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Serious repercussions for drinking and driving

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Erica Holbert-Siebert
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
6/4/2015 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- --  There may be inherent safety risks to every activity on or off duty, but there are preventable events, such as choosing to drive while under the influence, which can determine an individual's future.

The bold line from having a fun night, to a life-altering disaster, can be determined in the Blood Alcohol Content, or BAC, of an individual and the situation they've put themselves in.

For instance, someone can be behind the wheel of a car with keys in hand, regardless of whether the car is on and moving, the individual can be determined to be driving under the influence.

Tech. Sgt. Joshua Clark, 375th Security Forces Squadron Assistant NCOIC of Operations, says there is a difference between Driving While Impaired, or DWI, and Driving Under the Influence, or DUI. The goal of law enforcement is to investigate whether an individual is too inebriated to drive.

"We can determine at least three things of probable cause by looking for blood shot eyes, fumbling with their ID, and slurred speech," said Clark. "This gives law enforcement enough probable cause to request a breath, blood or urine sample to determine BAC. The normal procedure is to request a breath test. If the individual is active duty, on base and they refuse to provide a breath sample, then we may get permission for a command directed blood draw. Everyone else is transferred to St. Clair County Sheriff's Department."

If the sample shows an individual has a BAC of .08 or higher, they are charged with a DUI. They may be charged with a DWI if they have a BAC of .05 to .079 if they also have other indicators of impairment, such as driving recklessly. DWI may also include impairment from prescription or illegal drugs. Specifics are outlined in SAFBI 31-218, "Motor Vehicle Traffic Supervision, and the Illinois Vehicle Code."

The 375th Air Mobility Wing has a strict stance against both DUI and DWI on and off the installation. All vehicle operators found to be .05-.08 (impaired), on or off base, will lose their base driving privileges for a period of one year. Drivers .08 and above will lose their ability to drive on all Department of Defense installations for a period of one year.

Incidents of DUI and DWI involving Scott personnel have been on a steady decline since 2009, with 12 incidents in 2013 and 2014. Currently there have been two incidents for 2015 off base.

Illinois also has a Zero Tolerance Law which applies to individuals under 21 with any trace of alcohol in their system. They lose state driving privileges for a period of 1 year for first offense, 5 years for the second offense, and 10 years for the third offense, if they provide a sample.

If they refuse to provide a sample, under the Zero Tolerance Law, they lose their state driving privileges for one year, three years for second, and three years for third offenses.

Illinois also has an Implied Consent law, which says, if you are operating your vehicle in the State of Illinois, you have consented to provide a requested breath, blood or urine sample.

Deciding to drive after alcohol consumption may lead to a series of unexpected and adverse events that last long after the night is over, so knowing where to look for a reliable wingman to prevent negative consequences is key.

Armed Forces Against Drunk Driving is a phone call away, 24/7 at 256-4663 for a free, sober and confidential ride home, and is available to members of Team Scott and their dependents.