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Posted on 10/01/2007 6:37:03 PM PDT by elkfersupper
TAMPA - Had a few drinks before getting behind the wheel?
Think again. That harmless-looking minivan in the rearview mirror might be the neighbors on patrol.
That's how Mothers Against Drunk Driving pitched its latest plan to get impaired drivers off the roads.
Called the Traffic Observation Program, the pilot program is slated to begin in Hillsborough County and may become a statewide initiative, according to Don Murray, Florida's executive director for MADD.
The plan: Recruit 20 volunteers armed with donated cell phones and send them out in the middle of the night to watch for telltale signs of drunk drivers.
MADD has worked closely with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, so Murray suggested to other MADD members that the pilot program begin here.
Murray envisions a program that will pair up community members who are willing to go through a screening process, including a criminal background check and an interview to ensure that those going out on the streets have proper training and experience.
He wanted to make it clear that volunteers will not be acting like law enforcement.
"This isn't like a vigilante program," he said. "They won't be attempting to stop or in any way interacting with these vehicles. They're basically just observers."
Volunteers will go out in teams. They will drive their own vehicles and take GPS equipment, so they'll be able to find their way through unfamiliar areas for two to four hours of searching, Murray said. They'll be told ahead of time of the sometimes-subtle clues for drunk drivers, such as driving under the speed limit or lingering too long at a green light, Murray said.
"We certainly don't want our observers to be calling erroneous reports in," he said.
If participants spot a suspicious driver, they will jot down the license plate, a vehicle description and a location and notify the Sheriff's Office. It's up to the deputy to check out the vehicle to determine whether an arrest is appropriate, Murray said.
The program was Murray's idea, he said, inspired by worries of what potential budget cuts could do to law enforcement's DUI teams.
"They'll likely lose officers from the road," he said. "We were looking ahead to try to see what our organization can do."
Hillsborough sheriff's Cpl. Stephen Decatur said the program is just a formalized process for what already happens everyday: People call law enforcement when they see something suspicious.
He praised the idea, but he cautioned that it's vital that volunteers don't try to do the work of law enforcement in apprehending and accusing suspects.
"If anybody's overzealous, if they play outside the guidelines, then they're acting above and beyond just being observers," he said. "We want them to do it in a responsible manner, and it looks like the program is set up to do that."
Tampa police Cpl. Jared Douds had much the same reaction. It sounded like a Neighborhood Watch group for the roadways.
"Obviously anything that's going to get drunk drivers off the road, we're interested in," Douds. "That's certainly a positive for everybody."
No. This is observe and report. Law enforcement is still responsible for following up on the report. A vigilante would just pull the pin on a grenade and toss it in your window.
The only people who are silly enough not to speed are those who are too drunk to know that they are driving slow? Is this what we are supposed to get from this article?
And what about all of the nervous nellies out there who refuse to start from a green light until every car coming from a different direction comes to a complete stop?
It will be funny to see MADD volunteers finking on MADD members driving home from MADD meetings!
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Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office is where that shaved ape arrested that woman in hospital parking lot while her father was having the heart attack a few months back.
It's not about that anymore.
Although it is illegal to drink while driving (fairly recent development), it is perfectly legal in all 50 states to drink THEN drive (although not a good idea because there are records of prosecutions at 0.00% BAC).
This is about power and control.
Leave the emotions out of it and recognize it for what it is.
But the Minutemen get turned away at every step.
MADD makes money for the state while illegal immigration has little direct financial return (they are just going to come back here anyway so trials, court appointed legal counsel, and deportation/incarcaration of unskilled labor just do not bring in the money).
I certainly hope that while they are away from their homes they have all of their exterior lights off ... so that global warming can be kept at bay ... but maybe not so much the burglars.
Given what I know about MADD, that is what they want and is probably sure to happen sooner or later.
Good
OH great --- I'm toast if I drive in Tampa. If I am the first car at a traffic light, you best believe I'm going to wait a few seconds to make sure no one is coming through the intersection against their red light.
As someone who has lost many friends and family members to preventable accidents, I have one word for this:
Outrageous.
No emotions involved here. If you don't drink and drive, there won't be any possibility of being charged with an alcohol based DUI. If you choose to drink and drive, you have only yourself to blame for being in that condition.
How do driving under the limit on a city street at “dark 30” (late night) or “lingering too long at a green light” pose risks to other drivers?
This isn’t imparement or wreckless driving. This is obsessive enforcement of a “statistic”.
You can blow less than 0.08 and still be prosecuted for DUI. Blowing “clean” doesn’t necessarily release you but blowing over will convict you.
Now the standard is to revoke a license for 6-12 months for refusing to blow.
Hyperbole.
Outrageous.
I grieve with you as I know the everlasting pain that comes from a senseless death caused by reckless people.
Dream on.
Can you say Class action lawsuit? Hit the B@$t@rds where it hurts, in the wallet.
Actually, two can play that game. Just put a few vehicles around the chase car, blocking it in. Slow to about 5mph. When they stop, explain to them why continuing their behaviour would be a real.bad.idea.
Saw your hyperbole and returned it.
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