City joins crackdown on drunk driving
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Friday, August 15, 2008 4:53 PM CDT
For the Herald
Wisconsin has the highest rate of drunken driving in the nation. More than 26 percent of Wisconsin adults who were surveyed admitted that they had driven under the influence of alcohol in the previous year, according to a nationwide study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released in April.
Because drunken drivers are still so prevalent, and deadly threats not just to themselves but also to everyone else on the road, the Chippewa Falls Police Department will be patrolling with a greater focus to arrest impaired motorists as part of a nationwide law enforcement crackdown from Aug. 15 through Sept. 1. The “Drunk Driving — Over the Limit. Under Arrest” crackdown will combine high-visibility law enforcement with a federally funded media campaign to deter impaired driving.
Driving while impaired is not a victimless crime. Last year, alcohol-related crashes in Wisconsin killed 337 people and injured 5,552. A person is killed or injured in alcohol-related crash in Wisconsin approximately every one and a half hours, according to the Wisconsin State Patrol Bureau of Transportation Safety.
“More than 42,000 drivers, which is more than the total population of the City of Wausau, were convicted of drunken driving offenses in Wisconsin last year,” said Lt. Mark Hanson. “If you are stopped for driving while intoxicated, don’t expect a warning because we do not accept excuses. It doesn’t matter what you’re driving or where you are going. And it doesn’t matter if you’re within a block of your house. If you’re over the limit, you’ll be arrested.”
You will be put in jail until your alcohol level is significantly reduced or up to 12 hours. A conviction for impaired driving will cost you your license and an enormous amount of money in fines, court costs, “high risk” insurance premiums and other expenses.
If you refuse a blood or breath alcohol test, you will lose your license on the spot. Repeat offenders face jail time, and if you hurt or kill someone in a crash you face extremely serious charges, like vehicular homicide.
“The decision to drive while impaired will likely be one you’ll regret the rest of your life,” Hanson said.
Instead of risking an arrest for impaired driving, the Chippewa Falls Police offer the following suggestions:
- Choose a sober designated driver before you start to drink.
- If you’re feeling “buzzed,” you probably are over the 0.08 (alcohol concentration) limit and should not drive.
- Rather than drive while impaired, plan to walk, take a taxicab or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
- Some taverns and restaurants have programs to provide patrons with a safe ride home. (Visit www.tlw.org for more information.)
This article was assembled and submitted by the Chippewa Falls Police Department.
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