DONT DRINK AND DRIVE

[gmartin]

'No refusal weekend' begins for impaired drivers

WRITTEN BY SENTINEL-TRIBUNE STAFF FRIDAY, 03 FEBRUARY 2012 10:34

To combat the often deadly problem of impaired driving, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Wood County Sheriff's Office, Bowling Green Police Division, and the Bowling Green State University Police will be out in force this weekend cracking down on impaired drivers. This latest enforcement strategy today through Sunday will be a "No Refusal Weekend." This weekend will be a "No Refusal Weekend" because all suspected impaired drivers caught during the enforcement who refuse breath testing will be subject to blood testing for alcohol. In Wood County as well as the rest of Ohio, anyone driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter or higher is considered legally impaired. However, many impaired drivers refuse to submit to BAC testing in an attempt to avoid-or have reduced-the criminal sanctions they could face upon conviction. BAC test refusals are increasing around the nation. In a 2008 NHTSA report to Congress, Refusal of Intoxication Testing: A Report to Congress, refusal rates ranged from 2.4 percent to 81 percent, with an average refusal rate of 22.4 percent The "No Refusal Weekend" is designed to address this issue. Police and other law enforcement officials work in coordination with prosecutors and judges to quickly obtain "blood draw warrants" for drivers who refuse BAC testing. With the approval of a judge, anyone suspected of impaired driving who unlawfully refuses to provide a breath sample is subject to blood testing at the scene, a medical facility, or nearest jail facility. The program helps ensure that prosecutors obtain the scientific evidence needed to effectively pursue cases involving impaired driving. According to the NHTSA, there were 10,839 alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in the United States in 2009.



What they didn't say is the coroners office run the blood test. They process the test twice, each time costing $100.00, plus additional fees. So you could easily pay over $300 if you get pulled over and need to submit a blood test.

[Falconfreak90]

I had to learn the hard way a couple years ago...the best thing to do is just don't tip 'em back if you're gonna be driving.
This past football season, I got a room across the street at BG's very own 5 star hotel, the Victory Inn, for the NIU and Ohio games. Yeah it's a crappy motel but $40 is a heck of a lot better than, say, $2,800 (lawyer fees, court fines and costs, 3 day weekend alternative to jail costs & license reinstatement fee). The good thing about the 2012 season? Freakling1 will have his license! Guess he'll be getting a lot of practice on the highways this coming season. LOL.

Just don't do it...don't try to beat the system cuz it can happen to anyone. Find a friend for a ride, a cab, whatever.

[h2oville rocket]

I had to learn the hard way a couple years ago...the best thing to do is just don't tip 'em back if you're gonna be driving.
This past football season, I got a room across the street at BG's very own 5 star hotel, the Victory Inn, for the NIU and Ohio games. Yeah it's a crappy motel but $40 is a heck of a lot better than, say, $2,800 (lawyer fees, court fines and costs, 3 day weekend alternative to jail costs & license reinstatement fee). The good thing about the 2012 season? Freakling1 will have his license! Guess he'll be getting a lot of practice on the highways this coming season. LOL.

Just don't do it...don't try to beat the system cuz it can happen to anyone. Find a friend for a ride, a cab, whatever.

And $2,800 is waaaaayyy better than your family and perhaps others in the smoldering remains of vehicles. It's just such a bad idea in so many ways.

[Flipper]

Amen...having been on a couple of benders so severe that I "woke up" not entirely sure of how I came to be in my particular location on the time space continuum...I'm thankful that the first responders didn't get involved, but I'm most thankful for the fact that my stupidity didn't kill or injure anyone

[Falconian]

Once I was pulled over and the police was sure I would fail the breath test. I knew I hadn't had any alcohol for many weeks. He was surprised the results were negative.

In the mid 70's I should have been pulled over, a police car was next to me, about 2 in the morning, as we both accelerated when the light turned green, I kept the car steady and made it home with no incident. My driving record has always been clean.

[VDub26Falcon]

Sooooooo...you're just a bad driver???

[Falconfreak90]

I had to learn the hard way a couple years ago...the best thing to do is just don't tip 'em back if you're gonna be driving.
This past football season, I got a room across the street at BG's very own 5 star hotel, the Victory Inn, for the NIU and Ohio games. Yeah it's a crappy motel but $40 is a heck of a lot better than, say, $2,800 (lawyer fees, court fines and costs, 3 day weekend alternative to jail costs & license reinstatement fee). The good thing about the 2012 season? Freakling1 will have his license! Guess he'll be getting a lot of practice on the highways this coming season. LOL.

Just don't do it...don't try to beat the system cuz it can happen to anyone. Find a friend for a ride, a cab, whatever.

And $2,800 is waaaaayyy better than your family and perhaps others in the smoldering remains of vehicles. It's just such a bad idea in so many ways.

Absolutely true, H2O.