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New
tougher state
law targets those who
drink and drive |
On this New Year's Eve those expected to revel should
be apprised of the high costs of DUII |
By Schellene Clendenin, Newberg
Graphic reporter
E-mail Schellene at sclendenin@eaglenewspapers.com
|
Traditionally, New Years Eve is a night filled with revelry and
celebration. Tipping back a glass of champagne or a bottle of beer are as common as
counting down the seconds and tossing confetti in the air.
But for many making merry, ensuring the presence of a designated driver makes
sense this time of year, especially if under-aged passengers are in the vehicle.
And New Year’s Day also signifies a marked increase in the
punishment drunk driver’s will receive if caught. The fines will increase to
$10,000 for anyone driving under the influence with passengers under 18 in the car, unless
the minor is three years or less younger than the driver. The statute will also allow the
court to decide whether to require a driver who has been fined to enter a diversion
program.
Recently Oregon accepted a new statute as a way for the state to prevent the
injury and death of minor children from drunk drivers, said Pam Erickson, executive
director of Oregon Partnership’s Oregon Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking.
The DUII policy change is based on statistics that found that many
alcohol-related traffic accidents involve minors being transported by adults who have been
drinking, Erickson said.
She said the coalition wants to emphasize the message that drinking and
driving don’t mix. Sober drivers are also urged to take extra precautions, especially
during the night when people are traveling to and from celebrations.
Erickson also cautioned people to know how much alcohol they are consuming
with various mixed drinks during the holidays.
Essentially its purpose of the program was to expand protection to kids being
exposed to alcohol and alcohol-related problems, said Janet Jones, Yamhill County
prevention coordinator.
“I know our county sheriff and municipality have made a real effort to
address alcohol and alcohol related problems,” She said. “If they encounter
someone with kids in the car, (police will) write a citation. However it is up to the
district attorney’s office to make the decision whether to enforce the statute.”
Jones said the county is lucky to have as much support from the DA as they
do.
“Unfortunately for us we have a big job as the only prevention program
in the county, so we tend to focus more on access to alcohol for underage people,”
Jones said. “This law focuses on adult offenders who choose to place minors at
risk.”
Erickson once worked for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC), until
she left that job to advocate for a policy to reduce underage drinking.
Although Oregon has one of the strongest policies in the nation on underage
drinking and driving, the laws are not well enforced, Erickson said.
“We’ve turned our attention to other details, including local
enforcement and making parents aware of the powerful influence they have on their
kids,” she said.
In spite of what some people say, parents usually have significant influence
over the behavior of their children. Parents need to communicate with their children and
maintain rules about drinking, she said. Fortunately, these methods also work for drugs
and tobacco.
“Kids are drinking at younger and younger ages,” she said. “If
you look at the average age of when a kids starts drinking, it has dropped substantially.
A lot of kids start in the seventh and eighth grades. If kid starts drinking before 15,
(their) chance of becoming an addict is four times higher than if they waited until 21 to
begin.”
The coalition operates as part of Oregon Partnership, a statewide nonprofit
organization dedicated to providing prevention education and treatment referral for
substance abuse. During the holidays, Oregon Partnership’s free and confidential
hotline at 1-800-923-HELP will operate round-the-clock. |
|
From Dec. 31,
2003, Newberg Graphic
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