Grant supports drunk driving enforcement
The Dubois County Substance Abuse Council made a grant to the Jasper Police Department to increase traffic patrols to target impaired and dangerous drivers.
The funding was awarded by the council through funds collected for offenders’ court fees and fines. This realizes the true intention of the funds by redirecting these fines back into efforts to prevent further crimes.
According to a department release, the Jasper Police Department is appreciative of the extra funding that will be used to increase patrols during peak hours to help keep the community safe and impaired drivers off the roads.
The funds will pay for the overtime incurred by having more officers on the street during those times.
“In the past two years, Dubois County has seen an increase in crash-related fatalities with many of them involving an impaired driver,” the department said in statement. “We hope this funding will help to decrease future crashed and make Dubois County safer.”
It’s too bad we have to even consider something like this rather than more people taking better responsibility for their life and the lives of others by not drinking and driving. Bravo to strict and enhanced/increased enforcement of the laws, both traffic and penal-sentencing, to deter and remove drunk-driving offenders from our roads. First-time offenses without exception should be increased substantially. It’s their choice to drink and drive, and therefore their choice to pay the penalty. I work in an environment that I fear is more the norm than not – with employees of all ages bragging – yes, bragging – about their drunk-driving escapades both current and past as if achievements worthy of a trophy rather than shame – as if a normal way of living, a feather in their life-cap, etc. It’s sickening.