Local law enforcement to participate in D.U.I program

Monday, Aug 18, 2008 - 09:46:28 am CDT

Daily Sun staff

Four local law enforcement agencies have been selected to participate in the national D.U.I. “You Drink and Drive, You Lose” campaign.

The Beatrice Police Department received $5,000, the Tecumseh Police Department got $1,700, the Gage County Sheriff's Department, $5,000, and the Johnson County Sheriff's Department, $3,000.

The campaign is a nationwide drunk driving enforcement. In Nebraska, 26 police departments, 21 sheriffs' offices, the Nebraska State Patrol and the Nebraska Game and Parks Enforcement have been awarded a total of $300,000 in grants for a mobilization targeting impaired drivers beginning Friday and continuing through Monday, Sept. 1.

The funds will provide approximately 10,000 hours of additional traffic enforcement during the mobilization period. Grants provide support for additional dispatch personnel and higher operational costs for patrol vehicles during special enforcements. Grants are awarded by the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety and provide funding for sobriety checkpoints, patrols of state recreational areas, underage party patrols and other operations targeting impaired driving behavior.

“Last year, 91 individuals were killed and 1,459 were injured in alcohol-related crashes in Nebraska,” Gov. Dave Heineman said in announcing the grant. “Many men and women from law enforcement agencies across the state will be giving special attention during this mobilization effort to prevent crashes and to identifying and apprehending those motorists that fail to obey the law.”

The Nebraska State Patrol will use nearly $26,000 in grant funding for 535 hours of overtime during the enforcement period.

“Through directed patrolling and high visibility enforcement efforts, our troopers will be working hard to remove impaired drivers from our roads. We are asking motorists to do their part,” said Col. Bryan Tuma, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Always wear your seat belt and never drive impaired.”

In 2007, Nebraska law enforcement officers arrested 13,437 drivers for driving under the influence.

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so what
Aug 18, 2008 12:09 PM
This enforcement really doesn't matter when Gage county continues to give the local CDL drivers the ability to plead down and not lose their rights to drive. These guys drive drunk all the time, it's just a matter of time when they will think they are invincible and get behind the wheel of one of those big semis drunk with a full load of gas or milk and take out an entire lane of traffic. I will hold our judges partcially responsible when it does happen.
Gage Co. Resident
Aug 18, 2008 2:08 PM
Thumbs up to Sheriff Gustafson and Chief Lang for working to get additional funds for increased DUI enforcement. The local deputies and police officers are fighting hard against this crime that is so often perceived as 'no big deal'. THANK YOU for bringing it to the forefront and placing importance on this issue.

So much controversy has been swirling around about DUI and other alcohol-related crimes, their enforcement, and prosecution in Gage County over the last few weeks. One thing we can be certain of is that it IS an issue in our communities, and it NEEDS to be addressed. However that gets done -- THANK YOU to the community leaders willing to DO SOMETHING about it!
Lets Hope
Aug 18, 2008 2:31 PM
Will Mr. Ritnour's office be expected to prosecute assumed offenders should Gage County Sheriff or the City of Beatrice Police Department take advantage of this grant and make any DUI arrests?
I'm going to watch this and see how bad Mr. Ritnour is persecuted for doing his job.....when DUI's are the subject matter!!
Again my hats off to Mr. Ritnour and sticking to the promises he made while running for office.
I love being a voter!
Beatrice Resident
Aug 18, 2008 4:52 PM
Why did we not hear about the 91 individuals that were killed and 1,459 that were injured in alcohol-related crashes in Nebraska??

I would think this would wake up some people.
Parent
Aug 18, 2008 8:24 PM
Whatever . I as a parent asked the county attorney for help when my child got her 2nd MIP. I wanted them to fine her more and public service. Went to court with her thinking I was going to have the courts in my favor. Nope gave her the same fine as the first. Here we are given grants and what happens in the end. A slap on the hand. I had to find help outside of this town and she is doing great. I'm with you (so what) lets have a tragic matter and hope the judges can sleep at night when a family can't when they lost a loved one. What would they do if it was one of theirs?????????
to parent
Aug 19, 2008 10:10 AM
Why are you relying on the court to dish out the punishment? As the parent you're free to add whatever punishment you see fit.

