Source: PINE BLUFF COMMERCIAL (Arkansas) - Thursday, July 9, 1998

Kara Tooke - MONTICELLO/WARREN CORRESPONDENT, MONTICELLO

If you're planning on throwing caution to the wind when it comes to consumption of alcohol and getting behind the wheel of a car, think twice before heading to Drew County.

It was one year ago this month Municipal Judge William R. "Bill" Daniels made the decision to crack down on drunk drivers by ordering. all first offenders to have installed in their vehicle an Ignition Interlock system. Already Drew County is witnessing a change for the better.

The Interlock, which looks like a small portable breathalyzer and is endorsed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), is fitted into a vehicle's dashboard. Before their car will start, the driver must blow into it. The system analyzes the sample and if even a trace of alcohol is detected, the car will not start.

A study done by the University of Maryland showed that "an interlock program reduces the risk of an alcohol traffic violation within the first year (after conviction) by about 65 percent. "

"The figures show that DWIs in our court are down about 30 percent from years past," Daniels said.

Where normally eight to twelve people charged with DWI would appear on one day in his court before, Daniels said now he sees an average of five or six. He also reports a significant decrease in the number of second and third offenses.

Law enforcement has noticed a difference as well. "We've seen a decrease in DWIs on regular patrols," Sheriff Tommy Free said. "They're holding people in contempt for not installing it and there have been some lengthy jail terms imposed," he noted.

"I had one State Trooper tell me his superiors wanted to know why he hadn't been making arrests on DWI," said Daniels. "He told them they're just not out there."

Daniels decided to adopt the policy after he lost confidence in the idea that fines were an effective deterrent to drinking and driving.

"Though they had to deal with the embarrassment of court, fines didn't seem like a big enough deal to those first offenders who just made a careless mistake,"said Daniels, "and those with a real problem needed to be threatened with something more burdensome and meaningful."

Daniels attributes the success of the policy to the willingness to force those with a DWI first offense to have the Interlock, as well as the severe sanctions that have been imposed for non-compliance. "The fear factor is at work." said Daniels. "If they violate the order by refusing to have the system put on or tampering with it they're going to be looking at as much as 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine."

According to Superior Interlock Services Inc., of Conway which installs and maintains the systems for Drew County, 86 people were caught drinking and driving over the last year in the county and all were prohibited from driving any vehicle without an Interlock.

Of the 86 convictions, 30 units have been installed according to a report from Superior Interlock. Of those not yet in compliance, ten people claim not to own a vehicle, two live out of Arkansas where there is no service, one is in rehabilitation, another is in jail for tampering and 42 warrants are being processed for non-compliance.

"If the punishment for not following the order is strong enough, the word travels pretty quickly," said Fred M. Bowers, president of Superior Interlock. Paul Dotley, a DWI Counselor with Delta Counseling in Monticello agrees. "It's made a major impact in Drew County, and since Judge Daniels orders the interlock for first offenders, it's a great deterrent," he said.

All DWIs issued in a five-county area are referred to Delta Counseling, and Dotley says Drew "by far has dropped more than any other county." "Several area judges have shown an interest and we're hoping they will go to the Interlock as well," he said.

According to Bowers. who is working with others to push legislation allowing offenders to have their license reinstated upon proof that their vehicle is equipped with an Interlock, the use of an Interlock is easily validated.

"National statistics show that 80 percent of those who have their license suspended drive anyway...illegally, without insurance, and with no way of knowing if they are driving drunk or not," Bowers said.

Daniels said the Interlock is logical because if violators have been proven to drive regardless of having their license suspended, "Why not offer the public some degree of protection from drunk drivers and keep them legal?"

"It allows them to keep driving to work so they can provide for their family, while keeping them in the system so their behavior can be monitored," said Bowers.

Another perk that comes with the Interlock is that it keeps potential drunk drivers out of trouble and they know it. "A few people, after going through counseling and driving with the system on their cars for a year, have decided to keep it even though they no longer have to because they realize it's cheaper than paying fines and insurance increases" said Dotley. "It becomes a crutch for them" said Bowers, "because they know they will drink and drive again, but not with an Interlock."

"My goal in establishing the Interlock as a punishment was to keep the roads safe for my family and yours, it's even better if it helps someone realize they have a real problem,: said Daniels. "I'm really pleased with its effectiveness."

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