<br /><br />But the features, though many, and the profitability of the machine are not the most important virtue of the Alcobuddy, because the Alcobuddy is far more than a vending machine. Drunk driving accidents are some of the most tragic, spawning songs and stories and affecting millions of people each year. Many deaths could have been avoided, both of drunk drivers and the innocent passengers in other vehicles, by a simple, easy to take breath test, a test that most people simply do not have access to. The Alcobuddy provides that access, and it seems to me that such a machine is worth pretty much any investment.<br /><br />Give the Alcobuddy a shot; who knows, you could wind up saving someone’s life.Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-36405072040846964642011-06-23T12:47:00.000-04:002011-06-23T12:48:00.931-04:00Finding Locations for Your Vending MachineIn the vending machine business, sometimes finding locations that are willing to allow you to place your machines on their premises can be tough. There are many reasons why this problem might occur. It could be that the space has already been filled by another vending machine company or maybe it could have something to do with the type of product you’re trying to place. Let’s face it, you’re not going to have any luck trying to place a soda machine in a health food store.<br /><br />The process of finding locations to place your vending machine does not have to be difficult. With the right match of location to vending machine product, placing your vending machine becomes easy! For example, Alco-Buddy, an alcohol breathalyzer vending machine, would be the perfect type of vending machine for a bar or nightclub establishment. It’s the type of revolutionary new product that not very many establishments have seen yet and holds the potential to help reduce the amount of drink drivers on the road in the community.<br /><br />Most bar and club owners are more than willing to place the Alco-Buddy inside their establishment. The novelty of the Alco-Buddy alcohol breathalyzer vending machine will help attract more business to his/her establishment. With it’s bold colors and flashing lights, the Alco-Buddy is sure to lure in tons of new patrons. The Alco-Buddy will actually help the business owner make more money!<br /><br />What’s more is that the Alco-Buddy doesn’t cost the business owner a penny to be installed! The machine uses virtually no electricity and a negotiated percentage of the profits from the machine are split with the owner.<br /><br />At the beginning, you’re going to have to dedicate a lot of time to placing your vending machines. With a product like the Alco-Buddy, getting machines placed can not only be a breeze, but you might make some new friends along the way. Once you’ve established a substantial route, you won’t have to spend so much time placing machines anymore. But servicing the machines is a process that should be done at least every month. Keeping a well-maintained route is also key to developing long-lasting relationships with the business owner and might even help you get recommended in the future! A healthy vending route should replacing about 5% of their locations a year. New customers will come and old customers will go. But the process of installing and uninstalling the Alco-Buddy is effortless, making it simple to recycle the use of your machines!<br /><br />Affiliate with a community project or not-for-profit organization and double your chances of getting your machine placed. Not only will it make money for the charity, but if a business owner knows that part of the proceeds will be donated to charity, it is even more likely for them to agree to let you place the Alco-Buddy in their establishment.<br /><br />To find out more about the Alco-Buddy and its related products, visit <a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">www.AlcoBuddy.com</a> today!Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-75458286689807473462011-06-23T12:45:00.000-04:002011-06-23T12:46:53.315-04:00The Alco-Buddy User ExperienceNo matter how useful a vending machine product may be, it’s not always the product that attracts new customers. The user experience is also extremely important which is why Alco-Buddy, the leading manufacturer of alcohol breathalyzer vending machines has designed a product that not only looks and functions exceptionally, but also plays a major part in helping communities fight drunk driving.<br /><br />The Alco-Buddy is the most advanced alcohol breathalyzer vending machine on the market and its revolutionizing how communities battle drunk driving in their area. The National Highway and Safety Administration works hard to create community-based systems to help fight drunk driving. But none of their efforts can compare to the sleek design and novelty appeal that the Alco-Buddy possesses.