Spring Break
Police boost holiday security
Melissa Belongea
Fort Collins and Colorado State University police officers will be prepared and waiting to ticket people driving drunk. Both law enforcement groups will increase the number of officers patrolling the streets in order to catch drunk drivers.
Modern St. Patrick's Day celebrations are centered around heavy drinking. In terms of drunk driving, more DUI tickets are issued on the Irish holiday than on New Year's Eve or Fourth of July, said Christen Volesky of Fort Collins Police Services.
FCPD plans to apply additional pressure drinkers with their "Heat is On" campaign.
The campaign targets drivers under the influence of alcohol. Penalties for DUI arrests include a $300-$500 fine for the first offense, along with approximately $1,000 in alcohol classes, 24 hours of community service and probation, said Volesky.
One reason the police agencies are heightening street security is to prevent an accident like one in 1992. Three people were killed in a drunk driving accident on St. Patrick's Day at the corner of Shields and Centre streets. The driver, who was intoxicated over three times the legal limit, was a student of CSU, said Volesky.
The issue is not drinking, but driving drunk. "If you want to party that is fine, but just don't drive home afterwards," said Volesky.
When students were asked what their holiday plans are many said that they planned on being inebriated, but that they would not drive home drunk. "I am going to drink a lot of beer, strip off my clothes and paint myself green. Why drive home when you can run home naked?" said senior Sara Podolsky.
"House party ... it's easier to walk than to drive drunk," said sophomore Phoenix French. There are many alternatives to driving home after sipping on multiple glasses of green beer. Cabs are relatively inexpensive, but cabs are not very reliable because it is such a busy night, said James Weber of the University Center for Drug and Alcohol Awareness. A designated driver would be the best alternative, said Capt. Rob Chaffee of CSUPD.
The Fort Collins bus system runs until midnight. Biking is good for the moderate drinker, but be aware that police officers also issue BUI's –– biking under the influence.
There is of course the option of old-fashioned walking, which allows everyone to enjoy the holiday, safely.
