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WHAT: Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention community awareness event
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Kmart parking lot, 2757 N.W. Stewart Parkway, Roseburg
COST: Free
WHO: Presented by Oregon State Police, Oregon Department of Transportation, MADD Douglas County, Douglas County Traffic Safety Committee and Kmart
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Kmart parking lot, 2757 N.W. Stewart Parkway, Roseburg
COST: Free
WHO: Presented by Oregon State Police, Oregon Department of Transportation, MADD Douglas County, Douglas County Traffic Safety Committee and Kmart
The season for roasting turkeys, gathering with friends and family and spreading holiday cheer is almost upon us.
But local law enforcement and transportation agencies want to remind people not to mix drunken or drugged driving with their holiday celebrations.
The agencies are sponsoring a special event Saturday to kick off observance of Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention month in December.
The community awareness event will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Roseburg Kmart parking lot. It is meant to be a family-friendly way to raise awareness of the dangers of drunken and drugged driving, said Rosalee Senger, transportation safety coordinator for the Oregon Department of Transportation, during a Wednesday press conference at the local Oregon State Police office.
The day kicks off with a free pancake breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m., with all donations going to the Douglas County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving or MADD.
Kids can color. Parents can bring their teens or new teen drivers to see a crashed car “that will show how impaired driving changes lives,” Senger said.
People of all ages can try out fatal vision goggles that simulate being intoxicated at various levels of blood-alcohol content. And a Mobile DUII Processing Center, which includes three breathalyzers and two holding cells, will be on hand.
Organizers also will be handing out magnetic or fabric red ribbons so participants can “'tie one on' (their car) for safety,” Senger said.
Attendees can buy $2 raffle tickets for a chance to take home gift baskets. And $350 worth of $25 gas cards will be given away.
Although the event is free, organizers will be accepting cans of food to be donated to United Community Action Network's Food Bank.
The awareness campaign will take a more serious turn Saturday night as local law enforcement agencies plan to process suspected drunken drivers in the mobile DUII processing center.
During December, police will beef up enforcement of laws that prohibit drunken and drugged driving, OSP Sgt. Steve Mitchell said.
The officers also will be on the lookout for drivers who are impaired due to abuse of over-the-counter and prescription medicines, an increasingly prevalent problem, he added.
In 2007, more than 1,000 people were arrested in Douglas County for driving under the influence of intoxicants, said Sgt. Aaron Dunbar, spokesman for the Roseburg Police Department.
The vast majority of them were first-time offenders, people “who have no prior (criminal) record and who maybe don't look at themselves as drunken drivers,” he added.
To avoid becoming one of those statistics, people should “think about making plans before they go out and party,” Dunbar said.
• You can reach reporter Kathy Korengel at 957-4218 or by e-mail at kkorengel@nrtoday.com.
But local law enforcement and transportation agencies want to remind people not to mix drunken or drugged driving with their holiday celebrations.
The agencies are sponsoring a special event Saturday to kick off observance of Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention month in December.
The community awareness event will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Roseburg Kmart parking lot. It is meant to be a family-friendly way to raise awareness of the dangers of drunken and drugged driving, said Rosalee Senger, transportation safety coordinator for the Oregon Department of Transportation, during a Wednesday press conference at the local Oregon State Police office.
The day kicks off with a free pancake breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m., with all donations going to the Douglas County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving or MADD.
Kids can color. Parents can bring their teens or new teen drivers to see a crashed car “that will show how impaired driving changes lives,” Senger said.
People of all ages can try out fatal vision goggles that simulate being intoxicated at various levels of blood-alcohol content. And a Mobile DUII Processing Center, which includes three breathalyzers and two holding cells, will be on hand.
Organizers also will be handing out magnetic or fabric red ribbons so participants can “'tie one on' (their car) for safety,” Senger said.
Attendees can buy $2 raffle tickets for a chance to take home gift baskets. And $350 worth of $25 gas cards will be given away.
Although the event is free, organizers will be accepting cans of food to be donated to United Community Action Network's Food Bank.
The awareness campaign will take a more serious turn Saturday night as local law enforcement agencies plan to process suspected drunken drivers in the mobile DUII processing center.
During December, police will beef up enforcement of laws that prohibit drunken and drugged driving, OSP Sgt. Steve Mitchell said.
The officers also will be on the lookout for drivers who are impaired due to abuse of over-the-counter and prescription medicines, an increasingly prevalent problem, he added.
In 2007, more than 1,000 people were arrested in Douglas County for driving under the influence of intoxicants, said Sgt. Aaron Dunbar, spokesman for the Roseburg Police Department.
The vast majority of them were first-time offenders, people “who have no prior (criminal) record and who maybe don't look at themselves as drunken drivers,” he added.
To avoid becoming one of those statistics, people should “think about making plans before they go out and party,” Dunbar said.
• You can reach reporter Kathy Korengel at 957-4218 or by e-mail at kkorengel@nrtoday.com.
