Officials Work With Area Teens To Reduce Alcohol-Related Fatalities
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Alcohol-related fatalities are a leading cause of death among teen-agers.
To try to lower the number of accidental deaths, the Kosciusko County Local Coordinating Council of the Governor's Commission for a Drug-Free Indiana is sponsoring an interactive panel presentation at area high schools.
Tuesday, an hour-long presentation was given to Tippecanoe Valley High School juniors and seniors.
Panel members included Warsaw Police Officer Scott Whitaker, Rochester attorney Ted Waggoner, Rochester Farm Bureau Insurance agent Jerry L. Leavell, Kosciusko County Prosecutor Charles Waggoner, and Tim, a recovering alcoholic.
Whitaker, WPD patrolman for the last two years, told the students how an officer performs a drunk driving traffic stop. He said he looks for clues even before the actual stop is made, such as a car swerving on the road. Once he stops a car, he said, he observes whether the person fumbles for their identification, he looks at their eyes and listens to their speech. If the speech is mumbled or slurred, it may lead him to suspect the driver is intoxicated.
Ted Waggoner described the cost s and legal ramifications involved in a "driving while intoxicated" arrest.
The first expense is the $450 cash bond necessary to be released from jail. Other offenses include car towing, bonding and legal defense.
"That may take $1,000, give or take," he said.
Previously, he said, penalties for drunk driving were mild. But now, he said, penalties are harsher.
"It doesn't matter who you are, who your parents are, it's not a break you get anymore," he said.
Financial responsibility and car insurance were discussed by Leavell.
"Everybody in the state of Indiana is supposed to have insurance if you have a vehicle and are driving on the public right of way," Leavell said.
After a DWI, the insurance on a 17-year-old male who drives a 1996 Ford Mustang will go from $970 every six months to $3,200 every six months.
He said after someone loses their automobile insurance due to DWI, "it's real difficult to get insurance back."
Waggoner, who was a police officer and a judge, told the students that as a judge, "the first thing I do is read (the officer's) paperwork and determine if there was probable cause. If there was, say good-bye to your driver's license because I will mail it to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles."
He said a 17-year-old who is found guilty of DWI will go to jail and it will be on their permanent driver's record.
"It is usable by the prosecutors for the next 10 years if you are ever charged with DWI again," Waggoner said.
Tim, a lifelong Warsaw resident, said he grew up in a Christian home with loving parents but he began drinking at age 17 when an older man offered him wine. He drank the entire bottle.
"I got this real warm feeling in my stomach and I knew this was great," he said. Looking back, he said he knew that was the moment he became an alcoholic.
In 1981, he was charged with his first driving under the influence. A month later, he received his second. In 1988, he was arrested for possession of marijuana and was sent to the Indiana Department of Corrections for almost two years.
"It wasn't my dream in high school to be an alcoholic or be a drug addict," he said.
The same day he was released from IDOC, he was arrested for DWI again. After a year on work release, he was arrested again for DWI while on a snowmobile. Later, he was arrested in Ohio for DWI again.
He eventually received help. "I've been sober now for six years. I'm clean and sober," he said.
He said he lost a job, his wife and children during his pre-sobriety years. Now, at age 38, his life is looking better but he still fights the craving for "one more drink."
After a question and answer period, students were released to their classes. The panel discussion had different effects on different students. For some, it was just a reason to be released from class.
Barney Haney said, "It was all right. I don't know why they do it around prom time. We got out of class anyway."
Alyssa VanCleave said, "I thought it was interesting. I think it made people not to want to do that and it could happen to anyone."
For one student, the panel discussion didn't offer anything new, he said.
"This stuff kind of gets old because we hear it all the time. We always hear the same stuff over and over again," said Kyle Perkins.
After the panel discussion, a few students stayed back to ask other questions of the panel members. Waggoner said, "That's always a good sign, when they stop by and talk."
