The Latin American Coalition is working with North Carolina officials and local police to reduce Latino DWI problems in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. The program stems from the fact that Latinos make up a disproportionate percentage of North Carolina DWI arrests. Whereas 8 percent of the population is Latino, 21 percent of the area’s DWI arrests involved a Latino driver during 2005.

“We don’t want any more DWI deaths in the community,” said Angeles Ortega-Moore, executive director of the Latin America Coalition of Charlotte.

The anti-DWI program includes billboards, advertising on Latino radio stations and in Spanish language newspapers, and a series of educational programs. One educational program calls for training of about a dozen community leaders who will campaign against drinking and driving on a grass-roots level.

The six-month, $25,000 fight against drunk driving is funded by several sources, including the Coalition, police and North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.

Two for one in Pennsylvania – Kenneth L. Ingram, 40, and his estranged wife, Mary M. Ingram, 43, were arguing as they drove through Manheim, Pennsylvania. Police pulled over the vehicle after seeing the passenger-side door open several times. Kenneth Ingram jumped out from the driver’s seat and tried to run but was grabbed by the police. Then Mary Ingram ran out of the car, got in the driver’s seat and sped away. Officers threw Kenneth in the back of their cruiser and headed off after Mary. She was stopped a mile later. Kenneth Ingram’s blood alcohol content was 0.158 percent, and Mary Ingram’s was 0.21. Both were charged with Pennsylvania DUI.

More of the same in South Carolina – Police in Charleston responded to a single vehicle crash around 2 pm and found Roberta Stewart trying to drive away. She was arrested for South Carolina DUI after registering a blood alcohol content of 0.166. But then police determined that Howard Spencer Hogan had been driving at the time of the wreck and then fled the scene. He was caught a short distance away and also charged with South Carolina DUI.

Hitting the trifecta in New York – Potsdam police responded to a call about a vehicle with a flat tire and found Lee W. Moody, 26, drunk behind the wheel. He was arrested for New York DWI. During questioning, police determined Steven E. Parker, 25, had been behind the wheel when the car hit a curb causing the tire to go flat. He was arrested for New York DWI. While still at the scene, Michael C. Wheaton, 26, arrived after being called by his two friends for help. He was also drunk and charged with New York DWI.

Finding religion in Brazil – Police stopped Roman Catholic priest Aparecido Donizete Bianchi, 48, in Sao Jose do Rio Preto after apparently driving drunk across city sidewalks. Bianchi responded by making obscene gestures and dancing to lively Brazilian ‘axe’ dance music blasting from his car stereo. He offered a bribe to the officers but later said it was the police who were trying to extract payment. Drunk driving charges are pending the outcome of a blood sample taken at the scene.

The Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation announced plans to develop a system for its vehicles that will determine if a motorist is driving under the influence.

The plan is to develop sensors that will analyze perspiration on the palms of the driver’s hands. If the blood alcohol level of the driver is determined to be above legal limits, the system will automatically disable the car. This approach differs from that of European automakers, like Saab, who are experimenting with breathalyzer type tubes in their fleets to detect drunk drivers. Toyota feels that system can be circumvented by having someone other than the driver blow in the tube.

The Toyota system would also analyze a driver’s eye movement, driving performance and other factors.

Rival Nissan Motor announced similar plans last year. Both automakers are responding to a public outcry against drunk driving in Japan, though the alcohol detection system could be made available in other countries. The national office of MADD in the United States recently advocated the installation of breathalyzer equipment in automobiles owned by those arrested for DUI, even first time offenders.

Toyota is planning on making the alcohol detection system available in 2009.

Boxer Mike Tyson was arrested in Scottsdale, Arizona on suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of cocaine.

The former heavyweight champ was stopped around 1:45 am after almost striking a sheriff’s vehicle while leaving area nightclub Sugar Daddy’s. Tyson “showed signs of impairment and voluntarily submitted to field sobriety tests.” He was arrested for Arizona DUI after failing those tests. Police found cocaine on Tyson as well as in his car. Tyson was alone at the time of the incident and he was reported to be very cooperative.

Tyson was taken to the Maricopa County jail where he was placed in a separate cell from other inmates for his safety.

Tyson, 40, made a name for himself in the sports world after knocking out Trevor Berbick in 1986, making him the youngest ever heavyweight champion at the age of 20. His career and personal life included both highlights and bizarre actions. Tyson infamously bit off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear during a 1997 fight. Tyson, known as ‘Iron Mike’ retired from boxing 2005 after losing to journeyman Kevin McBride. The Brooklyn native notched a 50-6 record, with 44 knockouts.