<br /><br />The boldly colored, powder-coated exterior of the Alco-Buddy is made from 16 gauge, tamper proof, galvanized steel. It’s virtually scratch, dent, burn and water resistant! It’s high-quality design is what sets the Alco-Buddy apart from the rest.<br /><br />Law enforcement agents hail the machine for being responsible for saving the lives of people in their community each year. There’s no other tool as useful and inexpensive in helping to fight drunk driving. Taking a breathalyzer test after being pulled over by police, or worse, after causing a fatal accident, is much too late. For the test to be effective, it should be taken BEFORE getting behind the wheel. Unfortunately, it’s not often that drinkers have access to a reliable test to determine whether they’re too drunk to drive.<br /><br />Alco-Buddy solves that problem and provides a safe and reliable way to gauge your BAC (blood alcohol content) before it’s too late. It’s a foolproof way to determine whether you should hire a taxi to drive you home. Anyone who’s used the <a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">Alco-Buddy</a> will tell you how incredible it is to use the machine. The high-tech credit card reader and bill accepter allows the patron to pay using almost any method of payment, ensuring a pleasing and trouble-free experience. Customers will not only return to use the machine again, but will recommend it to friends, making the Alco-Buddy one of the highest grossing vending machine products and most useful in preventing accidents and DWI.<br /><br />Combining this easy-to-use product with an irresistible eye-catching design and lifesaving potential makes for quite a successful business venture. Purchase Alco-Buddy for an amazingly affordable startup fee and start placing alcohol breathalyzer machines in your area. Find out how you can be a part of the <a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">Alco-Buddy</a> team while also helping to fight the war against drunk driving in your community. Visit <a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">www.AlcoBuddy.com</a> for more information. It’s guaranteed to save lives!Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-10210015803134569682011-06-23T12:31:00.001-04:002011-06-23T12:32:42.064-04:00The Key to Stopping Drunk Driving?Don’t drink and drive!! It is a slogan we hear from the time we are in elementary school; they try to drill it into us like they drill our letters and numbers. Even before we really understand what alcohol is, we’re ordered not to consume it and then drive.<br /><br />Nevertheless, people still do. It seems that everywhere you turn there’s another tragic story of an accident that happened because an inebriated person got behind the wheel of a car. This epidemic – for it can rightly be called such – has been the subject of legal measures, societal stigma, and preventative education, but it still has not been “cured.” Frustrating, no?<br /><br />Also extremely frustrating is the simple, easy solution that everyone seems to miss. It’s easy to take a person’s blood alcohol level these days with a breathalyzer test. Police officers carry them as a matter of course, after all. But there is no easy access to a breathalyzer outside law enforcement, is there?<br /><br />The Alco-buddy aims to change all of that. The Alco-buddy is a breathalyzer machine, about the size of a large backpack and made of galvanized steel, meant to be mounted at eye level on a barroom wall. It vends straws – any kind may be used – and walks the customer through the process of testing their blood alcohol level using a digital video screen. The eye-catching design ensures that people will be curious enough to come over and look at it. <br /><br />The Alco-buddy is the best of its kind, featuring the best alcohol sensor. The alcohol sensor only needs to be changed once every eight hundred to one thousand one hundred uses, and a replacement sensor is only one hundred dollars. It is also a globally useful machine, as it can be programmed for any language and any currency, and can be customized to accept credit cards as well. In the states, it will accept ones, fives, tens, and twenty-dollar bills, though you can set it so that it only accepts up to four bills during any one use. All of these features are controlled by nine switches inside of the <a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">Alco-buddy</a>, making it easy to customize pretty much every aspect of your breathalyzer vending machine.<br /><br />But these features, among others, are not the reason why the Alco-buddy makes a great investment for any bar or other drinking establishment. The Alco-buddy is not a mere vending machine; It is a vending machine that is entirely capable of saving people’s lives if given the chance. I’m of the opinion that many drunk drivers would not drive if they were aware of their blood-alcohol levels; cold, hard numbers have a way of doing that, I suppose.Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-77301086500446603692011-06-23T12:29:00.001-04:002011-06-23T12:30:53.711-04:00Alco-Buddy, 21 Century VendingOver the past decade, there have been radical new changes taking place in the vending machine industry. Bulk vending is a thing of the past and full line vending has suffered plummeting profits due to economic reasons. But the latest technological advancements in vending have led Alco-Buddy, a Long Island based vending machine manufacturer, to design a product that not only keeps up with the rapidly changing trends in vending, but also helps keep the community safe!<br /><br />Forget about soft drinks and junk food machines! Alco-Buddy is an alcohol breathalyzer vending machine that delivers a one-of-a-kind service that is turning the vending industry on its head! The company’s revolutionary idea combines the latest technological advancements in alcohol breathalyzer tests with a sleek and attractive design. Users of the machine are charged a small fee for the opportunity to blow into the machine, using a provided straw, to find out if they are too drunk to get behind the wheel. Vendors place the Alco-Buddy, free of charge, in establishments that are popular for serving alcohol. In return, a percentage of the profits are split with the business owner.<br /><br />This one-of-a-kind, service is a highly profitable business endeavor, even during times of recession. Alco-Buddy vending operators earn higher revenues, have lower operating costs and less hassle that other types of vending machine services. And their innovative machines increase profits for both the vending operators AND the locations at which they are placed.<br /><br />Alco-Buddy helps you get your business off the ground. The company personally helps you maximize your earnings by providing you with unmatched technical support and a product that will bring you larger profit margins and increased revenue streams.<br /><br />Another advantage of partnering with a company at the forefront of technology is that the Alco-Buddy has the ability to come equipped with a credit card reader for debit and credit cards, an LCD video screen to display advertisements that can be sold for extra revenue, remote monitoring technology that allows you to watch your profits grow online in real-time and more! The machine can even be customized to suite your design needs. The company will enhance your machine in any way to help increase your sales, provide a better consumer experience and maximize your profits.<br /><br />Time and time again, the safety conscious technology of Alco-Buddy has been proven to sell. The attractive, high tech design is hard to resist. Placing the machine in prime locations will also help increase sales. The Alco-Buddy alcohol breathalyzer vending machine is 100% safe and primed for optimum success. Together with the helpful staff at Alco Buddy, you can make a great living and make a serious difference in in your community by keeping drunk drivers off the road!<br /><br />Find out more about Alco-Buddy and its related products at <a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">www.alcobuddy.com</a>.Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-55313734792162495522011-06-23T12:28:00.000-04:002011-06-23T12:29:13.004-04:00Drunk driver ran over girlfriend as she slept during camping tripA drunk man who took his girlfriend's car then ran her over as she slept in a tent during a camping trip was ordered to carry out community service.<br /><br />David Owen left Louise Graham with burns to her arm, hand and stomach that needed skin grafts and months of treatment leaving her permanently scarred in St Andrews, Fife.<br /><br />After he ran her over, Owen demanded that none of the group on the beach camping trip phone an ambulance because he was scared police might get involved.<br /><br />Sheriff Charlie Macnair QC opted not to jail Owen, who has previous convictions for housebreaking, assault, breach of the peace and theft.<br /><br />On Thursday the 21-year-old, who was released from a four-month jail term for stealing a case of beer from a Co-op store in Cupar last week, was placed on probation for two years and ordered to do 250 hours community service.<br /><br />An earlier trial at Cupar Sheriff Court heard Ms Graham was forced to drive back to Owen's home in Dairsie, near Cupar, Fife, where an ambulance was eventually called to rush her to hospital.<br /><br />A jury heard how Ms Graham had driven Owen, his sister Emma and his friend Andrew McKenna to West Sands, which sits adjacent to the world famous Old Course.<br /><br />She told how she fell asleep while Owen and the rest of the group sat drinking cider outside. She said she then woke up to find the car on top of her.<br /><br />Ms Graham described how she woke up feeling like she was “suffocating and burning" as the car was on top of her.<br /><br />Owen, of Station Road, Dairsie, Fife, denied that on October 8 or 9, 2008 he took Ms Graham's car without permission. He further denied culpably and recklessly driving it over her while under the influence of alcohol to her severe injury and permanent disfigurement.