As 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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
An earlier AAIM survey shows that in 2009, Romeoville ranked 68th with 118 DIU arrests.
“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.
“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."
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.
SOURCE
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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 alcobuddy.com. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.
Showing posts with label DUI Crackdowns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DUI Crackdowns. Show all posts
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Summer drunken driving crackdown kicks off in state
Summertime in Michigan means trips to the beach, barbecues and ball games, but it also means extra police officers on the road during the “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” crackdown.
Law enforcement agencies in 35 counties across the state will work stepped up drunk driving patrols July 1-10, which will include the heavily traveled July 4th weekend.
The effort is paid for with federal funds earmarked for traffic safety enforcement and administered by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP).
Grant-funded counties in southeast Michigan are Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Sanilac, Washtenaw and Wayne.
While the focus of this effort is drivers under the influence of alcohol, officers will be arresting any impaired driver and removing not only drunk drivers from the roadway, but also those under the influence of drugs, OHSP director Michael L. Prince said.
Although Michigan has experienced a decrease in alcohol-related crashes, fatalities and arrests, it has noted an increase in drug-involvement in traffic crashes and injuries. In 2009, drugs accounted for an additional 83 injuries and 89 crashes compared to 2008. In 2010, drug-involved fatalities increased by 29 percent with 153 motorists killed in crashes involving drugs. Some of that increase can be attributed to expanded testing requests.
In 2010, 357 people died in alcohol and/or drug-related crashes including two during the July 4th holiday period.
SOURCE
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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 alcobuddy.com. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.
Law enforcement agencies in 35 counties across the state will work stepped up drunk driving patrols July 1-10, which will include the heavily traveled July 4th weekend.
The effort is paid for with federal funds earmarked for traffic safety enforcement and administered by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP).
Grant-funded counties in southeast Michigan are Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Sanilac, Washtenaw and Wayne.
While the focus of this effort is drivers under the influence of alcohol, officers will be arresting any impaired driver and removing not only drunk drivers from the roadway, but also those under the influence of drugs, OHSP director Michael L. Prince said.
Although Michigan has experienced a decrease in alcohol-related crashes, fatalities and arrests, it has noted an increase in drug-involvement in traffic crashes and injuries. In 2009, drugs accounted for an additional 83 injuries and 89 crashes compared to 2008. In 2010, drug-involved fatalities increased by 29 percent with 153 motorists killed in crashes involving drugs. Some of that increase can be attributed to expanded testing requests.
In 2010, 357 people died in alcohol and/or drug-related crashes including two during the July 4th holiday period.
SOURCE
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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 alcobuddy.com. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Gulfport police chief's stepdaughter struck, killed by alleged drunk driver
A Gulfport man faces a charge of DUI causing death following an accident Tuesday that killed Deanna Tucker, the stepdaughter of Gulfport Police Chief Alan Weatherford.
Tucker, 29, was loading her young child into her car when she was struck by another car driven by 26-year-old Darryl Edward Blappert and pinned between the two vehicles, authorities said Wednesday.
Tucker died about 11 p.m. Tuesday following surgery at Gulfport Memorial Hospital, Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove said.
Blappert was originally charged with driving under the influence and taken to the Harrison County Adult Detention Center, Papania said.
That charge was upgraded Wednesday morning to DUI causing death, Papania said.
Blappert's bail was set at $1 million, and he remained in the county jail Wednesday.
Tucker's son, about 4 years old, suffered minor injuries, officials said.
According to Deputy Chief Leonard Papania, Tucker, of Gulfport, was putting her child in a car seat at the Bridal and Formal Boutique lot at 1524 Pass Road.
Tucker was pinned to her Honda Accord when her car was hit at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday by a 2004 Mustang driven by Blappert, Papania said.
Blappert, of Gulfport, was driving in the westbound lane on Pass Road and left the street near 15th Avenue, Papania said.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigations and the Biloxi Police crash re-creation team were assisting Gulfport Police in the investigation Wednesday, Papania said.
Blappert faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of DUI causing death.
