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Police Beat: Second area driver in a week charged under Leandra's Law

By Howard B. Owens

Michelle M. Kasper, 20, of 4591 Kams Road, Albion, is charged with DWI (as a felony under Leandra's Law), endangering the welfare of a child (three counts), and unlawful possession of marijuana. Kasper was stopped on Judge Road in Alabama by Deputy Tim Wescott at 9:30 p.m. yesterday who responded to a report of a car off the roadway. This is the second arrest of a WNY resident in the past week under terms of the recently enacted Leandra's Law.

Honour Haley Myers, 21, of 6392 Hamm Road, Lockport, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Myers was arrested following the investigation of a reported domestic incident in Stafford.

Doug Yeomans

I don't understand how people aren't getting the message "Don't drink and drive." I've said it before, laws don't prevent anyone from doing anything but I still hold out hope that repeated exposure to drunk driving warnings "would" prevent people from drinking and driving.

What's really bothering me is that the first person arrested under Leandra's law was from right here and the 2nd person was busted in Genesee county.

Could someone buy a few lottery tickets on behalf of the county? Maybe with this kind of luck the county could hit the lottery and have some extra cash available for where we're short.

Dec 30, 2009, 1:16pm Permalink
Laura Russell Ricci

Doug, I totally agree with you! I think the problem is that people think that most drunk drivers are sloppy, barely can see out their eyes drunk. For most people after one or two drinks (depending on gender and weight)they are at the legal limit and don't "feel" drunk. The other problem is asking someone who's inhibitions are affected to make a choice.

I am incharge of the DWI Victim Impact Panel that has, on average 30 people from the area who have been charged with DWI or DWAI. To hear month after month stories from people who have been affected by drinking and driving (some have lost children or they themselves have been injured)is heart wrenching to me. It's such an easy decision to not drive under the influence. The number of people it could ultimate affect is immeasurable. I certainly am not saying people can't drink. Just don't get behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Dec 30, 2009, 1:46pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Laura, I know people who have had a DUI as far back as 25 years ago. Just about every one of them are as you described. They'd gone to dinner or some social event, had a couple drinks or glasses of wine and felt fine. When they were pulled over the officer could smell the alcohol so out came the sobriety test.

That's all it takes. It cost every one of them in excess of $5K for a lawyer and fines, not to mention the insurance premium increases and arrest record.

BTW, most people don't know this but if you have a misdemeanor DUI or DWAI in the United States, you will be turned back at the Canadian border if you try to travel or do any visiting there. Every drunk driving conviction is considered a felony in Canada and they won't let you in.

This site has a body weight to drinks per hour chart and a DUI calculator. the best rule of thumb, if you've had one drink, don't drive.

http://dui.drivinglaws.org/drink-table.php

Dec 30, 2009, 2:33pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

David Markham posted this on the GCASA Cares blog last week or so:

quote:
The number of DWI fatalities in 1982 = 21,113

The number of DWI fatalities in 2008 = 11,773

Who says prevention doesn't work?

44% positive change in 26 years. Tens of thousands of lives saved.
/quote

Dec 30, 2009, 3:05pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Howard, That doesn't tell me there are less drunk drivers on the road, though. Automobile technology has drastically improved. I think this is more of a testament to crash design improvements than it really is on the number of drunk drivers. I hear about far more arrests now than I did in the early 80's. There are far more cars and drivers on the road now than in 1982 and overall, driver fatalities per thousand drivers are way down.

Dec 31, 2009, 2:45pm Permalink

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