<br /><br />But the jury of nine men and six women took 40 minutes to find him guilty of both charges.<br /><br />Owen's lawyer told the court that Owen wanted to put his life of crime behind him - and settle down with new girlfriend Gemma McHugh after becoming step-father to her four-year-old son.<br /><br />Paddy O'Dea, defending, added: "He was released from his previous sentence on June 11. He is now in part-time employment in the construction industry and is living with his partner."<br /><br />Sheriff Charlie Macnair told Owen: "The jury found you guilty of two charges of taking a vehicle without consent and of culpable and reckless conduct that resulted in serious injury and permanent disfigurement to your then girlfriend.<br /><br />"Had you deliberately ran her over then I would have been sentencing you to a very lengthy period in prison.<br /><br />"But this is not the case - and having regard to the nature of the conduct I consider that I'm just able to deal with this by way of a non-custodial sentence."<br /><br /><a href="http://news.stv.tv/scotland/tayside/259665-drunk-who-drove-over-his-girlfriend-to-be-sentenced/">SOURCE</a><br /><br />----<br /><br />Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit <a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">alcobuddy.com</a>. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-90722483407323264102011-06-23T12:26:00.000-04:002011-06-23T12:27:31.374-04:00Study Suggests Lowering DUI LimitDrinking and driving is notoriously known for being dangerous, but it turns out that imbibing even one drink can seriously impair a driver.<br /><br />University of California sociologist David Phillips and coauthor Kimberly M. Brewer found that blood-alcohol levels below the legal limit of 0.08 percent are still associated with injury and death-related vehicle accidents. The UC San Diego study, published in the journal “Addiction,” displayed that as little as one drink can impair a driver enough to cause a fatal or severe accident. <br /><br />Phillips and Brewer looked at data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, which includes information on all U.S. people involved in fatal car accidents. They examined the ratio of severe injuries to minor ones.<br /><br />The data set had nearly 1.5 million people between 1994 and 2008. It covered all times of day accidents were reported and the blood-alcohol content of those involved by increments of 0.01 percent.<br /><br />"Accidents are 36.6 percent more severe even when alcohol was barely detectable in a driver's blood," Phillips said.<br /><br />Even with a BAC as low as 0.01, Phillips and Brewer discovered there are 4.33 serious injuries for every non-serious injury versus 3.17 for sober drivers.<br /><br />"Compared with sober drivers, buzzed drivers are more likely to speed, more likely to be improperly seat-belted and more likely to drive the striking vehicle, all of which are associated with greater severity,” Phillips said.<br /><br />The severity of the accident also seems to increase with BAC. Phillips and Brewer found that higher BAC correlated directly with increased average speed of the driver.<br /><br />The findings persist even when such potentially confounding variables as inattention and fatigue are excluded from the analysis.<br /><br />Eloisa Orozco, executive director of San Diego’s Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, said the study brings up a lot of points about drinking and driving.<br /><br />“If you’re going to drink at all, don’t drive,” she said. “When in doubt, have a designated driver, it’s the best way.”<br /><br />Phillips said he hopes this study will shed light to lawmakers regarding drinking.<br /><br />"We hope that our study might influence not only U.S. legislators, but also foreign legislators, in providing empirical evidence for lowering the legal BAC even more," Phillips said. "Doing so is very likely to reduce incapacitating injuries and to save lives."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/bayStudy-Suggests-Lowering-DUI-Limit-124210914.html">SOURCE</a><br /><br />----<br /><br />Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit <a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">alcobuddy.com</a>. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-87206589388272865632011-06-23T12:23:00.000-04:002011-06-23T12:24:25.690-04:00Romeoville PD Among Top 100 for Handing Out DUIsAs we head into one of the most dangerous times of year for drunk driving—the Fourth of July—a survey ranks the Romeoville Police Department 75th in the state for arrests for driving under the influence (DUI). That’s out of nearly 700 departments that participated in the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists’ (AAIM) 21st annual DUI survey. The anti-drunk-driving organization released the results of the survey Tuesday.