Local leaders speak out against drunk driving
Local law enforcement and elected leaders gathered to reaffirm their commitment to combat drunk driving in Western North Carolina.
Kyle Perrotti photo
Law enforcement leaders and elected officials from across Western North Carolina gathered the day before Thanksgiving to remind people about the dangers of consuming alcohol and getting behind the wheel while also reaffirming their commitment to combatting drunk driving.
The event took place in Haywood County on what has become known as “Blackout Wednesday,” the day before Thanksgiving when old friends and family return to town and enjoy each other’s company, often with plenty of booze flowing.
In addition, that night at 6 p.m., officers around the region gathered at spots in their jurisdictions where someone had died or been seriously injured in a collision involving a vehicle driven by someone under the influence of alcohol or traveling far too fast. Many of the officers were the ones on duty the night that person lost their life. Officers ran their blue lights at those spots for 10 minutes.
Several people spoke from atop the county historic courthouse’s steps Wednesday afternoon. First up was WNC DWI Taskforce Director Ellen Pitt, who has spearheaded the issue regionally for over two decades now. Pitt spoke about the documented increase of alcohol sales in bars and ABC stores across the state the day before Thanksgiving and offered a warning to any would-be drunk drivers out there.
“If you choose to engage in selfish, reckless conduct that destroys someone else’s family in Western North Carolina, you’re going to run into a solid wall of trouble,” she said. “You’ll have trouble with law enforcement, trouble with the courts, trouble with your mama, trouble with the bank, big trouble with the car insurance. Thousands of dollars worth of trouble. Stay sober or plan ahead.”
Next up was Madison County Manager Rod Honeycutt, who talked briefly about what’s been accomplished at the state level, some of which was spurred on by or at least lobbied for by the taskforce. He also talked about legislation going forward, including the continued efforts by the taskforce to pass the Sober Operator Act, which would lower the legal limit while operating a vehicle to .05. That bill, introduced by Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain) has thus far failed, but the group has vowed to keep pushing it.
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The Sober Operator Act also included two new elements not before seen that are tangentially related to the issue. One would require for District Court sessions, where many DWI cases are heard, to be recorded as Superior Court currently is. The other would create an easily accessible database where members of the public could see stats related to DWI charges and convictions, as well as other relevant case information like reasons for dismissals or suppression of evidence.
Law enforcement and local tow truck drivers gathers at the site in Haywood County where Joshua Tratham had his life taken by a drunk driver. Donated photo
“We have renewed our fight with House Bill 108,” Honeycutt said. “It’s a comprehensive DWI bill recommending that legislators follow Utah law and reduce the limit to .05.”
Rondell Lance of the Asheville Fraternal Order of Police lamented how much scrutiny officers are under to follow procedure when conducting field sobriety tests and prosecuting subsequent cases, from the moment they pull a vehicle over to when they take the stand and testify under oath in front of a judge or jury. From procedure on the roadside to using the right terminology in court, everything must be squared away.
“It does not cause them to hesitate when making an arrest. Even though they’re under such scrutiny on such a case, they’re out there willing to do it, and that’s why we support them 100%” Lance said. “We thank them for what they do and do it out of respect. So I ask that if you’re hearing this, out of respect to the victims, out of respect to your community, please don’t drink and drive, because if you do, I guarantee you these officers will not hesitate to do their job and face all that scrutiny just to make an arrest to keep our streets safe.”
District Attorney Ashley Welch kept her speech brief and to the point.
“I’m here today first to say that my office has and always has had a zero tolerance for driving while impaired cases,” Welch said. “We are blessed in the in this part of the state to have some of the best law enforcement and best trained law enforcement in this state. If you drive impaired during this holiday season, the likelihood that they catch you is incredibly high, and if they catch you, we will prosecute you. Please, everyone. Have a safe and healthy and happy holiday season. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and please do not drive while impaired. There are plenty of ways to get rides. If you get somewhere and you choose to drink, do not drive next.”