"The Gulfport Police Department has a long history of proactive traffic enforcement," Papania said. "Annually, we set goals aimed at reducing crashes and crashes with injuries. The police department has made tremendous efforts regarding public awareness of the dangers of drunk driving.
"People must take personal responsibility for impairment driving prevention to truly ensure the safety of themselves and others. In tragedy like this, there are great complexities in healing and recovering, while the prevention is so very simple -- don't drink and drive."
SOURCE
Tucker, 29, was loading her young child into her car when she was struck by another car driven by 26-year-old Darryl Edward Blappert and pinned between the two vehicles, authorities said Wednesday.
Tucker died about 11 p.m. Tuesday following surgery at Gulfport Memorial Hospital, Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove said.
Blappert was originally charged with driving under the influence and taken to the Harrison County Adult Detention Center, Papania said.
That charge was upgraded Wednesday morning to DUI causing death, Papania said.
Blappert's bail was set at $1 million, and he remained in the county jail Wednesday.
Tucker's son, about 4 years old, suffered minor injuries, officials said.
According to Deputy Chief Leonard Papania, Tucker, of Gulfport, was putting her child in a car seat at the Bridal and Formal Boutique lot at 1524 Pass Road.
Tucker was pinned to her Honda Accord when her car was hit at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday by a 2004 Mustang driven by Blappert, Papania said.
Blappert, of Gulfport, was driving in the westbound lane on Pass Road and left the street near 15th Avenue, Papania said.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigations and the Biloxi Police crash re-creation team were assisting Gulfport Police in the investigation Wednesday, Papania said.
Blappert faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of DUI causing death.
"The Gulfport Police Department has a long history of proactive traffic enforcement," Papania said. "Annually, we set goals aimed at reducing crashes and crashes with injuries. The police department has made tremendous efforts regarding public awareness of the dangers of drunk driving.
"People must take personal responsibility for impairment driving prevention to truly ensure the safety of themselves and others. In tragedy like this, there are great complexities in healing and recovering, while the prevention is so very simple -- don't drink and drive."
SOURCE
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Police Catch 8 Drunk Drivers At Checkpoint
Bakersfield police officers caught eight people drunk driving last night during a checkpoint along California Avenue Friday night.
Bakersfield Police screened 1826 cars between 5 p.m. Friday and 1 a.m. Saturday.
Eleven drivers were asked to perform field sobriety tests, and eight of them were determine to be drunk behind the wheel. Three of those arrested had a prior DUI conviction, and police said one of the drivers was impaired by both alcohol and marijuana.
Officers also impounded 50 cars and caught 15 people driving with an invalid license. They report one woman was caught with three outstanding warrants, and 31-year-old Marco Mejia was arrested for possession of a loaded, concealed, stolen handgun.
Police said the DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint was in an effort to reduce the number of persons injured or killed each year in DUI related collisions and encourage people to assign a sober designated driver.
Funding for the program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Police encourage the public help keep roadways safe by calling 911 if they see a suspected impaired driver.
SOURCE
Bakersfield Police screened 1826 cars between 5 p.m. Friday and 1 a.m. Saturday.
Eleven drivers were asked to perform field sobriety tests, and eight of them were determine to be drunk behind the wheel. Three of those arrested had a prior DUI conviction, and police said one of the drivers was impaired by both alcohol and marijuana.
Officers also impounded 50 cars and caught 15 people driving with an invalid license. They report one woman was caught with three outstanding warrants, and 31-year-old Marco Mejia was arrested for possession of a loaded, concealed, stolen handgun.
Police said the DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint was in an effort to reduce the number of persons injured or killed each year in DUI related collisions and encourage people to assign a sober designated driver.
Funding for the program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Police encourage the public help keep roadways safe by calling 911 if they see a suspected impaired driver.
SOURCE
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Alco-Buddy Appeals to Fireman and Police Officers
Alco-Buddy breathalyzer vending machines are highly praised amongst NYC Police and Fireman. This is because the use of the machine helps to reduce the amount of drunk drivers on the road every night. If every establishment had an Alco-Buddy installed on their walls, the roads would be a much safer place and it would minimize the amount of accidents that Police and Fireman are so accustomed to seeing today.
