“Stop DUI” Forums Set For New York State

Our DUI Lawyers found this interesting drunk driving preventative measure out of New York State.

Stop DWI Coordinator Plans Community Forums

(Madison County) The message is as old as the automobile – and Madison County’s STOP DWI Coordinator Stephen Goodfriend wants those in Madison County’s college communities to hear it loud and clear: “Don’t drink and drive!”

Drinking is an age-old practice that is not going to disappear just because state legislatures write laws and set limits. Each individual community – its county, town, village or school officials, parents, ministers, business owners, and others – needs to get together to work on community based preventative measures for those who Drink and Drive. Education and community awareness can help to bridge the gap between outright defiance of society’s expectations and laws, and adherence to the rules.

Coordinator Goodfriend will bring this message to two southern Madison County communities during a series of Community Forums.

The first will be at 7 p.m., Tuesday, September 15 in Hamilton at the Hamilton Public Library, Community Meeting Room and the next will be at 7 p.m., Thursday, September 17 at the Morrisville Community Church in Morrisville; all members of either community are invited to attend.

Goodfriend has enlisted a wide variety of people to join in this monumental effort aimed at convincing those who drive a motor vehicle after ingesting alcoholic beverages that the practice is extremely detrimental to their health and possibly to the health and wellbeing of others. The start of a new school year makes this an ideal time to begin.

The Community Collaborative Group Planning Effort is a process designed to discuss and encourage all points of view about a common topic in a given community. “While laws and regulations may shape an individuals’ outward behavior, only a consensus that engages the whole community can bring together all viewpoints that are necessary in making decisions affecting that community,” said Goodfriend.

He cited several local examples:

1. Recently, a 17-year-old girl from Nelson lost her life when the camp she was visiting on DeRuyter Lake burned to the ground with her inside – unconscious from drinking too much.
2. Cazenovia College students and young adults regularly travel to Cortland to drink; at least one college co-ed lost her life when the car she was riding in went air-born and wedged itself between a tree and telephone pole.
3. Four students lost their lives in Hamilton – two local students picked up three girls – two visitors from other campuses, and shortly thereafter drove their car into the trees on Oak Drive after driving back to college after a night of drinking.
4. Groups of drinking students became an ugly riot in the streets of one of Madison County village and a student was knifed to death in the confusion.

Yes, drinking is an age old practice. The discovery of late Stone Age beer jugs has established the fact that intentionally fermented beverages existed at least as early as the Neolithic period, more than 12,000 years ago. It has been suggested that beer may have preceded bread as a staple in people’s diets.

However, back in 10,000 BC there were no high-powered automobiles. And, more recently — in the 19th and early 20th century — getting looped at the local saloon and traveling home on horseback might pose some threats, but not the kind that occur when your vehicle hits a 200-year-old maple tree at 50 mph, or runs head-on into a stone wall.

DWI arrests and crashes affect the entire community. A DWI traffic stop may result in loss of driving privileges necessitating that someone else provide rides and support. DWI Fines, educational requirements, and increased DMV Fees and insurance costs – all affect the family and friends and neighbors. No one wants to receive a phone call in the middle of the night announcing that a family member or friend has been involved in a DWI related crash. Injuries and deaths in a DWI related crash echo through the entire community – witness the large number of individuals who sign the guest register at funeral services.

By bringing community leaders together in a broad-based Community Collaboration Planning Process, Goodfriend hopes to begin a dialog to discuss how alcohol use is treated in each of their communities. “Perhaps this will lead community members to agree on a plan about how alcohol use/abuse should be addressed in their community.” he said.

“These community forums as will be an opportunity for the community to educate and enlighten itself. These will be discussions, not lectures!” He hopes to see all of the community’s elements come together around a common purpose, setting positive expectations for their community. For example: setting united action plans for all of the local police agencies, including local campus security; uniting behind a community initiative to enact a local Social Host law; assisting and improving college communities by fostered united community involvement and mutual support; setting get-tough standards limiting sale or procurement of alcohol to local students – “the sky’s the limit,” said Goodfriend.

The Law Offices of James E. Fabbrini have years of experience protecting people charged with drunk driving. From first time offenders to felonies, our Chicago DUI lawyers have successfully fought DUI charges in Chicago and the surrounding areas.

Protect your freedom, avoid trouble, and save yourself money. Contact our office today. All consultations are absolutely free. Call us at (312) 494-3131 or e-mail us your questions at [email protected]