RutlandHerald.com - We Are Vermont

Drunken driver crackdown

MONTPELIER – If you're planning on drinking over this upcoming holiday weekend, Vermont law enforcement has a clear message: "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest."

Vermont State Police, local police departments and sheriffs' offices are joining forces to increase their presence on the roads and set up sobriety checkpoints statewide, starting today and continuing through the Labor Day holiday Monday.

The effort is part of a national program to crack down on drunk driving that started on Aug. 21, recognizing that holiday weekends lead to increased alcohol consumption.

Several law enforcement agencies around the state are going one step further in that effort to educate drivers.

Lt. David Notte of the Rutland barracks said officers would be handing out informational material provided by the Governor's Highway Safety office to drivers who are stopped.

Similar efforts are under way in Orange and Franklin counties, as well. In the Rutland County area, Vermont State Police, Rutland City Police, the Sheriff's Department, as well as Fair Haven, Castleton and Brandon police officers, also will be running so-called "saturation patrols" and DWI checkpoints throughout the holiday weekend.

In Vermont, the weekend checkpoints that are part of the national campaign – dubbed Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest – will be set up to evaluate drivers for signs of impairment.

Vehicles are stopped in some random order – every fourth, fifth or sixth car, for example, based on staffing ability. Saturation patrols are increased police presence in specific areas.

"Every impaired driver is capable of taking an innocent life, and the Vermont State Police will aggressively pursue and arrest these offenders," said Col. Thomas L'Esperance, division director for the VSP, in a statement.

In Vermont, at least one-third of all fatal crashes involve alcohol, police said.

Sgt. Bret Meyer of the Washington County Sheriff's Department said pamphlets produced by the local anti-substance abuse groups used in Washington County details "The High Costs of Drunk Driving," breaking down the expenses for a first-time offense from the potential $750 fine and two years in prison to the $2,200 increase in car insurance rate for three years following the conviction.

"Do you enjoy a drink now and then? Many of us do, often when socializing with friends and family," the material states. It then describes the factors in how that alcohol consumption contributes to your blood alcohol content, highlighting factors such as weight, gender, what type of alcohol you're drinking, and how fast the alcohol is being consumed.

"The best answer is not to drink and drive," the pamphlet advises. "The State of Vermont has strict laws for drunk driving, and when you drink and drive in Vermont, you risk your freedom, finances and future."

"They've been trying to connect with us because they're dealing with the underage drinking component of it," Meyer said of the Central Vermont coalition. "We've seen an increase with the underage drinking. This was something they could do with us. We were more than pleased to take the pamphlets."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is promoting the new campaign to make it clear police won't be letting drivers off the hook when they've been drinking, the agency said.

"No matter what you drive — a passenger car, pickup, sport utility vehicle or motorcycle — if we catch you driving impaired, we will arrest you," the NHTSA said in written material. "Far too many people still don't understand that alcohol, drugs and driving don't mix. Impaired driving is no accident — nor is it a victimless crime."

Emma Rowe, youth prevention specialist with the central Vermont coalition, said the groups traditionally focus on teen drinking (they are beginning to talk to local law enforcement about ways to prevent underage drinking parties, for example). She said the groups, which are funded through federal grants and tobacco settlement funds, to create, edit and print the informational material for police to hand out at checkpoints.

"We have the facts and data that we can share with people," Rowe said. "This is a great way for us to collaborate with law enforcement, who is going to be out there meeting with the people, to get information out into the community."

sue.allen@timesargus.com