 Gallatin County DUI Task Force
Members:
Bob Larson, Citizen Volunteer
Jami Rebson, County Attorney’s Office
Mark Daugherty, Citizen Volunteer
Mike Clayton, Prevention Education Bozeman Schools
Susan Wordal, City Attorney’s Office
Alex Fuller, GCSO
Anne Riemer, ADSGC
Chuck Sprague, Belgrade PD
Guest:
Cheryl Walter, ARC
Minutes Approved: Mark motioned; Susan seconded
Underage Drinking and DUI (Cheryl Walter presented):
What data from 2002 Prevention Needs Assessment shows:
In the group of 10th to 12th graders surveyed by PNA – Montana is high for underage drinking, 39%
Ages 12 to 17, and 18 to 25 drink more per day than the national average, and when they drink they drink to get drunk.
Age of reported first alcohol use is often between 15 and 16, the same time most youth get their driver’s licenses.
Only 14% of youth think police will catch them drinking.
15% of youth have driven drunk once.
What they’ve learned from youth attending MIP classes:
At ARC they’re finding that parents really need to model the idea of not driving after drinking – youth comment on what they see adults do. Youth tend to think that smoking marijuana and driving is okay, in fact you may be a better driver when you’re stoned.
We need to get the message out that designated drivers should NOT drink.
50 to 70% of MIP kids say they were behind the wheel of a vehicle at some point on the night they were caught for MIP.
There have been 6 underage DUIs in the MIP program since August.
Youth equate not getting cited for MIP with it being okay to be MIP.
Most kids want to be caught for MIP. They will keep notching up their activities until they get help – they want to be held accountable. Please get the word out that pouring drinks out at parties is NOT what kids want and need to see happen.
3-D Month Activities
Holiday overtime patrols-
Manhattan PD asked about these and Jenna referred them to Sherrie.
Belgrade PD has requested use of one of the patrols for New Year’s Eve.
Payroll insert flyer on safe parties
Bozeman – 340
Gallatin County – 413
Big Sky – 100
Belgrade - 40
MSU - 125
The Ridge (put out for members to pick up) – about 50
Proclamation with County Commissioners
Done on 12/2. Commissoners Vincent and Murdock both made very supportive comments. Jenna said it was the first time when she’s done a presentation and the response showed that the Commissioners know what the Task Force is doing. A great experience.
DUI Stats project
Jenna shared the results of the DUI Stats project in the form of graphs prepared by David Bennett. Alex Fuller of the Sheriff’s office commented that one of the reason that DUI numbers for the Sheriff’s office are lower than those for Bozeman’s Police Department is that the discovery of DUIs is generally incidental to some other offense, like speeding, and outside city limits there aren’t as many reasons to pull some one over. For that same reason, BAC’s are likely to be higher because they really have to be driving poorly to provide that probable cause.
Finances
Mark expressed concern that if the Task Force doesn’t receive a check by March, our funds may become severely depleted.
3-Year Plan:
Commissioners approved this in early December and it was immediately forwarded to Helena. No approval as of yet, nor a projected amount from MDOT for the first reinstatement fee check.
Adjourn- 7 PM
Next meeting January 21st
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