I read Lynn Neering’s letter regarding posting the names of alleged driving under the influence suspects in the paper to decrease the number of DUIs. What a great idea, especially with the ongoing holiday season.
For many years, Hawaii County had the highest per capita DUI crash fatality rate in the United States — a dismal record. Prosecutor Mitch Roth and I collaborated on a bill which passed in October 2011, which gave the Hawaii Police Department the discretion to have the arrested DUI suspect’s car towed to a privately-owned tow lot at the registered owner’s expense if any of the following violations had occurred. Ordinance 11-102 reads as follows:
“(b) Any police officer citing or arresting any driver for the following traffic violations may have the motor vehicle towed to a private tow yard at the registered owner’s expense pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes (“HRS”) 291C-165.5(a):
(1) Driving without a license pursuant to HRS 286-102;
(2) Driving while license is suspended or revoked pursuant to HRS 286-132;
(3) Operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant pursuant to HRS 291E-61;
(4) Habitually operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant pursuant to HRS 291E-61.5;
(5) Operating a vehicle after license and privilege has been suspended or revoked for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant pursuant to HRS 291E-62;
(6) Operating a vehicle after consuming a measurable amount of alcohol; persons under the age of 21 pursuant to HRS 291E-64; or
(7) Fraudulent use plates, tags, or emblems pursuant to HRS 249-11.”
To retrieve the vehicle, the owner had to prove that it was registered and the owner had a driver’s license, insurance, and paid the towing and storage fees for the impounded car within 30 days. Otherwise, the car is forfeited to the towing company and may be sold. In the first two-and-a-half years, the DUI rate dropped from 39 deaths per year to 11 deaths per year thanks to our wonderful police officers using their discretion as authorized by law.
I would like to add a modification to Neering’s great suggestion. There is a police mug shot taken when someone is arrested. Print a one-time notice in the main section of the newspaper announcing the start of a program of printing these alleged DUI mug shots in the newspaper, then print the mug shots with the name of the arrested, alleged DUI driver for their families, friends, neighbors, employers and the public to see. Perhaps, a small sum of money could be found in the county budget to assist in the cost of publicizing these mug shots to save the lives of drivers and the public.
I hope that such a program will lower the DUI rate and encourage all DUI drivers get therapy to treat their disease.
Brenda Ford is a Kona resident and former Hawaii County Council member.
My Turn opinions are the views of the writer and not necessarily of West Hawaii Today.