Cases of driving under the influence (DUI) are down on campus according to Officer Mike Orr of ETSU Public Safety.
Orr said that there are less DUIs on campus than in past years. There have been 11 this year since January. From January 2001 to January 2002, there were 22 cases of DUIs on campus.
Of these 11 DUI cases, only three of those arrested were students at ETSU. The rest were either visitors to the campus or people who are simply driving through the campus.
Orr said that strict enforcement of DUI laws on campus have led to the decline in incidents.
“They know that if you come on to campus, and you are drunk, you’re going to jail,” he said.
Orr said that of the 11 cases this year, three of the people apprehended were under the age of 21.
Normally, people are not pulled over for suspicion of being intoxicated.
“Most of the time, it’s something else that we pull them over for,” Orr said.
The car in question may be pulled over for running a stop sign, driving left of center or the most common offense – speeding.
Orr said that although the driver is not stopped for DUI, it becomes evident that the person has been drinking either by their behavior or because they smell of alcohol.
The person is then subjected to a series of standardized tests. They must perform a walk and turn, stand on one leg and take what is called a jerking-of-the-eye test. Reflexes and movement are key factors in these tests.
The person is also given the option of a Breathalyzer test or having blood drawn in order to check the blood alcohol level (BAC).
The illegal blood/breath alcohol concentration for drivers in Tennessee is .10.
If the person refuses to take either test, then their license is automatically revoked.
If he or she chooses the blood test, their court date is set a month later in order for their blood work to come back. During this time, their license is suspended.
Orr said that the cases of DUI are much more frequent during the fall when students are on campus than in the summer when there are relatively few students here.
Occasionally, Orr said, Public Safety will find that the driver has committed some other kind of violation.
The vehicle is usually towed and checked for contraband.
Sometimes, during this search, drugs or weapons are found. Orr said that drugs were found in two of the 11 total cases so far this year.
Orr said that if students are going to go out and drink, that they should follow the buddy system. “I would highly recommend it,” he said.
There needs to be a designated driver for the group. Also, students need to keep an eye on and look after the people who they are with.
He suggests no more than one drink per hour.
“If you are going to drink, be responsible,” he said.

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