Police officers commend any tool that helps reduce drunk driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2009, over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Although sobriety checkpoints reduce the number of DUI collisions, they can become costly due to the increase in DUI arrests. Using the Alco-Buddy to test one’s BAC (blood alcohol content) before getting behind the wheel will help reduce the amount of arrests and allow police to focus on more serious crimes that are being committed.
Kevin Kubler, a New York City Fireman for over 15 years, has seen his fair share of motor vehicle accidents caused by drinking and driving. Kevin has also run a vending machine business on the side for the last 15 years, ranging from candy machines to pay phones to ATM machines. “Everybody knows fireman all have a side job,” said Kevin. “I heard about Alco-Buddy one day when I was emptying and filling my ATMs.” Kevin researched Alco-Buddy online and purchased his first machine a few months ago. He quickly established that the Alco-buddy breathalyzer is his favorite vending machine. Kevin now owns 20 Alco-Buddy machines and the results have exceeded his expectations! He has about an 85% success rate at placing the machines and plans to increase the amount of vending machines he owns to between 50-100 machines within the next year. “We’re currently bringing in between $100-$200 a month, per machine, after our split with the bar owners,” boasts Kevin. “It’s an easy sell, as compared to other vending machines. You walk in with it...it’s lightweight, easy to install and easy to move around...unlike an ATM, which weight 400 lbs.” Even when a machine isn’t doing well in a certain location, it’s easy to remove the machine and find another bar to place it in.
Even in the rare event the Kevin experiences any glitches, he credits the President and CEO of Alco-Buddy, John Berlingieri, with personally helping him to work out the solutions. John’s acted as a great support system to Kevin who confesses that John is always very open to the ideas he’s presented to him based on his years of experience in vending.
All in all, Alco-Buddy is not only a great way for fireman and police to earn some extra cash on the side but it’s also rewarding for the bar owners, as well. Not only do the bar owners split a portion of the money collected by the machine, but they also benefit from patrons who ultimately buy more drinks from the bar only to return back to the machine to beat their “high score.” Of course, the owners and staff of the establishments where Alco-Buddy is installed always encourage patrons whose BAC is over the legal limit to find a designated driver who will help get them home safely.
For more information, please visit www.alcobuddy.com
Police officers commend any tool that helps reduce drunk driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2009, over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Although sobriety checkpoints reduce the number of DUI collisions, they can become costly due to the increase in DUI arrests. Using the Alco-Buddy to test one’s BAC (blood alcohol content) before getting behind the wheel will help reduce the amount of arrests and allow police to focus on more serious crimes that are being committed.
Kevin Kubler, a New York City Fireman for over 15 years, has seen his fair share of motor vehicle accidents caused by drinking and driving. Kevin has also run a vending machine business on the side for the last 15 years, ranging from candy machines to pay phones to ATM machines. “Everybody knows fireman all have a side job,” said Kevin. “I heard about Alco-Buddy one day when I was emptying and filling my ATMs.” Kevin researched Alco-Buddy online and purchased his first machine a few months ago. He quickly established that the Alco-buddy breathalyzer is his favorite vending machine. Kevin now owns 20 Alco-Buddy machines and the results have exceeded his expectations! He has about an 85% success rate at placing the machines and plans to increase the amount of vending machines he owns to between 50-100 machines within the next year. “We’re currently bringing in between $100-$200 a month, per machine, after our split with the bar owners,” boasts Kevin. “It’s an easy sell, as compared to other vending machines. You walk in with it...it’s lightweight, easy to install and easy to move around...unlike an ATM, which weight 400 lbs.” Even when a machine isn’t doing well in a certain location, it’s easy to remove the machine and find another bar to place it in.
Even in the rare event the Kevin experiences any glitches, he credits the President and CEO of Alco-Buddy, John Berlingieri, with personally helping him to work out the solutions. John’s acted as a great support system to Kevin who confesses that John is always very open to the ideas he’s presented to him based on his years of experience in vending.
