Getting to the bottom of Drunken Driving Bartender: Let's put tax dollars to use punishing drunken drivers

By Jonell Smith
For the Journal and Courier - 10/21/99

I would like to make a few observations on the piece featured in your paper Oct. 10-11 on drunken driving. I agree 100 percent that something needs to be done to curb drunken driving. I believe the Towery family's list of 11 changes in laws on drunken driving are all great ideas. However, I find it disturbing that the only legislation proposed by Sen. Ronnie Alting, R-Lafayette, was aimed at bartenders and not punishing drunken drivers more.

As a bartender, I agree wholeheartedly that we need better training and knowledge of existing liquor laws. However, we need to enforce more punishment for the drunken drivers in addition to enforcing more restrictions and punishments on the server. I believe I do a very good job of doing what is in my power to make sure my customers are not intoxicated if they are driving. I call cabs and even arrange rides for my customers who are intoxicated.

But when I cut a person off and offer them a ride, that is when the defensiveness begins, as well as the assurances that they have a ride. A customer can lie and walk out of my bar with a friend, insisting they have a ride home. Yet, each could proceed to their own vehicle and drive off. If I thought that customer was riding, but yet drove home and killed someone on the way, why am I the only person who would suffer more consequences under the proposals Alting has selectively drafted as bills?

The Towerys' proposed laws would hold the bar patrons as well as the server accountable. The use of ignition interlock devices and impounding offenders' vehicles while their licenses are revoked would work more toward a joint liability. I have a feeling the real reason these other ideas are not used more is they are not cost effective. Yes, it would cost more to use the ignition locks and to hire more probation officers and court personnel. Yet, I believe any taxpayer would offer the money for the assurance a drunken driver would not kill them or their family.

We need to harshly punish drunken drivers and make sure the punishment is quick and enforced. It is time that our representatives take real steps in changing the laws governing drunken drivers and not focus solely on the easiest target - the servers. We need to make sure that drunken drivers cannot leave a bar or their own home when they are drunk. When working together, professional servers and law enforcement can decrease the number of drunken drivers. We only need the laws in place that will enable everyone to stop drunken drivers.

I find it unfortunate that instead of emphasizing all 11 of these great proposals, Alting is focusing only on training of bartenders, revocation of licenses and making habitual substance abusers unable to receive licenses. These are important, but when implemented in conjunction with the remaining eight law changes, we could make a real change in the current problem of drunken drivers.

Smith is a Lafayette resident.