Rolling Along in West Virginia – A Hedgesville man, who later admitted to State Police that he had drunk six beers in the previous hour, rolled the car he was driving onto its roof, blocking the road. Mark Thomas Munson, 20, called 911 to get help righting his Plymouth Neon, which he insisted he could drive home. Munson was charged with West Virginia DUI in Morgan County.

Bumping Along in Louisiana – Michael D. Holcomb, 20, of Lufkin, Texas crashed his pick-up truck into an office building in Clement, Louisiana and then fled the scene. Unfortunately he left his bumper behind, with a Texas license plate attached. Police found a truck missing a rear bumper in a local motel parking lot and matched the license plate left at the accident scene with the one still on the front of the truck. Holcomb was arrested for Louisiana DWI and hit and run.

Toasting the Police in New Hampshire – Patrick Allain, 27, was stopped in Manchester, New Hampshire on Christmas night after a motorist alerted police to his apparent drunken driving. Police pursued Allain with sirens and flashing lights but he did not stop until after he had hit two vehicles and caused property damage. He then defiantly ignored police orders to put down his beer and continued to drink from a 40-ounce bottle of Olde English. Among other charges, he was hit with his fourth arrest for driving while intoxicated.

With a Side of Fries in New Jersey – Tracy L. Ayars, 22, was arrested for DWI while sitting in the drive thru of a Wendy’s restaurant at 1:00 am. Restaurant employees alerted police to a possibly intoxicated person in an SUV with an open container. Ayars, in his Chevy Tahoe, was placing an order at the drive-thru speaker when police arrived. He ignored the officer’s flashing overhead lights and pulled forward to pick-up his food. Described as ‘dazed’, Ayars failed a field sobriety test and was charged with New Jersey DWI.

With a Side of Glass in New Mexico – Alexander Begay, 33, was stopped for suspicion of New Mexico DWI and, after failing all field sobriety tests, was placed in the back of a squad car. The handcuffed Begay kicked out the side window of the car and then leaned over and started eating the shards of glass left in the window frame. He reportedly ate about “a cupful of broken glass”. Begay attempted to bite officers trying to stop him. He was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center and treated for injuries before being booked for drunk driving as well as aggravated assault and a host of other charges.

Oscar nominated director Gus Van Sant was arrested for drunk driving in Portland, Oregon and charged with Oregon DUI.

Van Sant, 54, was stopped by police just before 2:00 am after he was seen driving his 2006 Porsche Cayenne SUV with no headlights and accelerating rapidly at a traffic light. A spokesperson for the Portland Police Bureau, said Van Sant “had glassy, watery, red eyes, slurred speech, and smelled strongly of alcohol.” A breath test indicated an alcohol level over twice the state legal limit. Van Sant was taken to Multnomah County jail and charged with misdemeanor DUI.

Van Sant lives in Portland. He was nominated for an Academy Award for 1997’s ‘Good Will Hunting’ and he directed ‘Drugstore Cowboy’ and ‘My Own Private Idaho.’

Van Sant is scheduled to appear in court for the Oregon DUI arrest in mid-January.

Fan favorite and one of Major League Baseball’s more identifiable talents, Dontrelle Willis was arrested in Miami Beach and charged with Florida DUI.

Miami Beach Police witnessed Willis urinating in the street and then getting back in his leased 2007 Bentley but left the scene to respond to an emergency call. Police returned around 4:00 am to find Willis’ vehicle still double-parked and obstructing traffic in front of club Mansion.

According to police reports, Willis had blood-shot, watery eyes, exhibited slurred speech and appeared “confused and disoriented.” He was stumbling and smelled of alcohol. Willis, 24, failed a field sobriety test and later refused a breath test. He was arrested for drunk driving and booked at Miami-Dade County jail around 6:00 am. He was released around noon after posting a $1,000 bond.

In a released statement through his Florida DUI defense attorney, Willis acknowledged “the seriousness of the situation” and then made reference to allowing the legal process to take its course. That is taken as an indication that he plans to dispute the DUI arrest charges. Willis refused a breath test and the field sobriety test was not videotaped which means the prosecution will be forced to base its DUI case on the arresting officer’s subjective opinion.

The 24-year-old left-handed ace is one of the most popular new players in the game. Joining the majors in 2003, Willis already has 58 career victories with the Florida Marlins. He is a two-time All-Star and was the National League Rookie of the Year in 2003. In 2004 he was the runner-up for the National League Cy Young Award. He has twice been the baseball club’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award for his extensive involvement with charities and community service in South Florida. The Marlins have not commented on the Florida DUI arrest.

