Bad judgment calls with alcohol can result in the suspension of a license, jail time, or loss of life. Students often put themselves and others at risk when they make a decision to drive under the influence.
According to Lieutenant Roy Guarino of University Police, students who drive while intoxicated have become a big concern. Police officers are more focused than ever on potential drunk drivers and getting them off the road.
As a highly trained expert in handling Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) incidents, Guarino knows exactly what signs to look for when spotting an intoxicated driver.
"We are trained to look for specific DWI clues, proven through the National Traffic Safety Council, who have investigated various incidents," Guarino said.
Ivette Villalobos, a junior communication major, believes that college students are at greater risk of getting in a vehicle while they or someone they are with is intoxicated, because they have a carefree attitude when they are drunk.
According to Guarino, police officers observe how the driver pulls the vehicle over and how they react when they are asked for their license and registration.
"Major signs we look for are whether the driver is in the flow of traffic, whether they are swerving, if they have wide radius turns, especially right hand turns, if their headlights are on, and if they stop during a green light," Guarino said.
Suspicious behaviors can extend beyond the obvious signs of reckless driving, according to Michael Kuper, a senior accounting major. Being overly cautious can also attract extra attention to a motorist.
"Driving too slow, driving too fast, jerky driving...these are all suspicious behaviors," Kuper said. "You see a street sign that says [speed limit] 30 miles per hour, and you're going 25 miles per hour...that is suspicious."
When a driver is pulled over and suspected of driving under the influence, they may be asked a few general questions, even though they are not under arrest, Guarino said. When drivers are impaired by alcohol they lose their sense of time. This gives police officers probable cause to ask the driver to step out of the vehicle and put them through a sobriety test.
"College students just think nothing bad will happen or that they don't have to go far between North and South Campus. Also, when they are drunk, they are not thinking about getting arrested or spending a night in jail," Villalobos said.
Upon being pulled over, once probable cause has been substantiated, drivers are put through a standardized sobriety test, during which they are observed for staggering, balance and coordination, according to Guarino.
One of the most common tests used by police officers is the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, which tests for the unnatural jerking motion of the eyes, Guarino said.
"This test never fails. Even a professional drunk cannot fake their way through this one," Guarino said. "Another test is a divided attention test, where the driver is asked to estimate when they think 30 seconds has passed."
Amber Jones, a sophomore sociology major, has witnessed a sobriety test and advises that it is something students should avoid.
"I was in the car with my friend when he got pulled over for drunk driving, and had to watch him do different tests to see whether or not he was drunk," Jones said. "I got into the car thinking he was okay to drive, but after seeing him wobble, and not able to do what he was told, it scared me to know that I was actually in the car with him under those conditions."
Those who choose to drive drunk may estimate how little it takes for the situation to turn into tragedy.
"You're not in the right state of mind. Your balance and time response may be off [aside from] having a severe lack of judgment," Kuper said. "It only takes a second for an accident to happen. You run the chance of doing something you will seriously regret, including killing someone."
Whether or not a driver is arrested is determined by the police officer. In some cases, the best course of action to take is to make sure the driver has an alternative way home. Those put under arrest are handcuffed, and by law, are read their Refusal warning, Guarino said. Every DWI arrest also results in the involved vehicle being towed.
The Refusal warning states the consequences to the person being arrested in the case that they refuse a test to determine their blood alcohol content, Guarino said. New York State law states that if arrested for a DWI, the person must submit to a chemical test of blood to show the blood alcohol level. If the test is refused their license will be suspended or revoked.
"Students can be subjected to a sobriety test at any DWI checkpoint without probable cause, and if they refuse then they're ticketed," Guarino said. "It's important to be aware that if you have any previous DWI charges, when arrested for a second time you can be charged with a felony."
Students like Karen Hutzler, a senior psychology major, have always believed that there is no price on safety.
"I would rather pay $50 [on a cab] if I have to, than get in the car with someone who is drunk, or drive drunk myself. Not only are the consequences and potential risks very heavy, but also the costs can be much higher," Hutzler said. "I have no problem paying an average of $10 a night to get home from the bar, instead of possibly paying a high fine, risking my license and possibly being arrested."
Guarino suggests that students plan ahead to avoid worrying about any risks in the long run.
"The time to make a decision on how you are getting home is not when you are already intoxicated," Guarino said. "If students plan to have a designated driver it should be just that, meaning having nothing to drink at all. Most bars in Erie County give soda and water for free to designated drivers."
Additional Reporting by Evan Holt, Arts & Life Editor
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