All in all, Alco-Buddy is not only a great way for fireman and police to earn some extra cash on the side but it’s also rewarding for the bar owners, as well. Not only do the bar owners split a portion of the money collected by the machine, but they also benefit from patrons who ultimately buy more drinks from the bar only to return back to the machine to beat their “high score.” Of course, the owners and staff of the establishments where Alco-Buddy is installed always encourage patrons whose BAC is over the legal limit to find a designated driver who will help get them home safely.
For more information, please visit www.alcobuddy.com
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Federal, local officials want to curb drunk driving this holiday season
With the holiday season quickly approaching, police are stepping up their efforts to fight drunk driving.
Monday, a high-ranking federal official announced a controversial new idea to crackdown on D-U-I loopholes.
It's being called a "No Refusal Strategy".
Federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is advising police officers to use a search warrant to quickly obtain blood tests from drivers who have refused a breathalyzer.
"This is not the time to rest on our laurels; the No Refusal Program represents an important weapon in the fight against drunk drivers," Secretary LaHood said.
The law supports the strategy in some 30 states, but most of them are not currently using the warrant initiative, officials said.
LaHood blames defense attorneys who counsel repeat offenders to avoid providing scientific evidence -- the results of a breath test -- that could help convict them when a drunken driving case comes to trial.
Charleston based defense attorney Mark. Peper says the policy brings up a flurry of legal and personal rights issues.
"You've got chain of custody issues, you've got training issues, this is a very scientific issue here, taking a blood sample, being able to dilute it, and read it...those are done by registered nurses and doctors." He said.
Peper says there are several mandates already in place to get drunk drivers off the streets - including a mandatory six month suspensions for drivers who refuse to be tested.
But those impacted by drunk drivers say the new idea could help.
Those impacted include People like Lisa Radvanski, a Columbia mother, who lost her son to drunken driving seven years ago.
"He went off the side of the road, over corrected - the car flipped and he was ejected," she said.
Radvanski now travels the state recounting the tragic circumstances of her son's death and urges everyone to think twice before getting behind the wheel.
When asked if law enforcement could do more to prevent drunk driving accidents and fatalities Radvanski said" I think they can. I think if you make a choice to break the law then you need to be willing to pay the consequences, you've got to be accountable for your actions."
Several states are currently testing the program with positive results.
DUI crackdowns begin in the low country and across the state this weekend.
SOURCE
Monday, a high-ranking federal official announced a controversial new idea to crackdown on D-U-I loopholes.
It's being called a "No Refusal Strategy".
Federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is advising police officers to use a search warrant to quickly obtain blood tests from drivers who have refused a breathalyzer.
"This is not the time to rest on our laurels; the No Refusal Program represents an important weapon in the fight against drunk drivers," Secretary LaHood said.
The law supports the strategy in some 30 states, but most of them are not currently using the warrant initiative, officials said.
LaHood blames defense attorneys who counsel repeat offenders to avoid providing scientific evidence -- the results of a breath test -- that could help convict them when a drunken driving case comes to trial.
Charleston based defense attorney Mark. Peper says the policy brings up a flurry of legal and personal rights issues.
"You've got chain of custody issues, you've got training issues, this is a very scientific issue here, taking a blood sample, being able to dilute it, and read it...those are done by registered nurses and doctors." He said.
Peper says there are several mandates already in place to get drunk drivers off the streets - including a mandatory six month suspensions for drivers who refuse to be tested.
But those impacted by drunk drivers say the new idea could help.
Those impacted include People like Lisa Radvanski, a Columbia mother, who lost her son to drunken driving seven years ago.
"He went off the side of the road, over corrected - the car flipped and he was ejected," she said.
Radvanski now travels the state recounting the tragic circumstances of her son's death and urges everyone to think twice before getting behind the wheel.
When asked if law enforcement could do more to prevent drunk driving accidents and fatalities Radvanski said" I think they can. I think if you make a choice to break the law then you need to be willing to pay the consequences, you've got to be accountable for your actions."
Several states are currently testing the program with positive results.
DUI crackdowns begin in the low country and across the state this weekend.
SOURCE
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