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News
Release — June 2, 2000 |
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| For
Immediate Release |
| June
2, 2000 |
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| Contact:
Patti Yanochko, (619) 474-8844, ext.# 29 |
| Sgt.
Kevin Minkle, (619)-401-2000 |
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EAST
COUNTY FIGHTS BACK AGAINST |
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UNDERAGE
DRINKING AND DRIVING |
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CHP
Increases Law Enforcement Weekend Before Graduation |
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Civic
leaders and law enforcement from San Diego County’s East rural
communities are laying down the law to address the astonishingly
high rates of underage drinking and driving in the area.
The California Highway Patrol will be out in full force in
San Diego’s backcountry communities just in time for the Mt.
Empire High School graduation, June 14.
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“We
will be watching,” said Sgt. Kevin Minkle. On June 9, additional
CHP units will be conducting Strike Force DUI Patrols, monitoring
for impaired and intoxicated drivers. “We know people will be
drinking and driving and we will be there to arrest them.” During
DUI patrols, officers monitor area roads and highways looking
specifically for impaired and intoxicated drivers.
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High
School graduation tends to bring increased teen partying and with
it, high rates of underage drinking and driving and other
alcohol-related problems. CHP will be all over rural East County looking for people,
especially those under 21, driving under the influence and enforcing
California’s Zero Tolerance law.
That law forbids anyone under the age of 21 from driving a
motor vehicle with any measurable amount of alcohol in their
system. Those caught drinking and driving will be cited and have
their licenses suspended for one year
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“We
intend to make a big impact on DUI-related incidents,” added
Minkle.
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Underage
drinking is a big problem all over San Diego County. In the East
rural communities, evidence shows that many youth start consuming
alcohol as early as elementary school.
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Also,
75% of high school seniors surveyed said they had drank alcohol in
the 30 days prior to the survey, an astonishing figure when compared
to 47.1% in San Diego and 51.6% nationwide.
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The
problem of underage drinking and driving in East County rural areas,
like other rural communities, is heightened by limited law
enforcement resources and easy access to alcohol. The narrow and
windy roads in the area increase the danger.
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The
same survey revealed that students get alcohol from their friends,
their neighbors, strangers and even their own parents. While most
students (74%) consume alcohol at parties where no adults are
present, 46% of seniors said they drink at gatherings attended by
parents and 16% stated that their parents buy alcohol for them.
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“Youth
drinking is in part the outcome of the lack of other, positive
activities available to youth, limited law enforcement and youth’s
easy access to alcohol,” said Jim Cox, principal of Mountain
Empire Jr./Sr. High School, adding that the underage drinking
problem in San Diego County’s east rural communities is no
different than that faced by rural communities in other areas of the
county.
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Cox
is spearheading the effort to reduce underage drinking problems at
the area’s only Jr./Sr. high school.
“We need to change our thinking and take action to protect
our young people from the dangers of drinking and driving,” urged
Cox.
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These
Strike Force DUI patrols are the first step in a region-wide quest
by CHP, Sheriff’s deputies and community leaders to step up
enforcement of DUI, zero tolerance and other laws preventing youth
access to alcohol.
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“We
applaud the efforts of the CHP,” said Barbara Moore, Program
Director for Mountain Health Center, the rural East County’s only
local health center, “Their increased presence will really make a
difference.
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The
main purpose of the DUI patrols is not to arrest impaired drivers
but to put the public on notice that law enforcement is watching.
The more people think they will be caught; the less likely it is
they will drink and drive.
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| Sgt.
Kevin Minkle, (619) 401-2000 |
| El
Cajon CHP |
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| Jim
Cox, (619) 473-8601 |
| Principal
of Mountain Empire Jr./Sr. High School |
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| Judi
Isbell, (619) 478-5254 |
| Executive
Director of the Mountain Health Center in Campo |
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| Barbara
Moore, (619) 478-5254 |
| Program
Director of the Mountain Health Center in Campo |
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