Newnan DUI arrests soar from 139 arrests in 2003 to about 300 this year
Published 10/08/06 in The Times-Herald
By ELIZABETH RICHARDSON

Last year, the Newnan Police Department set a goal to arrest 271 impaired drivers in 2006 — an increase of 10 percent from 2005.

In 2003, the police department was responsible for making 139 arrests involving drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In 2004, that number jumped to 224, followed by 246 in 2005.

From the beginning of this year through September, Newnan officers have made 227 DUI arrests within city limits. Police not only expect to meet their goal, but if they keep up their average of 25 arrests per month they could make as many as 302 DUI-related arrests in 2006.

To meet their goal in 2005, city police “made it a priority” and held more license checks, according to Sgt. Nat Brown of the Newnan Police Department. They also increased patrol in high traffic areas and attended advanced DUI enforcement training. The training teaches them how to spot a DUI, what to do once the violators have been stopped, and how to keep them off the streets, according to Newnan Chief Douglas L. “Buster” Meadows. There is a strong focus on technique so that officers can seek stiffer prosecutions of DUI violators, he added.

“We constantly go to classes to get certified and re-certified,” said Officer Jason Kempf, who was among the officers with the most DUI arrests last year. “There has definitely been an increase in DUIs,” he added.

While Meadows attributes the increase to an exploding population in Coweta County, Brown feels it may also be because there are more bars and restaurants in the city selling liquor.

“We look for the way they are driving,” said Officer Tonya Keith, who is among the top DUI enforcers in the city. “We look to see if they are on the wrong side of the road. We also look at their speed; if they’re going real slow, it’s often an indication of a DUI,” she added.

Keith once worked a bad accident on Jackson Street caused by an impaired driver.

“An underaged girl and boy ran the stop sign and took on another vehicle,” she said. Luckily, everyone survived.

“The sad part is that the intoxicated drivers aren’t the ones who get hurt usually,” said Meadows.

Kempf worked an accident once involving a drunk driver with a blood alcohol of .31 who lost control of his vehicle in a curve and struck a vehicle carrying a woman and her four children. One was taken by air ambulance for treatment, and the remaining three were taken by ground ambulance to Newnan Hospital. Again, all managed to survive.

According to the Peace Officer’s Pocket Guide to the Georgia Code, “A person shall not drive or be in actual physical control of any moving vehicle while the person’s alcohol concentration is .08 grams or more at any time within three hours after such driving… from alcohol consumed before such driving.”

Brown once stopped a driver with a blood alcohol of .47.

In addition to higher incidents of intoxicated drivers, police are also seeing an increase in people driving under the influence of drugs.

“We’re starting to see these things at a younger age,” Kempf observed.

Police are trying to be proactive rather than reactive by visiting high schools around prom time to demonstrate mock wrecks and get the message about DUIs out.

“Having a Georgia driver’s license is a privilege, not a right,” said Brown.

“I would like to see DUI laws get a little tougher; there’s too many loopholes,” said Kempf.

Police would specifically like to see tougher laws for habitual violators. Four DUI arrests in five years constitutes a felony arrest for habitual violations, according to Meadows.

“It’s discouraging when we’re trying to do our jobs, and these people are right back on the streets,” said Kempf. “You know you’re making a difference — at least for that night.”

“It’s just dangerous; you could hurt yourself or innocent people,” said Brown. “You can rest assured that if you’re drinking and driving, one of these officers will catch up with you sooner or later and you will go to jail that night,” he added.

“Also, that charge will be on your record forever,” added Meadows.

Instead of choosing to drink and drive, the officers suggested alternatives such as calling a family member for a ride, calling a taxi or arranging a designated driver before ever leaving home.

Newnan is not unusal in its step up of DUI enforcement.  DUI cases bring large fines and are easy political capital.  Nevermind that cell phone use is more dangerous but not even illegal.  A qualified DUI attorney can finds hundreds of possible errors in any case that could result in a acquittal or a dismissal.

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