Spring Break
The consequences of drinking, driving
By: Ian Friedman
Issue date: 9/26/08 Section: News
It is not uncommon for UA students go out to drink and have fun, but it seems that every time at least one student ends up in the back of a police car because he had a little too much fun.
In March 2008, Tony Hasan, a journalism junior, was that student.
Hasan said that what started out as fun led to poor judgment and eventually to his being pulled over and convicted of driving under the influence. He said he is now paying the consequences.
"I have to have an ignition interlock switch," Hasan said. "You blow on it to start your car. I am going to have that in my car for a year . . . it's $70 a month for a year."
Sergeant Juan Alvarez, University of Arizona Police Department's public information officer, said last year UAPD made 90 arrests for people driving under the influence. When added to the 3,377 DUI-related arrests the Tucson Police Department have made, it equals 3,467 DUI arrests in Tucson since 2007.
"It's going to be mandatory (jail) time for your first offense . . . also the use of the Interlock device is going to be instituted now," Alvarez said. "If you have that restriction on your license and you don't have (the interlock system) in your car, that is another violation that you're facing."
According to the State of Arizona statute, a person charged with DUI can face anywhere from one to 10 days in prison and will have to pay fines.
Hasan said it was the fines that really hit home.
"(It was) about $2,000 in fines plus about $350 for alcohol awareness class, plus my lawyer was about $1,500 . . . the total was probably close to $4,000. So the day in jail was really the least of my worries," Hasan said.
Eric Linderman, an undeclared sophomore, said that he received a DUI when crashed a golf cart in someone's back yard. He was 16.
"The police came and I had to do a field sobriety test. I failed that and once you fail, they're allowed to give you a Breathalyzer . . . I blew a 0.25. . . . (T)hey had to drive me 40 minutes down the road to a police station. By the time I got there I blew a 0.21." Linderman said.
In March 2008, Tony Hasan, a journalism junior, was that student.
Hasan said that what started out as fun led to poor judgment and eventually to his being pulled over and convicted of driving under the influence. He said he is now paying the consequences.
"I have to have an ignition interlock switch," Hasan said. "You blow on it to start your car. I am going to have that in my car for a year . . . it's $70 a month for a year."
Sergeant Juan Alvarez, University of Arizona Police Department's public information officer, said last year UAPD made 90 arrests for people driving under the influence. When added to the 3,377 DUI-related arrests the Tucson Police Department have made, it equals 3,467 DUI arrests in Tucson since 2007.
"It's going to be mandatory (jail) time for your first offense . . . also the use of the Interlock device is going to be instituted now," Alvarez said. "If you have that restriction on your license and you don't have (the interlock system) in your car, that is another violation that you're facing."
According to the State of Arizona statute, a person charged with DUI can face anywhere from one to 10 days in prison and will have to pay fines.
Hasan said it was the fines that really hit home.
"(It was) about $2,000 in fines plus about $350 for alcohol awareness class, plus my lawyer was about $1,500 . . . the total was probably close to $4,000. So the day in jail was really the least of my worries," Hasan said.
Eric Linderman, an undeclared sophomore, said that he received a DUI when crashed a golf cart in someone's back yard. He was 16.
"The police came and I had to do a field sobriety test. I failed that and once you fail, they're allowed to give you a Breathalyzer . . . I blew a 0.25. . . . (T)hey had to drive me 40 minutes down the road to a police station. By the time I got there I blew a 0.21." Linderman said.
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tom
posted 9/26/08 @ 11:59 PM PST
Did UAPD send you guys a press release or something? This is written horribly.
Though you do get points for finding some guy who drove a golf cart into a wall with a 0. (Continued…)
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