September 23, 2011

By Megan Hager

Columbia Police Department officers are setting up undisclosed, random checkpoints in town to crack down on drunk driving this weekend.

CPD began participating Monday in the “You Drink & Drive, You Lose” campaign. The campaign, which is sponsored by Missouri’s Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Division, is focused on raising awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving, according to a CPD news release.

“There’s a lot of people out there who feel drinking and driving is a, what they call a victimless crime, and they don’t understand the impact they could have on other motorists on the roadway,” DWI Enforcement Officer Nathan Turner said. “This is to curb people from making the decision to drink and drive.”

“Every night of the week you can see that bars are full,” Turner said. “I’m not saying everyone who goes to a bar drinks and drives, but if you look at our accidents between the hours between midnight to 2 a.m., we pull a lot of drunk drivers out of accidents.”

CPD has seen a decrease in arrests where drunk drivers are initially pulled over for other traffic related incidents.

But drinking isn’t the issue, according to Sgt. Curtis Perkins.

“Alcohol usage is not the problem,” he said. “It’s the poor choice to get behind the wheel and drive that is. When people drink and drive, accidents occur.”

Many of these accidents occur because people don’t think of an alternative way to get home before they start drinking, she said.

“Everyone plans to go out and have a good time, but nobody takes the time to plan how to get safely home,” Perkins said.

An improvement in public transportation and STRIPES may be a reason why drunk driving incidents have decreased, sophomore Jessica Miller said.

“STRIPES has done wonders,” Miller added.

Also, people don’t think about the consequences of driving while drunk.

“We typically ask people why they were drinking and driving and most common answers is ‘I didn’t want to leave my car at the bar, I didn’t want to leave my car at my friend’s house or I didn’t want to leave my car here,’” Turner said. “They’re thinking that instead of drinking and driving and risking themselves.”

Those who choose to forgo calling a taxi, renting a hotel or finding a designated driver and are arrested for drinking and driving can face a variety of consequences.

If a driver is under 21 and driving impaired, Missouri’s zero tolerance law will affect them.

“It specifically affects people under the age of 21,” Perkins said. “If a minor happens to be above the .02 limit, they’re in violation of the law.”

The Zero Tolerance law is actually an administrative action implemented by the Department of Revenue, which suspends the driver’s license for 30 days. After that 30-day period, the driver will be on a restricted license for 60 days. Then the driver may get his or her license back if they abide by the rules, Perkins said. Those charged with their first DWI offense face the same punishment.

Although a minor cannot be charged under the zero tolerance law, he or she can be charged for minor in possession by consumption and will also have to pay any damages, charges or fees in the case of an accident.

“That $30 taxi ride or that $40 for a hotel room is better than a DWI or an accident,” Turner said. “You have to pay for the damages and that’s more expensive than a hotel room.”