University Daily Kansan
Thursday, April 19, 1979
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Police are looking out for drunken drivers
Bv DEB RIECHMANN
Staff Writer
It was 1:30 a.m. and Lawrence Police Officer Vince O'Neill, patrolling the streets looking for persons driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, flagged down the truckman for a conference in an office near parking lot.
"Slow night, huh?" O'Neill said. "Even the radio traffic is light."
"Yeah," his friend answered. "There's even a full moon tonight and it is a proven fact that when the sun sets, the moon will rise."
O'Neill agreed and puffed on a cigarette, relaxing for a moment before he resumed his patrol.
"Hey, there goes a fast one for ya, buddy," his friend said, motoning to a car as it sped up on his feet.
"Yep. You later," O'Nell said as he jerked his car into drive and swung onto the street in pursuit of a skateboarder.
O'NELL PUSHED the gas pedal to the floor. Then,
as he approached the intersection of 13th Street and
West 57th Street, he pushed the brake pedal.
"Damn. Where did he go," he said as he looked both way before spotting tail lights moving south on the highway.
The Porsche was traveling so fast that O'Neill quickly lost sight of it.
"He can rip the pants off this old creature, " O'Neill said still following the tail lights at 80 mm.
But after three minutes of hot pursuit, O'Neill hat sigh of the vehicle predicted the driver entered a trap.
If I had one of these new cars I would have had a chance at catching him," O'Neill said. "I could almost guarantee he was drunk. A Porsche, it would be speeding over thou bumps on Kasold.
THE EXCITEMENT was gone from N'Ollie's voice as he drove toward east Lincoln Street to begin another story.
Each week, Wednesday through Saturday, a
Lawrence police officer is assigned to patrol in the Alcohol Safety Action Project car. His sole duty from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. is to detect drivers operating under the influence of drunks or alcohol.
From February to March this year, 64 car checks were made by Lawrence and KU police officers, who stopped drivers because they violated traffic laws or were suspected of operating under the influence.
More than 35 OUI arrests were made.
But the Alcohol Safety Action Project is more than police patrols and car checks. About 80 percent of the drivers booked for OUI are referred to the ASAP department, who are trained to alert them to the dangers of drunken driving.
THE ASAP was started in Lawrence three years ago by the Douglas County Citizens Committee on Alcohol. Its function is to reduce the number of injuries in alcohol-related accidents.
According to the project's director, Bruce Beale, the number of alcohol-related accidents in Lawrence has been reduced by 30 percent since the program began.
O'Neill has been driving the ASAP patrol for more than two years and said his experience helps him determine what to do.
Driving without headlights is a common indicator that the driver is drunk, he said.
"People, also under the influence have a tendency to go left of center and wander in between the center line and the curb—sometimes bouncing off the curb," O'Neill said.
"When I do stop someone I check to see if the driving compartment smells like alcohol. I look at his eyes. Do they respond to a flashlight? Is the driver's eye bright or dim?" This is a driver's license and observe the he presents it.
"Lots of times the guy can hardly manipulate the plastic dividers, or he might pass over a few times before finding it. Sometimes they'll fall out of the car or have to hold onto the car to keep themselves up."
"I must give them a balance test. I'll tell them to stand on their right foot and elevate their left leg. The average person will have no trouble, but the average person with an injured knee will keep touching the ground for balance." No Nell said.
THE NEXT STEP to determine whether a driver is under the influence is a series of field sobriety tests.
"I might ask them to swing them while standing on one foot—like they’re kicking a football. That’s the one that really gets them. They look like they’re whirbirds. It’s really a riot to watch."
Most of the drivers he stops beet his warning, but some, according to O'Neill, never learn.
"Sometimes I'd take to them out to an accident where someone has put their face through a wind-
National statistics indicate that about one-half of the highway accidents in the United States are alcohol-related and one-third of regular injury accidents involve a drunk driver or pedestrian.
O'Neill compared the number of alcohol-related driving fatalities to the number of soldiers who died in the war.
"IN VIETNAM, from 1963 to 1973, approximately 55,000 U.S. troops were killed in action," he said. "In 1973, 55,000 on highways and more than 80 percent of these fatalities were due to alcohol-related."
Beale said the key to keeping drunken drivers off the streets was for the judges to refer individuals arrested for OUI to ASAP to go through the driving school.
