Recently our organization received some complaints about patrons leaving their cars overnight at Element who found the next day they’d been towed away. One remarked, “Hey, the driver is trying to do the right thing and not DUI. The next time they’ll just go ahead and drive so as not to get a towing charge.” They all wanted to know what IDIPIC was doing about this.
One of our board members contacted Element management who explained that the Department of Motor Vehicles does testing on the weekend. Therefore all the vehicles have to out of the parking lot. They advised patrons park along the sidewalks, by the bank and city beach parking lots if they decide not to drive home.
That being said, we at IDIPIC frequently get asked what IDIPIC is doing about such things as getting alcohol off the ferries, lowering the BAC to .05 (like B.C. recently did) or even to .00, reducing BAC for under 21 in our state to .00 (it’s now actually .02), and so on.
IDIPIC has neither the funds, resources or clout to do anything about these concerns. But as John Lennon sang: Power to the people!
Here are a few ways people have such power regarding DUI:
1. If you have a problem or concern, contact the people directly. In this case the business. If it’s of bigger scope, contact your local legislators! Here’s their emails and hotline phone number: bailey.barbara@leg.wa.gov; smith.norma@leg.wa.gov, haugen.marymargaret@ leg.wa..gov. 1-800-562-6000.
2. Do not let convenience trump safety! Always plan how you’ll get home before you drink alcohol or take any impairing drugs. Your judgment is affected after even if you don’t feel the effects.
3. If you see someone at a bar, party, etc. who has had too much to drink, offer a safe ride home, a taxi, for them to wait, etc. If they don’t, pull out your cell phone and tell them they are about to commit a crime (DUI) and you must report it. See if they call your bluff — not likely!
4. Call 911 anytime you see someone you suspect is driving under the influence. And swerving only happens in about 15 percent of DUIs. More likely you’ll see drifting, too fast or slow or erratic speed, no headlights at night, too wide or narrow a turn, and many more indicators of impairment.
There will be those who say their voice or actions make no difference, things will never change, etc. We are all on these roads together, and doing nothing, regardless of your reason, doesn’t do a thing to help make the roads safer for any of us.
What does IDIPIC do? Its mission is to deter driving under the influence and underage drinking in our communities through education and awareness. Nearly 20,000 people, most from Island County, have attended our panels as we approach its 10th anniversary this November. That’s over 3,000 driver’s ed students (required by driving schools to attend) plus their parents, over 2,500 clients, over 7,000 sailors and their spouses, and the rest general public.
Perhaps you are reading this right now because someone who attended a panel committed to not driving under the influence. Perhaps like this person who commented recently: “I’ve already known the dangers of drinking and driving but not like this. This was a very revealing and life-changing lesson. You can be assured that there will be one more safe driver on the road.”
If you’d like to learn more about IDIPIC or come to a free panel, visit http://idipic.org/.
JoAnn Hellmann is director of Impaired Driving Impact Panel of Island County, P.O. Box 358, Oak Harbor WA 98277.