Sounds like you have your child on the right track now though, congratulations. My point was more towards the many parents who want the schools, cops, and judicial system to raise their children for them.
MiMi
Aug 19, 2008 10:14 AM
I think it is great that Gustafson and Lang want to take advantage of a grant and target MIP and DUI. But they are limited to that, it then lies with the CA and the Judge to finish it. Is that going to happen? Or will the CA be accused of being too hard in that area?
parents can control everything
Aug 19, 2008 12:14 PM
Do you have kids? You cannot control everything.....
And to parent, good job for getting your child OUT OF THIS TOWN......this town does not care of offer help!
Run like the wind is what I want to tell each kid that graduates!!
heres one for ya
Aug 19, 2008 1:23 PM
what are the do-gooders going to do about all the young people under 21 years old who are getting killed every day in the stupid red neck IRAQ war! What has MADD done about those "under-age" deaths? Lets don't allow them to have beer, but its alright to go die before you are 21 to protect the rights of the do-gooders and fringe lunatic special interest groups? only in amerika
heres another one
Aug 19, 2008 2:48 PM
hey heres one for ya, ditto & thanks- common sense is still alive!
I forgot a line or two
Aug 19, 2008 4:41 PM
it looks like common sense is coming into play. More good will come from the 5000 dollars for extra enforcement instead of prosecution. if they aren't arrested they can't be prosecuted.! I forgot, the sheriff has said publically people are getting arrested for alcohol related crimes. oh well....also since the county board had the sense to hire outside counsel for their civil work the county attorney will have one of his current attorneys freed up for extra prosecution of alcohol related crime. outside lawyers in this case will save money. you only pay them when they are doing something- no extra expense. how about the highway safety peoeple letting us use their donaation for our exisiting attorney expense?
reduce em
Aug 19, 2008 5:28 PM
It seems as though the nebraska highway safety people must have money to burn. If they can as easy as one two three throw an extra 45 thousand dollars that quick towards ritnours grant I think we need to reduce their budgeet! How about reducing the taxes in this state if thats the case?
truth teller
Aug 19, 2008 5:46 PM
the truth is ritnour just wanted another attorney full time. He used MADD and the news media to try and force the county to do what he wanted. it didn't work. i agree with him . the board won't approve any grant for him. that my friends is the right thing for the board to do. he even said so . it was in one of the newspapers. time to move on randy. if you don't like it you can move on.
Back to parent ..from parent
Aug 19, 2008 7:38 PM
I'm not relying on the court. I wanted to work together with them. Whats wrong with that? I care about what my child does or could do to someone else in that matter. Yes it is my responsability for my child. I'm upset what message it gives with a slap on the hand. She thought it was funny and so did her friends. She doesn't think its so funny now cuz her actions has cost her a car.I sure don't want my child driving drunk. We can teach and try to guide our kids but I would like to see more from the courts when it comes to alcohol-related crimes. I would like to see everyone work together and than maybe more people would be proud of this community.
To heres one for ya from a VETERAN
Aug 20, 2008 9:16 AM
You can talk all you want about the war in Iraq, you probably have not been there like I have. Yes we are losing our military men and women. We all signed the dotted line knowing there was a possibility that we would have to sacrifice our life.

The people in Iraq appreciate everything we have done for them year to date, just as Kuwait did when we ran Iraq out of there.

I am offended at your red neck comment to be honest.

But trying to tie the war in Iraq to DUI and MIP is ridiculous.
sorry
Aug 20, 2008 12:00 PM
Apologies to veteran. I let my anger over the fiasco ritnour has brought to our county get in the way of my thinking. I did spend many years in the reserves. please accept my regrets
to Beatrice Resident
Aug 20, 2008 3:27 PM
If you want to know about impaired accidents and fatalities, all you have to do is read the newspaper. Do you think one headline a year is going to help? When things are reported everyday it doesn't help! Ppl who drive impaired simply have a bad attitude. They think it is their right to drive impaired and they don't think they are ever going to hurt someone. Sadly, ppl die everyday because an impaired person is driving. My eldest neice was killed by a drunk driver. It didn't even stop her uncle/guardian from driving drunk!
Reader in Beatrice
Aug 24, 2008 10:33 AM
I do not have a problem with law enforcement picking up those juveniles who are drinking. I do, however, have a problem with law enforcement when the officers let some juveniles go because of who they are or who their parents are. Everyone should be treated the same if they are violating the law. Even police officers children!!!!
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