About 600 Lawrence citizens have gone through the program. Beaal said, and only 7.9 percent have been approved.
The average fine for OUI for $175 and a 30-day suspended jail sentence. Under the law a judge can fine up to $500 for a first offence, but judges say they are not obligated to dismiss cases from driving again when intoxicated, Beale said.
Now, after three years, statistics indicate that while KU students make up about 20,000 of Lawrence's $30,000 population, they represent 15 percent of the OU1 arrests.
When the program was first initiated, many people thought it specifically aimed at "getting the kids to do math."
STUDENTS ENROLLED at Haskell Indian Junior College account for 13 percent of the OUI arrests, Beale said, and the rest are typically middle-age men.
Beale cited several reasons why the numbers of OUI arrests among KU students were low.
"One reason is not as many people at KU have cars and also several of the bars are within walking distance."
"Also, younger people are able to hold their liquor better. Young people' drunken coordination is better than a 45-year-old man's drunken coordination," he said.
Beale said that women make up 8 percent of the OUI arrests in Lawrence. This does not correspond with national statistics that indicate that women drink as much as men, he said.
Drugs present a difficult problem for ASAP personnel and Lawrence police officers, Beale said, because there is no quick, easy way to measure a drug's influence on a driver.
Alcohol, however, is easy to detect in the bloodstream. The law states that if the alcohol content in a driver's bloodstream registers at 10 on a breakerazor monitor, he may be booked on an OUI
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, to reach 10 percent, a 160-volume man has to drink at least seven one-cuce drinks of $B$-proof alcohol within two hours after his first drink.
Alcohol affects people differently. O'Neill said, "IT'S WHEN you feel euphoric that you're in the danger area. When you start saying, 'Well, one for the road.'"
Alcohol affects people differently, O'Neill said.
A former KU student Blake Julie, 2411 Louisiana St., was stopped by an ASAP officer about two years ago because she had run two stop signs on her way to the Flamingo Club. 501 N. Ninth St.
"First he asked me to say my ABCs as fast as I could," she said. "I kept messing up. The third time I messed up again, but him to take out the extra R. He laughed and we got along after that."
"He went back to talk with his partner and then told me he would let him go I'd get straight home.
inside, O'Neill found an opened can of beer and a driver who appeared to be drunk.
O'Neill, who had been parked for someone to run the灯, turned on his lights and chased the dog.
He was pretty nice—he didn't give me a breath test. I'd been drinking since 4 that afternoon and I had no reaction.
One man, however, was not as fortunate and was booked at 13:10 one morning last week. The man drove a van through a flashing red light at 23rd and Alabama streets.
O'Neill proceeded with a few field sobriety tests and then handcuffed him, told the other riders to go home, called for the van to be towed and transported him to the station.
THE DRIVE was silent and tense while O'Neill began to question the man about his evening at the club.
"How many drinks did you have at Bullwinkle's?"
O'Neill asked.
"Not enough," the driver of the van replied.
O'Nell驱 to the east side of the Douglas County Law Enforcement Center and radioed for the garage door to be opened. The arrested suspect was frisked and all upstairs to the Douglas County jail for a breath test.
About 20 minutes, the legal waiting period before a test can be taken, and the driver was tested.
Relays runner hurt
While runners in the Saturday's Marathon Relay are concerned about getting into shape for the 26-mile run, Dou Drake, 2525 Jasu Drive, is in a hospital bed hope to run the race next year.
Drake, a junior at Lawrence High School, was on his daily run Tuesday afternoon when he collided with a motorcycle at Louisiana and 1st streets. Drake fractured his right hip and ankle and suffered multiple abrasions.
Drake's mother, Margaret Drake, said she thought her son had determination.
The streets were not busy, Drake said yesterday, and he faced the traffic as he ran to watch for oncoming vehicles.
Incomplete police reports indicated that Drake was jogging north on Louisiana Street when the accident occurred.
He said he was not able to remember exactly what had happened in the accident.
Mrs. Drake also said she thought running would help her son in his rehabilitation.
The operator of the motorcycle, Carl Climer, 2506 Lazbybrook Lane, is a mechanic at Lawrence Yamaha, 506 W. 32rd St.
Climer said he was test-driving a customer's motorcycle when the accident occurred.
He suffered chest and jaw injuries and multiple abrasions but said he hoped to be riding again in a few days.