<br /><br />Romeoville reported 99 DUI arrests in 2010, ranking 75th among the reporting departments and tying with the Woodridge and Rosement police departments. The Rockford Police Department was ranked No. 1 with 727 arrests, and Naperville Police handed out the second-highest number of DUI citations in the state, dishing out 671 DUI arrests in 2010.<br /><br />The department rankings factor in only the number of DUIs handed out in that year and do not account for population or number of sworn officers.<br /><br />However, according to the survey, Romeoville police average 1.57 DUIs per officer, compared with Naperville (4.02 per officer), Channahon (4.40), Plainfield (3.12), Minooka (2.75), Lemont (2.45).<br /><br />Joliet, which ranked #42 with 171 DUI arrests, had a lower rate with .65 DUIs per officer, along with Bolingbrook, which showed 1.42 DUIs per officer, and Yorkville, with 1.35 DUIs per cop.<br /><br />An earlier AAIM survey shows that in 2009, Romeoville ranked 68th with 118 DIU arrests.<br /><br />“AAIM is always particularly pleased to announce the increases in impaired driving arrests,” said AAIM board vice president and crash survivor Marti Belluschi in a news release.<br /><br />“Traffic safety advocates believe that drunk drivers who are arrested are the fortunate ones. In our impaired driving prevention programs, we always remind people that if they are driving drunk they are lucky if it is a cop that stops them, rather than a tree, another car or a small child."<br /><br />The Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists is an Illinois-only citizen activist group founded in 1982 by victims of drunken driving. The Alliance’s mission revolves around prevention, victim advocacy and legislation. A grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation funded the survey.<br /><br /><a href="http://romeoville.patch.com/articles/romeoville-pd-among-top-100-for-handing-out-duis">SOURCE</a><br /><br />----<br /><br />Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit <a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">alcobuddy.com</a>. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687651139899359016.post-13026752967973113132011-06-23T12:21:00.000-04:002011-06-23T12:22:47.727-04:00Sheriffs Will Conduct DUI CheckpointA DUI/DL Checkpoint will be conducted on Friday, June 24, from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m. by personnel from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Risk Management Bureau’s Traffic Services Detail. The checkpoint will be conducted in the City of Santa Clarita.<br /><br />Traffic volume and weather permitting, all vehicles may be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs will be arrested. The objective is to send a clear message to those who are considering driving a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol and/or drugs: Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest.<br /><br />The public is encouraged to help keep roadways safe by calling 911 if they see a suspected impaired driver.<br /><br />A major component of these checkpoints is to increase awareness, as well as educate the public, on the dangers of impaired driving and to encourage sober designated drivers. By publicizing these enforcement and education efforts, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department believes motorists can be deterred from drinking and driving, which ultimately will save lives.<br /><br />All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. Alcohol impaired deaths make up the largest number of vehicle fatalities, with 31 percent of all vehicle fatalities caused by a drunk driver.<br /><br />A DUI/DL checkpoint is an effective and proven method in lowering alcohol related traffic deaths. This DUI/DL checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies, as well to insure that drivers possess a valid driver’s license.<br /><br />Statewide, overall traffic deaths have declined 23 percent from 3,995 in 2007 to 3,081 in 2009 and total traffic fatalities are at their lowest level in six decades. DUI deaths have declined from 1,132 in 2007 to 950 in 2009, which is a decrease of over 16 percent.<br /><br />A first time DUI conviction could cost someone anywhere between $6,000 to $10,000 when all the potential fines, fees, classes, lawyers, work days missed, and increased insurance for years to come have been factored in.<br /><br />Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety administration.<br /><br /><a href="http://hometownstation.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25074:dui-dl-sheriff-los-angeles-county-checkpoint-clarita-2011-06-22-13-28&catid=26:local-news&Itemid=97">SOURCE</a><br /><br />----<br /><br />Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit <a href="http://www.alcobuddy.com">alcobuddy.com</a>. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.Alco-Buddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865456861180104567noreply@blogger.com0