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Officers on the lookout for the many drinkers who drive.

Article Excerpt
Byline: Mark Baker The Register-Guard

They're out there. And officer Pat Willis knows it.

But for every drunken driver Willis - a member of the Eugene Police Department's DUII Patrol on Friday and Saturday nights - catches, another 74 get away with it, according to national estimates.

Still, if you're out drinking and driving tonight, you had better be careful. Because officers such as Willis will look for any reason to pull you over.

It's called a DUII - Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, and despite statistics showing Oregonians drink and drive less than they did 20 years ago, it's still a major problem, according to police, courts and those who work to keep drunken drivers off the streets.

The numbers prove it.

On average, about 2,500 to 2,600 people are arrested for driving under the influence in Lane County each year, whether it's alcohol or drugs, but the vast majority have had too much to drink. That's more than 200 a month, and you can find them packed into Harris Hall 12 times a year at the Lane County Courthouse, where DUII offenders have been attending court-ordered Victim Impact Panel sessions since 1990.

During the sessions, offenders listen to those who have lost loved ones to drunken drivers, those who have almost killed themselves driving drunk, and those who have killed someone else. Offenders sit and listen to the emotional stories for a few hours, on top of having their driver's license suspended, being fined, and being ordered to enter alcohol and drug rehabilitation or classes.

Hopefully, the powerful message gets through. But not always. Many are repeat offenders.

"Anyone who drinks can get a...

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