A similar panel discussion will be held Thursday at Warsaw Community High School. Whitko High School hosted a presentation April 23. [[In-content Ad]]
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Alcohol-related fatalities are a leading cause of death among teen-agers.
To try to lower the number of accidental deaths, the Kosciusko County Local Coordinating Council of the Governor's Commission for a Drug-Free Indiana is sponsoring an interactive panel presentation at area high schools.
Tuesday, an hour-long presentation was given to Tippecanoe Valley High School juniors and seniors.
Panel members included Warsaw Police Officer Scott Whitaker, Rochester attorney Ted Waggoner, Rochester Farm Bureau Insurance agent Jerry L. Leavell, Kosciusko County Prosecutor Charles Waggoner, and Tim, a recovering alcoholic.
Whitaker, WPD patrolman for the last two years, told the students how an officer performs a drunk driving traffic stop. He said he looks for clues even before the actual stop is made, such as a car swerving on the road. Once he stops a car, he said, he observes whether the person fumbles for their identification, he looks at their eyes and listens to their speech. If the speech is mumbled or slurred, it may lead him to suspect the driver is intoxicated.
Ted Waggoner described the cost s and legal ramifications involved in a "driving while intoxicated" arrest.
The first expense is the $450 cash bond necessary to be released from jail. Other offenses include car towing, bonding and legal defense.
"That may take $1,000, give or take," he said.
Previously, he said, penalties for drunk driving were mild. But now, he said, penalties are harsher.
"It doesn't matter who you are, who your parents are, it's not a break you get anymore," he said.
Financial responsibility and car insurance were discussed by Leavell.
"Everybody in the state of Indiana is supposed to have insurance if you have a vehicle and are driving on the public right of way," Leavell said.
After a DWI, the insurance on a 17-year-old male who drives a 1996 Ford Mustang will go from $970 every six months to $3,200 every six months.
He said after someone loses their automobile insurance due to DWI, "it's real difficult to get insurance back."
Waggoner, who was a police officer and a judge, told the students that as a judge, "the first thing I do is read (the officer's) paperwork and determine if there was probable cause. If there was, say good-bye to your driver's license because I will mail it to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles."
He said a 17-year-old who is found guilty of DWI will go to jail and it will be on their permanent driver's record.
"It is usable by the prosecutors for the next 10 years if you are ever charged with DWI again," Waggoner said.
Tim, a lifelong Warsaw resident, said he grew up in a Christian home with loving parents but he began drinking at age 17 when an older man offered him wine. He drank the entire bottle.
"I got this real warm feeling in my stomach and I knew this was great," he said. Looking back, he said he knew that was the moment he became an alcoholic.
In 1981, he was charged with his first driving under the influence. A month later, he received his second. In 1988, he was arrested for possession of marijuana and was sent to the Indiana Department of Corrections for almost two years.
"It wasn't my dream in high school to be an alcoholic or be a drug addict," he said.
The same day he was released from IDOC, he was arrested for DWI again. After a year on work release, he was arrested again for DWI while on a snowmobile. Later, he was arrested in Ohio for DWI again.
He eventually received help. "I've been sober now for six years. I'm clean and sober," he said.
He said he lost a job, his wife and children during his pre-sobriety years. Now, at age 38, his life is looking better but he still fights the craving for "one more drink."
After a question and answer period, students were released to their classes. The panel discussion had different effects on different students. For some, it was just a reason to be released from class.
Barney Haney said, "It was all right. I don't know why they do it around prom time. We got out of class anyway."
Alyssa VanCleave said, "I thought it was interesting. I think it made people not to want to do that and it could happen to anyone."
For one student, the panel discussion didn't offer anything new, he said.
"This stuff kind of gets old because we hear it all the time. We always hear the same stuff over and over again," said Kyle Perkins.
After the panel discussion, a few students stayed back to ask other questions of the panel members. Waggoner said, "That's always a good sign, when they stop by and talk."
A similar panel discussion will be held Thursday at Warsaw Community High School. Whitko High School hosted a presentation April 23. [[In-content Ad]]