Where I Stand — Sandy Heverly: Putting stop to DUI

Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2000 | 9:48 a.m.

Editor's note: In August Where I Stand is written by guest columnists. Today's guest, Sandy Heverly, is executive director of STOP DUI.

It's been said it takes a generation to change certain social attitudes and behavior. I had mixed emotions about that statement as many others and I began the anti-impaired driving and victims rights movement nearly 18 years ago. On one hand it provided me a time frame for resolution and hope; on the other, the harsh reality that hundreds of thousands of men, women and children would be killed and millions more injured in the interim.

It was my generation and the ones before that made drinking and driving socially acceptable. More must be done to make it socially unacceptable. The delay is caused by those who still think they can combine their right to drink with their privilege to drive. These drunk and drugged, selfish, irresponsible imposters of humanity couldn't care less if they killed your family or mine. They crash into our lives, creating a path of destruction that leaves their victims crushed, burned and mangled. Hopes, dreams and futures gone forever. Lives shattered by physical, emotional and financial devastation.

If this isn't enough, the perpetrators and their bleeding-heart supporters want us to believe all of this carnage is "just an accident." If a rapist is drunk when he commits a rape that's not an "accident." A robbery committed by someone under the influence is not an "accident." If a drunk gets behind the wheel and kills someone, that's not an "accident" either -- that's murder at random! The accused should be charged and prosecuted for second-degree murder.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides some sobering facts. Alcohol is a factor in 43 percent of our state's traffic fatalities (5 percent above the national average), claiming 1,380 lives over the last 10 years. Injuries number in the tens of thousands. The average alcohol-related fatality in Nevada costs $3.5 million. The annual economic impact for Nevada exceeds $1 billion. There are no equations, however, to accurately measure the pain, suffering, grief and sorrow this violent crime causes its innocent victims.

With nearly 12,000 DUI arrests statewide it is evident our police officers are putting forth a great effort to take these potential killers off the street. They have our deepest respect and gratitude. Drunken driving causes more death, injury and destruction than all "other murderers," rapists and thieves combined. Funding for specialized DUI enforcement teams, sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols, and state-of-the-art DUI equipment, including more DUI vans, must be a priority.

Our Legislature should show some testicular fortitude and remove the DUI weapon from first-time convicted offenders -- forever! (DUI offenders drive drunk 80 times per year before they are caught the first time!) And, no, I don't care about the inconvenience this may cause the drunk's family. The safety of my loved ones comes first.

Why do our lawmakers give these offenders so many chances to kill us? Misdemeanor offenders are no better than the felons -- they're just luckier. Lowering Nevada's blood alcohol standard from .10 to .08 (the Deena Rizzo bill) would also help save lives. Additional considerations include increasing mandatory prison time for felony DUI and automatic certification for juvenile offenders causing DUI death or injury.

Meanwhile, Gov. Kenny Guinn denied requests to reactivate the commission on drunken driving and has remained silent on the most recent rash of multiple DUI deaths and injuries that have occurred in our community. His apparent lack of concern is troubling and disappointing. We encourage our governor to recognize the enormity of this violent crime by taking appropriate action to help protect the citizens of his state.

We are a self-proclaimed society and yet, each day, uncivilized acts are committed against one another. Driving under the influence is uncivilized and ownership of the problem belongs to everyone, including the Nevada Resort Association, the alcohol industry and the restaurant and tavern owners. Impaired drivers don't discriminate when it comes to whom their victims will be. We hope the above entities will take note of this fact and become part of the solution rather than remaining part of the problem.

Change is not accomplished without action, and action doesn't occur unless someone cares enough to make a difference. Insist that your national, state and local representatives address this violent crime in a meaningful way.

Our journey does not end with this generation. It will continue with the next and the next or until there is no more death, injury and destruction caused by driving under the influence. Then we can rest.