DUIs can be costly; Airmen urged to drink responsibly

Published July 6, 2007
By Corey Dahl
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- When it comes to drunk driving, Staff Sgt. Julie Boyatt likes to remind Airmen of their options.

They can pay about $20 for a cab ride home, she tells them, or they can get behind the wheel and pay thousands of dollars for a ride to jail.

"A DUI can cost about $10,000," said Sergeant Boyatt, a member of the 21st Security Forces Squadron who often briefs incoming Airmen about safety. "I tell Airmen, if they can put that in perspective, they can save, not only a lot of money, but their career, a lot of hassle, whatever."

Yet many still aren't listening. In 2006, 15 people were caught driving under the influence on base. In the city of Colorado Springs, more than 2,300 people were pulled over for DUIs in 2006.

As the weather warms up and people break out the beer for barbecues, Peterson officials remind Airmen to drink responsibly as part of the 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign.

"DUI rates tend to get higher because it's warmer, people are out more, they're drinking more," Sergeant Boyatt said. "But even one drink can impair your ability to drive, to mow the lawn, to do a lot of things without getting hurt."

And the punishment can be steep. People caught driving under the influence on Peterson will have their base driving privileges revoked for at least a year, Sergeant Boyatt said. Servicemembers are turned over to their supervisor for additional punishment, which can range from extra duty to loss of rank, and civilians will have to face Colorado Springs Police, who can be equally harsh.

City punishment for a first-time DUI can involve suspension of a driver's license for at least 90 days and fines of about $1,500. Offenders must also perform community service, attend 12 alcoholism evaluation classes and pay higher insurance rates. They are also subject to random urine tests for the next year.

To avoid all the hassle, the Air Force's Culture of Responsible Choices, or CORC, program promotes the 0-0-1-3 motto. The numbers represent a goal of zero DUIs, zero underage drinking, one drink per hour and a limit of three drinks per event.

"Some people might have different definitions of what responsible drinking involves, so the 0-0-1-3 just gives us a baseline to monitor our own behavior from," said Jeanine Arnold, CORC coordinator for Peterson. "We're not talking prohibition here. We're saying you can have a few drinks, but just do it in a responsible way."
Other tips for responsible drinking include:

- Use the wingman system. Bring a buddy with you when you're drinking, who can act as your designated driver.

- If you're having a party where guests will be drinking heavily, take everybody's keys at the door.

- Airmen who have had too much to drink can call 55-NO-DUI between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. Fridays, Saturdays and holidays to get a free ride home, no questions asked.

- Look for non-alcohol related activities, such as going to the movies or bowling, instead of hitting bars and clubs every night.

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