Missoula County DUI Task Force
- About us
- Upcoming meetings
- Our goals
- Missoula County DUI Plan for FY 2009
- Programs, activities and projects
- Quick facts
- Teen drivers
- Safe driving and DUI
- Two news stories regarding increasing the alcohol tax - April 2010
- Other resources
- Contact information
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About us |
Established in 1986, the Missoula County DUI Task Force represents a diverse cross section of the community that includes citizens, government officials, law enforcement, business, health professionals, prevention and treatment specialists approved by the Missoula County Commissioners. Missoula DUI Task Force Members
Our mission is to promote a healthier and safer environment for county residents by reducing the number of alcohol related traffic crashes through public education, awareness, legislation and enforcement strategies.
Our Task Force is funded by driver license reinstatement fees. We have no particular political agenda so are free to address what is most relevant to our county and to support innovative projects that prevent DUI.
We are one of 31 state-approved DUI task forces representing 35 counties, and 3 tribal task forces. Montana Counties with a DUI Task Force
| DUI Task Force Coordinator: | Lonie Hutchison |
|---|---|
| Phone: | 406-258-3880 |
| Fax: | 406-258-3992 |
| Email: | hutchisonl@ho.missoula.mt.us |
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Upcoming meetings |
DUI Task Force luncheon meeting:
Wednesday, May 26
11:30 am – 1:30 pm
St. Patrick Hospital Conference Center, Room 3
Agenda: Approve DUI Task Force Plan & Budget for
SFY2011
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Our goals |
- Keep our roads safe
- Prevent impaired driving
- Reduce alcohol-related traffic crashes
- Educate the public on the dangers of driving after consuming alcoholic beverages or other chemical substances that impair judgment and motor function
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Programs, activities and projects |
- Responsible Alcohol Sales and Service Training (RASS) - to prevent over-service and service to minors; held twice a month. (64 of Missoula's 271 licensed establishments send employees to training.)
- TIPS alcohol server training for restaurants
- Alcohol sales compliance checks of establishments
- Party and kegger patrols
- Overtime traffic patrols
- Educational projects
- Public service announcements
- Support for prosecution and adjudication of DUI cases
- Victims impact panels
- Policy and legislative proposals
- Designated Driver program - 13 participating establishments in Missoula
- Safe Ride Home program - 33 participating establishments in Missoula
- Gathering and disseminating DUI-related statistical information
- Equipment purchases for Law Enforcement
- Demonstrations of Fatal Vision goggles
- DUI Court Tracking Project for calendar year 2010
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Designated Driver Program |
Some bars will provide free soft drinks to 1 patron of a group if that person promises to stay sober, and drive their friends home. As of December, 2009, the following Missoula bars participate in the Designate Driver Program:
| Al's Bar | Blue Canyon | Boomer's Pub |
| Deano's Casino | Desperado | Diamond Jim's Eastgate |
| Hellgate Elks Lodge | Iron Horse | James Bar |
| Poor Henry's | Rhinos | Sean Kelly's |
| Union Club |
Invitation to bars to join the Designated Driver program
TIPS alcohol training for restaurants
Local training is available through the Montana Restaurant Association:
- Servsafe Food Safety
- Servsafe Alcohol Server Training
- TIPS Responsible Alcohol Server Training
Call 406-203-4121 to for more information. Montana Restaurant Association members receive a significant discount for these trainings.
Home Safe Missoula
Many Missoula bars and restaurants participate in Home Safe Missoula. If patrons who drove a vehicle to the participating location feel they are not sober enough to get themselves home safely, they may ask the bartender and receive a $ 10.00 voucher for a taxicab ride home. The program is supported by the participating establishments, local alcohol beverage distributors and the Missoula DUI Task Force. To become a participating establishment call 406-203-4121. Forty-eight licensed establishments in Missoula participate in this program: Participating establishments.
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Quick facts |
- 99.2 % of traffic crashes are preventable. Do you practice defensive driving?
- 877 unbelted individuals are hospitalized annually in Montana, following a traffic crash.
- 819 of those hospitalized admissions would probably have been prevented if the individual had been wearing a seat belt. Do you wear a seat belt for every trip?
- Your best defense against a drunk or impaired driver is your seat belt.
Overview of Montana's Impaired Driving Program - MT Dept. Transportation
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Safe driving and DUI reduction information: |
- Disarming Montana's Biggest Killer
- Why wear a seat belt?
- Child Safety Seats - using them correctly
- Driver distractions - Cell Phones; Impaired Driving (includes eating); Sleep Deprivation and Driving.
- Alcohol Abuse
- Don't Serve Teens - Information for retail sales of alcohol, and parents.
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Teen drivers - Help your teen learn to drive responsibly: |
- New Driver's Contract
- Graduated Driver's Licensing
- Why are teen auto insurance rates so high?
- Teens "I Promise" Program
- Under Age Drinking in Missoula County - 2007 (May be a little slow to download.)
- Teenagers Are Programmed for Risk - Reuters Health Info
- Survival Guide for Parents of Teens: Help for parents raising challenging teens.
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Other resources: |
- Defensive Driving - National Safety Council
- Missoula Measures - Traffic
- Montana Alcohol Offenses, 2002 - 2007
- Montana Traffic Problem ID Report - 2008
- Montana Department of Transportation, Traffic Safety Bureau: State-wide statistics (choose PUBLICATIONS); Safe Driving Tips; Room to Live video; and much more
- Information on national traffic safety issues:
- Safety Belt State USA - Safety seats for kids with special needs - A publication to prevent injury to children in traffic.
- American Association of Pediatrics, committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
- Join Together Advancing effective alcohol and drug policy, prevention and treatment.
- Child Safety Seat Check-up Events in Montana - Safe Kids
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