Video: Law Enforcement Trains To Stop Drunk Drivers

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Columbus, Miss. (WCBI) — Law enforcement from all over Mississippi came to the Hyatt Place in Columbus for DUI enforcement training.

Agencies in attendance included Columbus police department, Starkville police department, Webster County Sheriff’s Department, Choctaw County Sheriff’s Department, Mississippi State University police, and Mississippi Alcohol Beverage Control.

Officers and deputies trained on field sobriety tests, legal updates, and courtroom testimony practice.

“It’s all for the common goal of reducing fatalities and reducing serious injury traffic crashes…”, said Sherman police Chief Joel Spellins.

The training is free to all departments. The training is paid for by federal money through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Instructors said the training should be consistent with everyone law enforcement agency in the United States.

Training instructors also wanted to let drivers know that “buzzed” driving is the same as drunk driving.

Starkville police Officer Taylor Wells, who also served as a DUI Subject Matter Expert, says “the common misnomer is “I’m okay”, “I’ve got this” and it’s not the case.”

“Anytime anyone has had anything alcoholic to drink, be it at a bar or at home, or anything introduced to their body at that time, it leads to impairment…”, said Wells.

Spellins also explained that a driver can be charged with DUI even if their blood alcohol content is below the legal limit, or .08.

Spellins said a driver can be impaired even after 1-2 drinks, and that reaction times are reduced after any alcohol consumption.

Along with the course being a great networking event for different agencies, Wells said the training lets officers and deputies learn from each other and pick up “easier” or more effective protocol.

“I had a very dear friend of mine that I graduated high school with that actually perished because of DUI…”, said Wells, “….Unfortunately, he was the one who was DUI at the time, but I lost a dear friend.”

“…That drove me to strive to get those…impaired drivers off the road.”, Wells said.

The training course finishes on Thursday, and participants will have to test their knowledge on actual people who are under the influence.

Categories: Local News

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