Atlas Twp. – Detective Sgt. Joe Parks is fed up with the recent upward spike in drunk driving arrests.
As commander of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department Atlas Township precinct, Parks is wading through a backlog of paperwork involving felony drunk driving arrests. Nine of his 20 open complaints involve intoxicated drivers.
Parks pulls the top report from a stack of paperwork.
It’s typical.
A 30-something Atlas Township man with four arrests for an OUIL’operating a vehicle under the influence of liquor.
‘Four OUIL arrests since ?96, involved in five accidents, probation in 1991…eight speeding tickets. What the heck is this guy doing in a car?? said Parks of the driver who last month was arrested only a half-mile from his home.
‘He’s not supposed to be driving anyway, his license is revoked. And this is not even the worst one, it just happened to be on the top of the stack.?
Atlas Township Deputy Kyle Guest has a fearsome reputation for sniffing out drunk drivers. In February, Michigan Mothers Against Drunk Driving honored Guest for arresting more drunk drivers in 2003 than any other deputy in the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department.
Despite deputies? vigilance, most of the drunk drivers arrested in Atlas Township are residents, said Parks.
While the decrease in alcohol served at graduation open houses has lessened summertime drunk-driving rates, wedding season is taking its toll.
‘Everybody’s going to wedding receptions and driving drunk home. It’s terrible,? Parks said.
With recent fatalities devastating the township, police are working harder than ever to stave off all types of crashes.
‘We’ve had it with these accidents,? said Parks. ‘This is getting ridiculous. If you drink and drive in Atlas Township, the green light is on’you’re going to be
arrested.?
After two OUIL convictions, the third offense is considered a felony, which translates to a drunk driver serving up to five years in prison, and paying up to $2,000 in fines, plus judge and legal fees, and court
costs.
‘An OUIL-3rd is probably going to cost you a minimum of four grand,? said Parks.
Time-consuming drunk-driving offenses cost man hours that could be spent pursuing other criminals.
‘A stupid drunk-driving accident ties up a police officer for an average of three hours,? said Parks. ‘It’s quicker to work on an armed robbery than OUILs.
If it’s up to me I won’t give you another deal, it’ll get you in prison.?
According to the Michigan State Police site, 442 people died on Michigan roads in crashes involving alcohol or drugs. In 2002, 9,414 people were injured in
6,575 alcohol or drug-related road accidents.
In September 2003 Michigan’s blood-alcohol content (BAC) law was changed to enable police to arrest drunk drivers with a BAC of .08, guaranteeing first-time offenders at least $2,000 in fines, plus up to 93 days in jail, 360 hours of community service, six points on a driver’s license, a six-month license suspension, in addition to the cost of towing, bail, lawyer fees, court costs, alcohol treatment, and higher insurance rates.
What happens if you refuse a breath test?
By law you automatically lose your license for a year. Refuse it twice and lose it for two years.
For at least some who imbibe, the message is getting through.
‘It’s changed,? said Vicki Cushman, who’s managed Bull Ring Restaurant & Lounge in Goodrich for 20 years.
‘A lot of people will come in and the husband will drink that night or the girlfriend will drink and the other one drives, then the next night they take turns. Some guys will get somebody to drop them off after work and call their wives to get ’em, so they don’t have to worry about driving or leaving their car.?
In addition, it’s Bull Ring’s policy not to serve anyone visibly intoxicated and to check the identification of anyone who looks younger than 30.
The hometown pub is frequented mostly by locals, so management gives patrons a ride home when necessary. ‘We get a lot of local people,? said Cushman. ‘I can look around here and know everybody.?
Servers also encourage patrons to eat, she said, pointing out the chips and cheese one man was eating with his beer.
Less driving in the wee hours of the morning is another way to avoid deadly drunk driving accidents, says Parks.
‘When your kids are on the streets at 2 a.m., if they’re not drunk, everybody else is. Get your kids off the streets.?
According to the Michigan State Police site, keeping sober doesn’t happen by figuring the number of drinks per hour. Other factors include body weight, what and when you’ve last eaten, what you’re drinking and how fast. If you’re going to drive, avoid all alcohol, say police. If drinking, plan for a ride in advance. To learn more, go to http://www.michigan.gov/msp.