Anti-DUI efforts win praise

BENNINGTON — Local police were able to increase patrols and help keep the roads safe for motorists this holiday season thanks to a state grant. Lt. Paul Doucette said the Bennington Police Department was able to set up two checkpoints screening for intoxicated drivers over an 11-day period after receiving a $7,500 grant from the Governor's Highway Safety Program. With the increased police presence, coupled with a much-lauded idea to distribute pint glasses featuring the department's logo to local restaurants and bars that raised awareness in the community, Doucette said the area saw few accidents and arrests for DUI. From Dec. 22 through Jan. 1, Doucette said Bennington Police arrested only six people for driving under the influence of alcohol. Only one accident was the result of an intoxicated driver. According to Doucette, the low number of intoxicated drivers was a result of the "saturation patrols" and checkpoints. "I firmly believe that the awareness campaign certainly attributed to the low numbers," he said. "We did a stop on Northside Drive and the woman said, 'my gosh, the police are everywhere.'"

On Dec. 22, police set up a checkpoint in front of the state office complex on Route 7. According to Doucette, a total of 152 vehicles passed through the checkpoint carrying 288 passengers. No arrests for DUI were made at the checkpoint, but increased police patrols arrested three people for DUI that night. Doucette said police encountered at least two people serving as designated drivers for their friends and family. A Dec. 29 checkpoint on Northside Drive saw 139 vehicles pass through with 289 passengers. Police made one arrest for DUI and witnessed at least four designated drivers. Over the 10-day period, Bennington police officers issued a total of 262 traffic tickets for speeding, running stop signs and other motor vehicle violations. Eleven people were cited for driving with a suspended license, according to Doucette. Lt. David Notte, commander of the Vermont State Police barracks in Shaftsbury, said officers under his command participated in saturation patrols and set up one roadblock on Route 9 in Woodford on Dec. 28. State police arrested six intoxicated drivers and issued a citation for one underage person for possession of alcohol. According to Notte, the saturation patrols, in conjunction with the Sheriff's Department and local police agencies, were located in the Manchester and Dorset areas. The Shaftsbury barracks cover areas in Bennington County that are not already covered by a local police department. A sure sign that an increased police presence was working was the number of incidents on New Year's eve, said Doucette. "Last night, being New Year's Eve, we did not have a single complaint of intoxicated patrons at restaurants, and we did not have a single DUI arrest. I think we can attribute that to the saturation patrols and the media coverage of our efforts," he said. On average, an extra three to four police officers were patrolling the streets over the 10-day period, said Doucette. "It was a total of 218 extra man hours because of the $7,500 grant awarded by the Governor's Highway Safety program," he said. "If you stop and do the math and take the over time cost, it basically came out to $7,490. Without that grant we certainly would not have had this success." Doucette said the department will be looking to secure another grant for 2007 and continue its efforts of keeping the roadways safe during the holidays. "If the grant is available next year, we will certainly be applying for it," he said.