In an effort to reduce the number of underage drinkers and underage drinking and driving fatalities in Aroostook County and to deter those who provide alcohol to youth, local law enforcement organizations and community partners conducted the first of six enforcement waves of a special campaign — “Underage Drinking. Adult Consequences.”
The unique program has already made an impact in Aroostook County.
According to Deputy Kris Malmborg of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, of 33 on- and off-premise establishments that were checked for compliance, 13 summonses were issued for failure to comply with Maine’s liquor laws. Additional road patrols resulted in youth transportation and possession of alcohol citations, as well as adult furnishing a place and alcohol for minors to consume. Other non-alcohol related violations were dealt with as a result of the increased patrols ranging from driving infractions to drug violations.
“Local enforcement officials and community partners came together for this campaign, and we believe it was a tremendous success,” said Deputy Malmborg. “Hopefully the teens in our community now know we will not tolerate underage drinking, and just as importantly, the adults and organizations who provide the alcohol know they also face serious consequences.”
Drinking underage is harmful and dangerous, but drinking and driving puts others at risk too. From 2006-10, 142 people in Maine died as a result of a crash involving a 15- to 20-year-old driver with a blood alcohol content of .01 or above.
In 2010 alone, of the traffic fatalities in Maine that involved a 15- to 20-year-old driver, 22 percent of the drivers had a BAC of .01 or above.
“One careless decision by a young person can end and destroy lives,” Deputy Malmborg added. “We know we have more work to do, but if we got across to just one teen who might have otherwise chosen to drink and drive, we’ve accomplished something and hopefully changed lives. And if we’re able to reduce their access to alcohol, that’s tackling the first part of the problem.”
This special enforcement crackdown was part of the region’s “Underage Drinking. Adult Consequences.” campaign to help save more lives on local roadways, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Agencies participating in the campaign include the Aroostook Sheriffs Office, Northern Task Force, Caribou, Houlton, Washburn, Fort Fairfield, Ashland, Fort Kent, Van Buren, Madawaska and Limestone police departments, and Maine State Police, as well as the Maine Warden Service and Maine Forest Service.
The second special enforcement wave will start in May, with more to follow throughout the year, in an effort to continue spreading the message, “Underage Drinking. Adult Consequences.”
For more information about this county-wide project, contact Community Voices at 834-5540 ext. 2019.
