Watauga Law Enforcement

Appreciation Luncheon

Watauga County is ranked in the top 18 Counties in North Carolina

for Alcohol Related Motor Vehicle Crashes

All Alcohol-Related Crashes/Fatalities, North

Carolina 2002–2006

Source: Graham, Phillip; Carol Council; Michael Bradshaw, and Claudia Squire (2007). Community Needs Assessment

Workbook. Prepared by RTI institute for the NC SPF-SIG Initiative to combat Alcohol Related Crashes.

Year

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Number of alcohol related crashes1 85 90 84 72 73

Number of DWI cases2,3 476 488 417 526 N/A

1Alcohol-related crashes/fatalities represent a subset of DWI arrests2Total number of court-disposed DWI cases3DWI cases under represent the total number of people charged with drinking and driving

Locations of DWI Cases In Watauga

Source: Graham, Phillip; Carol Council; Michael Bradshaw, and Claudia Squire (2007). Community Needs Assessment Workbook. Prepared by RTI institute for the NC SPF-SIG Initiative to combat Alcohol Related Crashes.

Problem Areas that Impact Drinking and Driving

Identified Problem Areas in Watauga

When conducting a needs assessment in Watauga County with regard to drinking and driving,the following problems areas were identified and prioritized:

1.Low Perceived Risk2.Social Availability 3.Social Norms

Problem Area #1 Low Perceived Risk

1. Low perceived risk of legal consequences if caught Drinking and Driving

*Many held the belief that the law enforcement and adjudication resources in Watauga County were insufficient to fully enforce alcohol-related laws especially in the context of large groups of people.

2. Low perceived risk of alcohol use *Many people denied the physical implications of

alcohol misuse

Problem Area #2 Social Availability

1. Availability of alcohol at unsupervised locations *College student apartments and private residences with minimal parent supervision are a frequent venue for access to alcohol for legal and non-legal

age college students and high school students.

2. Lack of alternative non-alcohol-related social options *Particularly non-alcohol late night activities, may also contribute to high

levels of social alcohol availability.

3. Reinforcement of alcohol use among parents and peers *Some parents of minor children knowingly serve alcohol to their

teenage children and other teenagers in an effort to provide a relatively safe drinking environment.

Problem Area #3 Social Norms

1. Social acceptance and encouragement *In homes where multigenerational use was reported, the perception was that it was typical and tacitly endorsed.

2. Some argue that alcohol consumption is a right of passage*Among high school and college and students, alcohol use, including heavy

episodic use, was perceived as common and often as part of an expected and touted ritual.

3. Availability of alcohol in homes and at parties*Alcohol is readily available in the Watauga County community as part

of regular social activities and events.

4. Public acknowledgement versus private use of alcohol*Differences between public and private behavior may limit the

discussion and/or acknowledgement of alcohol-related problems.

Watauga Male Drivers

Source: Graham, Phillip; Carol Council; Michael Bradshaw, and Claudia Squire (2007). Community Needs Assessment Workbook. Prepared by RTI institute for the NC SPF-SIG Initiative to combat Alcohol Related Crashes.

Watauga Female Drivers

Source: Graham, Phillip; Carol Council; Michael Bradshaw, and Claudia Squire (2007). Community Needs Assessment Workbook. Prepared by RTI institute for the NC SPF-SIG Initiative to combat Alcohol Related Crashes.

Underage Drinking in our Community

2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: Watauga High School

60% of students report ever having consumed alcohol (875 students)

42% of students report having consumed alcohol in the past 30 days

(612 students)

28% of students report binge drinking in the past 30 days (408 students)

*Binge drinking: more than 5 drinks in a row over a 2 hour period

Drinking and Driving: Youth Dangers

2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: Watauga High School

Riding with an Impaired Driver

In the past 30 days, 22% (320 students) of WHS students report having ridden in a car being driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol.

Underage Drinking and Driving

In the past 30 days, 20% (68 students) of WHS seniors report driving after consuming alcohol.  

Watauga County Law Enforcement Officers greatly impact our ability to reduce the number of Alcohol Related Crashes!

Been Drinking? PARC it!Thanks to our

Law Enforcement Officers there are over 180 Checkpoints in Watauga County every year!

Checkpoints and the BAT Mobile

DWI Checkpoints

Many different Law Enforcement Offices work together to conduct checkpoints

SADD students from Watauga High School and members of the local MADD chapter help out at DWI Checkpoints.

Law Enforcement participates in

prevention at ASU

Conduct DWI and Alcohol Awareness Programs in the dorms

Conduct a “beer goggles” program to aid in showing how fine motor skills are decreased when alcohol impaired

Sponsor education and awareness programs using the DWI BAT Mobile

(BAT: Breath Alcohol Testing)

Law Enforcement in the community: • Work hard to enhance training and educate the public

• Provide DWI arrests when necessary to keep our roads safe

• Spend time in court to assist in the adjudication process

• Work closely with neighboring jurisdictions to make it apparent to the travelling public that they are not safe to drive unsafely on any roads in the area

How Can the Community Help? Express your appreciation to Law Enforcement

Officers for the work they do Write a letter to the newspaper editors to express

your appreciation Volunteer to provide food and drinks for officers

during a DWI checkpoint If you have an event with alcohol, implement

strategies to prevent guests from driving impaired

Do not allow friends or family members to drive under the influence

Join MADD

Thank you for all you do to reduce drinking and driving

in our community!ALE Officer -- ASU Police Department -- Beech Mountain Police Department -- Blowing Rock Police Department -- Blue Ridge Parkway Rangers -- Boone Police Department -- Highway Patrol -- Seven Devils Police Department -- State Park Rangers-- Watauga County Sheriff’s Department