SIU police increase traffic enforcement

In an effort to combat drunken driving, the SIU Police Department will be conducting increased traffic patrols through Saturday. The increased enforcement period, which began March 21 and runs through Saturday, is the fourth period in a series of eight in which police will be looking for impaired drivers, seatbelt use and other traffic infractions. A fifth enforcement period will occur April 4 through April 17.

The project is a result of a $15,892 grant the department received from the Illinois Department of Transportation's Mini-Alcohol Enforcement Program. The grant pays for 336 additional patrol hours for one year. Director of SIUC Police Todd Sigler said the time frames for the project are designed to coincide with alcohol consumption statistics and usually occur during weekends, late nights and early mornings. Sigler said police patrols would be concentrated in areas that intersect with the campus, such as Wall Street, East Grand Avenue, Mill Street and U.S. Highway 51.

Although the grant is designed to deal with three specific issues - seatbelt and child restraints, speeding and driving under the influence - Sigler said all other infractions are applicable. "Anything that the officers observe while they're out there is subject to enforcement," Sigler said. "It's just that these three are the primary focus." The enforcement period also coincides with Alcohol Awareness Month, which runs through April.

According to the Illinois Drug Education Alliance, alcohol is the No. 1 drug used among young people, more than tobacco or marijuana. The alliance also states alcohol as a factor in the four leading causes of death among youth ages 15 through 24. The causes are motor vehicle crashes, unintentional injuries, homicide and suicide. Ken Culton, SIUC Wellness Center coordinator of Alcohol Drug Services, said Student Health Programs has a variety of programs planned for Alcohol Awareness Month, including Alcohol Assessment Day, which will take place April 7.

The purpose of Alcohol Assessment Day is to help educate students about alcohol abuse and determine if they have a problem with alcohol. Culton said key factors in determining alcohol abuse include increased consumption and behavior changes. However, Culton said it is important to make the distinction between binge drinking and alcohol abuse. Binge drinking formerly was defined as having more than five drinks in one sitting. It is now defined as heavy drinking that can or may have negative results.

Culton said people might engage in binge drinking without abusing or being dependent on alcohol. Culton, who is also a counselor at the Wellness Center, said while binge drinking is more prevalent among college students, binge drinking among SIU students is no worse than elsewhere.

"It is not unique to SIU, and it's not a bigger problem than it would be at the Ivy League, than it would be at the U of I," Culton said. "The trauma is the same here as it would be at any other school in the country. "It's a glass is half full, half empty thing. There are a number of students who are putting themselves at risk, and we are doing everything we can to diminish those numbers. It's there, it need to be addressed, but it's not the norm."

In a 2003 survey conducted by the SIU Core Institute, 49.7 percent of SIU students reported binge drinking, while 23.2 percent of students reported being heavy and frequent drinkers. In the same survey, 1.4 percent of students reported being arrested for driving under the influence. The Wellness Center offers counseling for students with alcohol and substance abuse problems. If counseling is not successful, students can be placed in medical-based treatment centers, for which SIU insurance may help pay in some cases.

Mike Stout, IDOT Director of the Division of Traffic Safety, said $6 million in alcohol grants are given to police agencies each year. Stout said the Mini-Alcohol Enforcement Program is the state's attempt to decrease alcohol-related accidents and increase seatbelt use. Stout said the program has had good results, with the percentage of motorists using seat belt restraints on the rise, but has not been as successful in decreasing impaired driving.

"[The numbers are] not as good as we would hope them to be because they're higher than the national average," Stout said. "But then again, we know our programs are working because more people are being arrested for DUIs, and we think if we didn't have these programs, the numbers would be even higher." In 2004, 44 percent of all fatalities in Illinois involved alcohol, a number that is higher than the national average, which was 35 percent in 2003, the latest available statistics. The Mini-Alcohol Enforcement Program has been in place for more than 13 years and provides funding for a 23 county area in Illinois, including Jackson and Williamson. The program is funded through the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.

The SIU Police Department is one of 29 police agencies and two universities across the state to receive the grant. This is the third consecutive year the department has received funding to help crack down on drunken driving. Sigler said in spite of the program, it is important for people to practice safe drinking practices.

"We like to reiterate that, while this is a program that is built on enforcement, we like people to remember to practice designated drivers and call for a cab," Sigler said. "The best thing to do is monitor your intake and don't exceed what would allow you safely to drive home. If you have any doubts or anything, then you need to call somebody."