When asked about setting an example, Willis said, “I’ll do a better job.”

Lubbock, Texas – Lubbock police officer Jacob G. Opperman is on administrative leave after being arrested for Texas DWI. Opperman had been drinking at a party with other Lubbock police officers. As a prank, officers flattened two tires on Opperman’s patrol car and removed the other two. That did not stop Opperman from driving off, with squad car lights flashing. He stopped at a convenience store around 3:00 am, stumbled in and then left without buying anything. A convenience store clerk saw Opperman trying to drive his patrol car with only two (flat) tires and called 911.

Plainville, Connecticut – Former Bristol police captain Daniel W. Britt was arrested for Connecticut DUI after being stopped for erratic driving. He failed a field sobriety test but later refused to take a breathalyzer test at the police station. While an active duty officer Britt was the subject of at least one internal affairs investigation for purportedly routinely driving drunk and arriving at a crime scene drunk. He was cleared of those charges.

Riverside County, California –Richard Kamstra faces two felony counts of California DUI after crashing into another car and injuring the other driver. Despite the fact that Kamstra admitted to drinking just before the accident, it took two months before the DUI charges were filed against him.

Reche Canyon, California – An assistant chief of the California Highway Patrol faces charges of driving under the influence. Michael Maples pulled into his driveway around 11:00 pm and crashed into the car of someone visiting his home. The owner of the parked car heard the crash and called the police.

Dallas, Texas – Noemy Zavala Perez, an off-duty Dallas Police officer, allegedly crashed her SUV into a barricade in a restricted part of Love Field Airport minutes after Air Force One had departed with President Bush. She was stopped and arrested for drunk driving 10 miles north of the airport after driving around a protective barricade set up by firefighters at an area fire. She is on administrative leave during an investigation into her Texas DWI arrest.

The Century Council recently completed a survey that included a different group of participants, hard-core drunk drivers. This is the first time actual repeat DUI offenders have been asked what would make them consider not drinking and driving.

The goal of the study was to determine what works in the fight against drunk driving and what actions may need to be initiated. The survey included voluntarily participation of those in ten specialized DUI Courts across the country. The respondents averaged three drunk driving arrests and their blood alcohol content at the time of the arrest was on average more than twice the legal limit.

The results indicated that the three top actions that would make a drunk driver definitely stop drinking and driving were:

– 1 year of mandatory jail time (76%)

– A mandatory fine of $10,000 (75%)

– Use of ignition interlock devices (70%)

Most of the survey participants indicated they would have “very likely” altered their attitude about drinking and driving and would have done more to avoid an additional drunk driving arrest if more severe sanctions had been applied after their first DUI conviction.

The survey revealed that a high majority of DUI offenders think drunk drivers will be caught and arrested. They also felt a DUI conviction was likely if they are stopped for drunk driving.

The Century Council is a not-for-profit organization funded by America’s leading distillers. It promotes responsible alcohol consumption through education, communications, research and law enforcement.

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson announced several initiatives intended to address DWI incidents on tribal lands. The efforts stem from national statistics that indicate American Indians are three times more likely to experience a DWI related fatality than any other ethnic group. Approximately 25 percent of all alcohol related traffic deaths in New Mexico occur on Native American lands.

One key strategy is the creation of a tribal DWI task force. It will be charged with addressing issues such as public awareness campaigns, data sharing between law enforcement agencies, incarceration of those arrested for or convicted of DWI, and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation.

New Mexico officials also stated that an agreement has been reached with the Navajo Nation under which two full-time tribal officers will work exclusively to enforce DWI laws on the reservation.

The DWI initiatives were announced in advance of a U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs ‘super blitz’ against drunk driving over the holidays.

In line with that effort, public service announcements have been unveiled that are the first to target Native Americans and drunk driving. The ads, termed ‘There is an enemy among us’, feature a Native American grandmother stopping a man from drinking and driving. Others, representing the support of the tribe, form a circle around the man.

Lonnie Anderson, Apache and creative director of the anti-DWI public service announcements, said ‘”We wanted to do a piece that wasn’t a shaming spot, and to encourage the community to come out.”

The director of the ads was Chris Eyre, who worked the movie adaptation of Tony Hillerman’s ‘Skinwalkers’.” Eyre made small, yet significant, changes to eliminate stereotypes. “My goal was not to show any stereotypical perceptions, especially when it’s an Indian actor,” he said.

The DWI ads started airing in New Mexico this week and are scheduled to run through the holidays.