Climer said that the accident was "kind of like a dream" and that all he remembered was a face flashing by.
From page one
Terrorists
To warn their upcoming victims and to advertise their cause, they place ads in the Kansan to announce their plans.
Although the terrorists have not attracted any new members with their ads,
their actions and ideas have drawn many of their friends into their attacks.
Some of their acquaintances have suggested that they steer clear of the establishments that offend them.
However, Boaz and Org are the only full-time terrorists.
Many companies can offer you a job that says manager, but how many actually give you a real manager's responsibility?
YOUR FIRST JOB AS A MANAGER SHOULD LET YOU BE A MANAGER
In the Navy, you get the responsibility the moment you receive your commission. The Supply Officers start with six months of intensive training, at full pay. Then on to one of several positions with hands on responsibility immediately. They travel the world, earn $20,000 after four years, and receive attractive benefits.
can move into Specialty Nursing
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phone: (913) 841-4376
If this could be your kind of opportunity, speak to your local Officer Programs Officer or send your resume to:
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Consumer Affairs is looking for a few good students.
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816 753-4600, ext. 256
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Consumer board seeking students
Four positions, open to students, are available on the board of directors of the New York University School of St. Interviews with students who are interested in serving on the 1979-1980 board will take place during April 26, Susie McCormick and Todd Forster for Consumer Affairs, said yesterday.
Consumer Affairs is a public service offered that investigates complaints of possible design defects.
"Because we are partially funded by Student Senate we are required to have half the representation on our board consisting of students," Hanna said. "Most of last year's student reps are graduating, so a number of vacancies are occurring."
Hanna said the main responsibility of the
hannas, which has five student members, five
at-large community members and two
employees of the Consumer Affairs Office
as members, was to make policy for the association.
Decisions made by the board of directors this year included partial funding of Consumer Affairs through the United Fund and Consumer affairs offices into a new, central location.
"They help support Consumer Affairs when it comes time for the Student Senate to vote on legislation," Hanna said. "They keep Consumer Affairs informed about the needs of students and staff."
"BECAUSE WE are a corporation we have to, by law, be governed by a board of directors," Hanna said. "And our board operates as a policy making body, which decides on our staffing, our programs and our funding."
The Student Senate last week approved $7.39 in funds for Consumer Affairs, about
one-third of the budget.
"THE MERGER of our campus office with our downtown office and the following
EOE
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board to make decisions about new programs and services.
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She also said housing was a concern.
Hanna said that students could pick up applications for board positions at the office, 819 Vermont St., or call 843-4608 for an interview appointment.
BILLY"CRASH"CRADDOCK
Shweeny County Airfields - Gandian Road
Advance Tickets 67.60 reserved 66.60 general admission
FRIDAY-MAY 4TH --- 7 p.m.
Topeka's own RONNIE WILLMS and THE BLUELIGHTERS with MISS SANDEE ROSE
with guest stars THE TENNESSEANS
Kieff's in Lawrence Record Store in Manhattan
The party tray featuring thin Sliced Roast Beef,
Ham, Corned Beef, Pastami, Big Eye Swisse,
Jalapena, and Cheddar, Onion, Dark Rye and
Sesame Seed Hard Rolls. Potato Salad or Cole Slaw.
Combination Reish and Condiment Tray, and
disposable plate, fork, and napkin. 3.50 person
FROM THE DELI . . .
Sliced Sweet Beet and Ham served in a mild BBQ sauce. Sesame Seed Buns, Potato Salad or Cale Sawl, Baked Beans, Relish Tray and disposable plate, fork and napkin.
From the Smokehouse
Minimum order ten/No delivery available/24 hr. reservation required
Hanna said she expected next year's
move to our present location were the major changes that took place last year". Hanna was able to help students be able to help us communicate to the campus community that the merger was successful.
The University of Kansas Chamber Music Series
Presents
The Mirecourt Trio
Call 913-864-5982 for Reservations
3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 22 & 8:00 p.m. Monday, April 23
Swarthout Recital Hall/Murphy Hall Tickets on sale in the Murphy Hall Box Office All seats general admission for $4 KU students with ID will be admitted for $2 Limited tickets available for Sunday's concert Call 913/864-3982 for reservations
"ROCKY HORROR SHOWS AT
12:05 in Theatre No. 2
Hillcrest