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Project
Characteristics |
Underage
Drinking, Education, Enforcement, and
Deterrence
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Program
Areas |
| Alcohol
and Other Drugs |
Type
of Jurisdiction |
| Rural |
Targeted
Population |
| Underage
Drinkers |
Jurisdiction
Size |
| 171,380 |
Funding |
| Section
154: $64,641 |
Contact |
Tempe Humphrey
MO Div. of Hwy Safety
P.O. Box 104808
Jefferson City, MO 65110
(800) 800-2358
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Digest
Listing
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MISSOURI
Jefferson County
Sheriff's Department Underage Drinking Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force
PDF
Version
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
According
to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Statistical Analysis Center,
there were 8,417 drinking-related crashes in the State of Missouri during
2000. Of those crashes, 1,178 involved drivers who were under the legal
drinking age of 21. Of the total number of traffic crashes in Missouri
during 2000, 31.6 percent involved a young driver. Of all fatal traffic
crashes, 25.8 percent involved a young driver. In 14.6 percent of the
fatal crashes, the young driver's drinking condition contributed to
the cause of the crash. In Missouri, 311 people were killed and 25,313
were injured in traffic crashes involving young drivers.
Jefferson County ranks fifth
in traffic crashes involving young drinking drivers. From 1997 through
1999 there were 101 young drivers involved in alcohol-related traffic
crashes within Jefferson County. From January through May, 2000 there
were 14 persons under the age of 21 who were arrested for Driving While
Intoxicated (DWI). The Sheriff's Department is
the primary law enforcement agency within the county that is responsible for
nearly 90 percent of all juvenile enforcement and deterrence campaigns to curb
the problems associated with underage drinking.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Jefferson County Underage Drinking
Task Force's goal is to deter persons under 21 years old from consuming alcohol
through a combination of education and enforcement.
The project objectives are to:
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department implemented the
following strategies and related activities to achieve its goals and
objectives:
-
Created a multi-jurisdictional task force to combat
underage drinking. This task force meets between two to four times per month to
enforce violations associated with underage drinking. Agencies within Jefferson
County joined the efforts of the Sheriff's Department with local law
enforcement, Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri Division of Liquor
Control. Supporting agencies were the Jefferson County Health Department,
Jefferson County Juvenile Courts, and the St. Louis County Division of Youth
Services. -
Provided
training and education to students, parents, and sales clerks on the hazards
and liability of selling to minors. For example, the Task Force sent letters
about the dangers of underage drinking and Task Force enforcement efforts. -
Worked with the Division of Liquor and Tobacco Control to
provide training to liquor licensees within the county. -
Patrolled frequent hangouts such as parking lots, caves,
and roadways, where underage drinkers assemble. -
Dispatched plain clothes officers in unmarked vehicles to identify
underage drinkers and issue citations at the large parties and typical
gatherings that frequently occur on weekends and around the holidays. -
Used the controlled dispersal method to minimize the
potential for disaster when responding to large parties and to ensure party
attendees are provided a safe ride home.
RESULTS
Through a combination of education and enforcement of underage drinking laws, the
county's Underage
Drinking Task Force
achieved the following results:
-
Achieved a record high number of arrests and charges
for Minors in Possession (MIP) and DWI offenses involving underage persons. -
Reduced the size of large parties hosting 300-500
drinkers, allowing more effective controlled dispersal in which only sober
drivers operate vehicles while leaving. -
Increased enforcement activity by responding to a total
of 759 violations, including Minor DWI (21), Adult DWI (95), MIP (395), Open
Container (7), Zero Tolerance (7), Fake ID (7), Attempt to Purchase (10),
Selling/Supplying Intoxicating Liquor to Minors (10), Other Liquor Law
Violations (2), Drug Violations (126), and Other Violations (84). -
Increased response to "Service Calls" (122), including Vandalism (6), Loud Parties (53), Careless Driving
(35), and Disturbance (28). -
Became aware of prosecutor's lack of understanding of
the costs associated with underage drinking. The task force identified the need
for greater cooperation from prosecutors to make the enforcement effort even
more effective.
Fall
2003 complete Digest (PDF)
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