As roads become more congested and our area grows, it is now more important than ever to take a firm stand against driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Soon, stores will begin selling marijuana in New York State. While some may appropriately refrain from driving after consuming marijuana, others will surely be driving around while under the influence.
Likewise, as the holiday season is here, others are hitting the bottle before hitting the roads. Many people choose to be responsible while drinking alcohol at bars or parties and obtain rides home. Unfortunately, some decide to get behind the wheel.
Outrageously, some drivers choose to consume alcohol or marijuana with every intention of getting behind the wheel. Advocates to stop driving while intoxicated have released an app (https://www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp/) where drivers can arrange to get a ride home if they plan on or are currently intoxicated. It is unfortunate that more people do not use this life-saving app.
Drivers who have consumed small amounts of alcohol sometimes do not believe they are drunk. Studies have shown that these are often the most dangerous drivers. Law enforcement officials have explained that severely intoxicated drivers typically know they are a danger and drive slower. Drivers who are in denial that they are even slightly intoxicated are known to be more bold in their driving because they mistakenly believe their abilities to drive are not altered.
Also a danger are those drivers who falsely claim alcohol does not effect them. Some claim that their bodies are different and they have higher tolerance levels. Others claim that they do not feel any impacts after drinking alcohol. Chemistry is chemistry – blood alcohol content levels do not lie. Theses excuses are simply drivers attempting to justify their wrongdoings and criminal behavior.
Police are constantly out patrolling for drunk drivers. However, the amount of cars on the road clearly outnumber the amount of police cars. While police are arresting one drunk driver, another drunk driver may go unnoticed.
According to Stop DWI New York, a first-time offender being arrested for driving while intoxicated can expect to pay up to $15,000 in legal fees and fines. This includes those who mistakenly thought they were okay to drive.
John E. Jones, a retired patrolman and Drug Recognition Expert for the New Windsor Police Department, is now the Administrator for Orange County Stop DWI. Their website offers many resources to inform the public on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Those resources can be found here: https://www.stopdwi.org/initiatives-orange/
Last weekend, Paramedic Lisa Sillins was killed on Robinson Avenue in the City of Newburgh while leaving Ambulunz at the end of her shift. The driver was charged with drunk driving. Under New York’s disgraced bail laws designed to advocate for criminals, the alleged drunk driver was set free while Sillins’ peers rushed her to the hospital in critical condition. She later died.
Many drunk drivers have the common belief, “It won’t happen to me.” Surely this driver had no idea he would have taken someone’s life when he got behind the wheel while allegedly drunk. As Sillins exited her ambulance to go home, she also had no idea that she would never make it home and her life would abruptly end. The gifts that she bought for family members for the holidays will never be given. The talented paramedic also will no longer be able to save any more lives. All of this because a selfish driver allegedly chose to drive under the influence.
To be clear, the driver has not yet had his day in court. A criminal charge is only an accusation. A judge or jury have not yet determined his guilt or innocence. However, the criminal accusation alone is enough to bring more awareness to drunk driving.
As a direct result of this paramedic’s alleged drunk driving death, The Newburgh News, LLC has changed its policy for our weekly police blotter. Previously, we only printed felony arrests or serious misdemeanors of notable public interest. Now, we are adding all misdemeanor arrests for driving while intoxicated. Today’s police blotter (shown here) clearly shows how many drivers are being arrested for drunken driving within our coverage area.
The Newburgh News, LLC encourages all of our readers to have a safe and happy holiday season. If you decide to drink, do not take any chances. Find someone to drive you home. As officials constantly remind us, buzzed driving is drunk driving – and that is a criminal offense.
