Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign begins this weekend

Dover – Heading out for happy hour? Stopping off for a nightcap? Getting one last drink before last call? All those terms take on a whole new meaning when you get stopped for driving under the influence (DUI).  Happy hour is now sitting in jail waiting for bail, nightcap is now taking a breathalyzer test, and last call is your only call from jail.  Don’t let a DUI redefine your night.  The Delaware Office of Highway Safety along with law enforcement across the state are cracking down on impaired driving and launching the 15^th Annual Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign this holiday weekend.  Last year alcohol was involved in 54 percent of the 111 fatal crashes, which resulted in 67 individuals killed.

The first checkpoint of the season is scheduled for:

            Friday July 3rd – Newport – (NcCo DUI Task Force)

Sobriety checkpoints will be scheduled to take place each week during the six month long Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign along with DUI saturation patrols.  There will also be additional enforcement during peak holiday times including Labor Day, Halloween, and the month of December.

Fortunately Delaware has seen a decrease in the number of alcohol-related fatalities this year compared to this time last year.  Twenty (20) of this year’s 48 traffic deaths (43%) have been alcohol-related.  At this time last year there were 63 fatalities and 63% involved alcohol.

The New Castle County DUI Task Force will again be sworn in by the Delaware Attorney General to conduct sobriety checkpoints throughout the county during the campaign.  The swearing-in ceremony provides the legal justification necessary to allow police officers to make DUI arrests in towns outside their own jurisdiction.

Delaware State Police will participate and also conduct checkpoints in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties. Dover PD will conduct checkpoints once a month in their town jurisdiction.

The campaign’s enforcement activities will be supplemented by an all new intense public awareness and education campaign that highlight the fact that a DUI can redefine your night and your life. Paid messages will be placed on T.V. and radio, billboards, print, online, Pandora, movie theater ads, and store floor clings. See website www.ArriveAliveDE.com/DriveSober.  Paid messages will also be included in Spanish print and radio ads.  OHS will continue to tally the total number of DUI arrests made each week in Delaware and display the total on billboards in New Castle County and Sussex County and on the website www.ArriveAliveDE.com/DriveSober.  OHS’s corporate partners will also receive flyers, posters, and table tents to display and help spread the message.

Those convicted of a first time DUI offense in Delaware may spend up to 1 year in prison, and will lose their license, attend an 8-week DUI treatment program and pay thousands of dollars in court, treatment, DMV, and lawyer’s fees (approximately $6,300).

Checkpoint Strikeforce is a regional sobriety checkpoint campaign aimed at arresting DUI offenders by using high visibility enforcement to deter those who would otherwise choose to drink and drive.  The campaign is a six month long effort coordinated locally by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety and involves setting up weekly DUI checkpoints & patrols statewide.  Delaware had 4,086 DUI arrests statewide for 2014.

For a list of DUI checkpoints in your area text CHECKPOINT to 99000 or for a list of cabs text TAXI to 99000.  More information and resources on Checkpoint Strikeforce can be found at www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.DUIRealTime.com. Follow regular campaign updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe, Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE, and subscribe to YouTube channel DelawareOHS.

The Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement partnered with several other law enforcement agencies to target the problem of underage drinking. Police officers from the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement, Delaware State Police, Dewey Beach Police Department, Rehoboth Beach Police Department, University of Delaware Police Department and the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office hit the streets this week as part of a high-visibility enforcement campaign to prevent and combat underage consumption and binge drinking in and around the town of Dewey Beach.

On June 3, the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement was able to obtain information and make observations of a underage party occurring at 17 Collins Street in Dewey Beach. After obtaining information from inside of that location, a search warrant was obtained and executed at the residence and several area students were found to be drinking underage. A total of 28 underage persons at the party were cited for underage drinking by the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement and Dewey Beach Police. In addition, the owner of that residence, Mark L. Woodruff, 50, of Dewey Beach was charged with Providing Alcohol to Minors.

Other arrests this week by all officers involved included the following charges:

Underage Possession/Consumption of Alcohol: 16
Sell Alcohol to a Minor: 3
Enter Package Store Under 21: 2
Possession of Marijuana: 1
Open Container of Alcohol: 1
Local Fugitive: 1
Drunk on Highway: 2

Officers patrolling the streets noticed that rented houses were much quieter than in past years and the number of underage parties that normally occur in the Dewey Beach area appeared to have been greatly reduced.  It is believed that the advertisement of this campaign and the overt police presence had a positive impact on reducing underage drinking in the Dewey Beach area.  Officers will be continuing their enforcement efforts during the months of June.

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Media Contact:
Director John Yeomans
(302) 741-2714
john.yeomans@delaware.gov

“PARTY CRASHERS” MAKE THEIR WAY TO DEWEY BEACH, DE
TO CRACKDOWN ON UNDERAGE DRINKING IN DEWEY BEACH

Dewey Beach, DE – Consider the party over for those who decide to consume alcohol illegally or provide alcohol to a minor, as part of a new “Party Crashers” initiative that promises to enforce underage drinking laws and unlawfully selling to minors.

Beginning this week, the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement (D.A.T.E) will be joining forces with local and state law enforcement, as part of a multi-faceted underage drinking enforcement campaign to help reduce the number of incidents and injuries related to underage consumption and binge drinking in and around the town of Dewey Beach.

