Curbing the Effects of Alcohol Abuse

I went to the Haines Town Hall meeting to discuss alcohol abuse or misuse in Haines last Tuesday. Police Chief Lowe helped us outline the scope of the problem and brainstorm some solutions. A task force is to be formed and a plan to implement some of the solutions will be presented to town leaders.

A couple of voices are still ringing in my ears. I was particularly moved by parents crying out for enforcement of the DUI laws. "I warn my children, " they said. They wanted law enforcement to catch and convict when wrongs are committed, not issue additional warnings.

If convicted of a DUI in Alaska, the consequences are definitely severe. The first offense includes mandatory jail time (72 hours minimum), a $1500 fine, and a 90-day suspension of your driver's license. On top of that, there is the license reinstatement fee, court fees, and administrative fees. If you really get the book thrown at you, you might be required to install an ignition lock device for 12 months for about $1700, and or to purchase SR22 insurance for $2000 a year for 5 years. Maybe you'll hire your own attorney. The State of Alaska, Division of Motor Vehicles, estimates the average cost for a first DUI at about $22,000.00.

Apparently, the operative word is "if." There is the perception that DUI's, especially for underage drinkers, are not prosecuted in Haines.

I would encourage the new task force to examine this perception. Do drivers in Haines feel immune to interception by authority and so push the envelop of safety when driving after drinking? If so, what is needed to heighten driver awareness of the risk they run if driving after consuming alcohol? Are local authorities stymied by district attorneys who are reluctant to prosecute cases from remote locations? If so, what can we do counter that resistance?

Most of us have stories of taking risks, especially when we were youths. One person later framed the question of alcohol abuse among people this way, "I was lucky. What can we do to increase the luck of our young people?" One thing we might be able to do is to increase the probability that people, no matter what the age, will be intercepted and prosecuted if driving under the influence of alcohol.