DUI: No excuses

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing public affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, KAN. --  In fiscal 2009, McConnell had 23 driving under the influence cases involving military members and so far in fiscal year 2010, four DUI arrests have been made.

Fortunately, with several anti-DUI measures already instituted and McConnell Safe Riders, newly revamped by members of the Company Grade Officer's Council, and the Airmen Against Drunk Driving program, McConnell has been able to reduce the number of DUI incidences by 33 percent in one year.

The programs assists McConnell in reducing the number of DUI incidences at McConnell by focusing on the most important aspect of why Airmen usually receive DUIs--poor 'planning.'

"The best and most reliable step a military member can take to avoid being arrested for a DUI is to have a plan," said Robert Sanderson, 22nd Security Forces Squadron plans and programs chief. "If your plan fails, call your Wingman, your first sergeant, a taxi or Safe Riders."

McConnell's Safe Riders, which re-activated in mid-March after a two year break, provides anyone with a valid military identification card (military personnel, dependents, civilian employees and retirees) a riskless ride home if their original driving plan fails. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 461-7433 (RIDE).

Those who use the program will be required to provide their name only to verify that they are McConnell members, said Capt. William Watson, 344th Air Refueling Squadron flight safety officer and Safe Riders program manager.

"The entire point of this program is that it's not retributional and, unlike the old Safe Riders program, you can get home without worrying about your car," said Captain Watson. "This is a lot of the problem, when people go downtown and get intoxicated, they think they are alright, and try to drive home because they don't want to leave their car downtown."

Since being reactivated, the program has prevented approximately 13 DUIs, said 1st Lt. Amal Nazzall, 22nd Operations Group deputy intelligence commander and Safe Riders program manager.

Along with Safe Riders, another program available to military members at McConnell is Airmen Against Drunk Driving, which is available to Airmen Friday through Sunday from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. and can be contacted by calling 759-4663 (HOME) or 759-2233.

Like Safe Riders, AADD is non-retributional.

Airmen who fail to plan face at least two negative possibilities:

Military members who receive a DUI off-base are subject to prosecution under Kansas Statutes Annotated 8-1567, and can face prosecution from both civilian and military authorities.

Upon a first conviction of a violation of this section, a person shall be guilty of a class B, nonperson misdemeanor and sentenced to no less than 48 consecutive hours or more than six months' imprisonment, or in the court's discretion 100 hours of public service and fined not less than $500 or more than $1,000. The person convicted must serve at least 48 consecutive hours' imprisonment or 100 hours of public service either before or as a condition of any grant of probation or suspension, reduction of sentence or parole.

In addition, the court will require the person to enroll in and complete an alcohol and drug safety action education program or treatment program.

Military members caught on-base are subject to prosecution under Article 111 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, will not be allowed to drive on base for a minimum of one year, said Mr. Sanderson.

"Bottom line --there's absolutely no excuse to receive a DUI with programs like this available at McConnell," Captain Watson said.

For more information about Safe Riders, call 759-7433 or visit www.saferiders.net. For more information about AADD, visit //eim.amc.af.mil/org/22ja/ANTIDUI/default.aspx.