THE DANGERS OF DRINKING AND DRIVING

Contrary to popular conception, the number of arrests for driving while intoxicated does not increase on New Year's Eve.

That is because most people are aware their chances of driving drunk and getting away with it on that particular evening are severely diminished and they have the foresight to plan ahead.

"Very seldom do we make more than two or three DWI arrests on New Year's Eve," said Cape Girardeau Police Sgt. Carl Kinnison. "There are some New Year's eves I can remember when we arrested no one for DWI."

People are aware law enforcement agencies are out in force that evening, and most people make arrangements beforehand for travel to and from parties. And a lot of establishments promote designated driver programs.

The effect of alcohol consumption varies from person to person and is dependent on a number of factors, including the amount and rate of alcohol consumed and weight of the drinker, but a number of other factors also play a role.

"You ... hear people, especially large men, say that because of their size, they can drink more. That's not necessarily true" said Pat Drennen, director of prevention and treatment services for the Missouri Department of Mental Health's Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

"A person's metabolism, the amount of rest they have had, what they've eaten recently -- all play a part in how fast a person becomes intoxicated," he said, adding: "Given the right circumstances, you can be too impaired to drive after just one drink."

Police use breath-alcohol content readings to help determine a driver's level of intoxication. A breath-alcohol content reading of .10 legally intoxicated in Missouri.

However, a person with a BAC reading of less than .10 can still be charged with DWI.

"BAC level simply means a person is assumed to be intoxicated," Kinnison said.

Officers look for numerous signs of erratic driving when pulling over a suspect. Driving too slow, stopping at green lights, failure to dim brights, wide turns, weaving, crossing the center line and anything else out of the ordinary are considered probable cause to pull someone over.

Kinnison said officers look for a driver to do one of those things several times or several of those things once in deciding to make a stop.

If after talking to the driver, the officer feels he or she may be intoxicated, the driver will be asked to submit to a field sobriety test. If the driver fails, he or she will be taken to the station to take the Breathalyzer.

Kinnison said that if the reading is less than .10 but there is other evidence such as erratic driving and a failure of the field sobriety test, the person may still be charged.

Even low levels of alcohol can affect the ability to drive. Kinnison said visual acuity is affected as low as .02 BAC and motor skills at as low as .03.

"The ability to do things, even under the influence of just one or two drinks, is less than when you are 100 percent sober," Kinnison said.

Kinnison admits that some people can handle their drinking better than others. However, their ability to operate a motor vehicle is still affected.

"People who drink every day learn to compensate for the alcohol, but that does not mean they are not impaired," Kinnison said.

In Cape Girardeau, police don't even need to wait until they get back to the station to give drivers a BAC test. Many officers currently carry portable units so officers can take a reading on the spot. Kinnison said the portable units are just as accurate as the department's primary BAC device.

However, a second reading is still taken at the station. Kinnison said that is to ensure that at least 15 minutes have passed and that the suspect did not have anything is his or her mouth during that time which might have affected the reading.