Meeting set in Helena to highlight need to increase DUI-prevention efforts

Press release

Montanans who want to reduce drunk and drugged driving are invited to rally together Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 11 a.m. at the steps of the state Capitol building in Helena to highlight Montana’s worst-in-the-nation record for DUI’s and offer suggestions to help solve this problem.

Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney and Attorney General Tom Fox will speak and offer their support and ideas. Members of three DUI Task Forces from Great Falls, Billings, and Missoula will also present five recommendations to reduce DUIs, including more effective penalties for first-time offenders; reducing the current 46 percent of DUI suspects who refuse to take a breathalyzer test and clog the court system; funding well-publicized DUI checkpoints; collecting court DUI statistics to help identify judges, police, and prosecuting attorneys inadequately dealing with DUIs; and increasing the beer tax to a nickel a can to help fund DUI prevention education for schools, DUI law enforcement, courts dealing with DUIs, and monitoring, counseling and treatment for DUI offenders.

Results from a recent DUI survey of nearly 200 professionals will also be shared.

For more information please contact Ron Yates at 406-781-5223.