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BUTLER - DWI crash reenactment warns of dangers
(by April Plantamura - Staff Writer - May 21, 2008)
BUTLER - With prom, graduation and summer vacation drawing near, members of the Butler Police Department and the Butler and Bloomingdale Municipal Alliance for Drug Abuse deemed it necessary to educate students about the negative and sometimes deadly effects that drinking and driving can have on their lives.
On Monday, May 19, the parking lot at Butler High School was the scene of a DWI (drinking while intoxicated) accident reenactment where students, members of the police and fire departments, and the Tri-Boro First Aid Squad staged a car accident that was the result of drunken driving.
“All this is part of the prom and graduation season prevention efforts,” Capt. Jay Dean of the Butler Police Department said. “And of course, the Graduated Driver License (GDL) program and all of our efforts with Click it or Ticket (a nationwide seat belt enforcement).”
The GDL program, which was put into effect on Jan. 1, 2001, outlines several restrictions that newly licensed drivers must follow, including the hours drivers are allowed to be on the road and the number of passengers that are permitted in their vehicle at any given time. The GDL program is designed to reduce the number of vehicular fatalities among teen and first-time drivers as well as their passengers.
Butler Police Dispatcher Linda Daly was responsible for organizing the reenactment that took place Monday morning.
“With the prom coming up and ongoing issues with underage drinking, we (the Butler and Bloomingdale Municipal Alliance for Drug Abuse) wanted to do something,” Daly said. “We are hoping that this will have an impact.”
Sgt. Dennis White of the New Jersey State Police was also present at the high school Monday to give a presentation to the students following the reenactment. Sgt. White showed several videos to the students addressing issues like the financial impact that a DWI arrest can have on an individual and how dangerous drinking and driving can be.
“Some of the videos addressed how (drunken) drivers can become projectiles in an accident if they are not wearing a seat belt.” Sgt. White said. “We also let the kids know that there are legal fees, court fees and auto insurance surcharges they must pay, plus the seven-month mandatory license suspension.”
Sgt. White said that if a driver were under the legal drinking age of 21, they would automatically receive a $500 fine. Other expenses include a preliminary fine of $250 to $400, a motor vehicle insurance surcharge of $3,000, which the accused pays in annual amounts of $1,000 for three years, as well as court and attorney fees.
“When all is said and done, being convicted of a DWI can cost you nearly $30,000,” Sgt. White said. “It is a staggering amount of money.”
Sgt. White, who is part of the Community Service Unit for the State Police, said that he has visited several schools to give these presentations and that they are often very effective.
“It has the desired effect, especially when the kids see the actual reenactment,” he said.
Sgt. White said that following his presentation many of the students were shocked and silent, which he said, is a good indicator that he has caught their attention.
This was the first time that a DWI reenactment was held at Butler High School, but with the apparent success and effect that it had on students, Capt. Dean said that he is extremely interested in doing it again in the future.
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