As part of an annual tradition, thousands of recent high school graduates will make their way to Dewey Beach during the first two weeks of June. “We want this time of year to be a time of celebration not a tragic mistake so we created the “Party Crashers” initiative to remind all town residents, both temporary and permanent, that our zero tolerance policy will be strictly enforced at all times.” said John Yeomans, Director of the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement.

This high-visibility enforcement detail includes a partnership with the Sussex County Realtors Association who will be distributing the campaign flyer to all rental units within Dewey Beach. Residents, and visitors alike, will see an increased presence of police officers at any given time from the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement, Delaware State Police, Dewey Beach Police Department, Rehoboth Beach Police Department, University of Delaware Police Department and the Delaware State Fire Marshall’s office. These officers will be patrolling the streets on foot, by bike and on mounted patrols.

“I’m pleased with the increased enforcement of underage drinking because it can hopefully prevent some of these young adults from getting into serious trouble. And the trouble they can potentially cause can affect their future careers in ways they do not realize until it’s too late.” said Diane Hanson, Mayor of Dewey Beach.

Funding for this initiative has been provided by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

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Media Contact:
John Yeomans, Director
john.yeomans@delaware.gov
(302) 741-2721

For high school students everywhere, prom and graduation are two of the most highly anticipated events of the year. We want this time of year to be a time of celebration not tragedy. That’s why the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement (DATE) is rolling out a statewide billboard prevention and awareness campaign, “Buyers Beware”, to remind all citizens that purchasing or providing alcohol to minors is not only wrong – it is against the law and can result in hefty fines and jail time.

Over the next 4 weeks, the Buyers Beware Billboard campaign will make more than 875,000 impressions via 10 strategically located billboards throughout all 3 counties in Delaware. “I am asking my fellow Delawarean’s to join me in making a new or renewed commitment to being responsible and to never be a party to underage drinking,” said John Yeomans, Director of the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement.

Statistics show that Prom-Graduation season (April, May and June) is the most dangerous time for teens. One-third of the alcohol-related traffic fatalities involving teens each year occur during those months. Underage drinking plays a substantial role in all three leading causes of death among teens which are unintentional injuries (including motor vehicle fatalities and drowning), suicides, and homicides.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) there are approximately 11 million underage drinkers in the United States. By the age of 18, more than 70 percent of teens have had a drink. And where are these youths obtaining their alcohol? Teens get alcohol with a wink and a nod from the adults they know such as their parents, adult friends and older siblings. Sadly, adults in our community are contributing to the problem.

Nationally in 2009, 33 percent of all 15 to 20 year old drivers who were killed in crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .01 or higher; 28% had a BAC level of .08 or higher. In that same year in Delaware 23% of all alcohol related traffic fatalities were involving drivers under 25 years of age. These facts are both tragic and unacceptable. Adults purchasing or obtaining and providing alcohol to minors leads to these adverse consequences. Underage drinking is not a rite of passage and shouldn’t be deemed as “cool”.

The Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement encourages citizens to report underage drinking or sales by calling our Anonymous Tip Line at 1-800-EYES-EARS (1-800-393-7327) or via the internet by visiting www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.

Funding for this billboard campaign has been provided by the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

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Media Contact:
John Yeomans, Director
john.yeomans@delaware.gov
(302) 741-2719

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT: Three-county launch of the Department of Health and Social Services’ statewide Underage and Binge Drinking Prevention Campaign aimed at young people age 12-25. The new campaign is an extension of DHSS’ existing “Underage? Understand. Don’t Drink!” Campaign, and will feature separate messaging for underage drinking prevention (ages 12-20), including adults that influence them, and binge drinking (up to age 25). At each session, students will be engaged in the presentation and will have the opportunity to ask questions. The campaign will include billboard, bus, print, radio, online and social media marketing, and in-school and in-store messaging. New messages will be added to www.HelpIsHereDE.com, DHSS’ website for addiction prevention, treatment and recovery information and resources.

LOCATIONS: 8 a.m. Thursday, April 23
Concord High School Auditorium
2501 Ebright Road
Wilmington
Speakers: Gov. Jack Markell, First Lady Carla Markell, DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf, Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay, a young person in recovery and a school official
Contact: Brandywine School District Public Information Officer Alexis Andrianopoulos, 302-793-5068

10:50 a.m. Thursday, April 23
Smyrna High School Gym
500 Duck Creek Parkway
Smyrna
Speakers: DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf, Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay, a young person in recovery and a school official
Detail: During this presentation, students will be able to walk through an inflatable brain to see the areas of the brain that are damaged by drinking.
Contact: Principal Stacy C. Cook, 302-653-8581

1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23
Sussex Central High School Auditorium
26026 Patriots Way
Georgetown
Speakers: DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf, a young person in recovery and a school official
Contact: Assistant Principal Matthew W. Jones, 302-934-3166

DETAILS: According to the Center for Drug & Alcohol Studies at the University of Delaware, 35 percent of 11th-graders in Delaware reported using alcohol at least once a month in 2013, with 62 percent saying they used it in the past year and 71 percent saying they had used it in their lifetimes. Among eighth-graders, 14 percent reported at least monthly use of alcohol, with 31 percent saying they used it within the last year and 40 percent in their lifetimes.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

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Rita Landgraf, Secretary
Jill Fredel, Director of Communications
302-255-9047, Cell 302-357-7498
Email: jill.fredel@delaware.gov

Delaware Health and Social Services – Division of Public Health