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Contact: John Dell'Osso, 415-464-5135
In an effort to assist National Park Service Rangers in the detection of drunk drivers, the Marin/Sonoma Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has donated funding to Point Reyes National Seashore to purchase portable breath alcohol testing equipment. The National Park Service will use the funding to obtain three Preliminary Alcohol Screening (PAS) devices. The alcohol screening devices, which are currently used by the California Highway Patrol and numerous other local law enforcement agencies, will be used as part of field sobriety testing to help determine if a driver is intoxicated and over the legal blood alcohol limit. The National Seashore receives over 2.5 million visitors each year and is committed to providing the public with a safe and enjoyable experience. In that commitment, park rangers hope that the portable alcohol screening equipment will allow them to more accurately determine when a driver has had too much to drink. The equipment will also be used in the enforcement of California’s zero alcohol tolerance laws for persons under the age of 21. Persons under the age of 21 who are caught driving a motor vehicle after they have been drinking, face a one-year license suspension from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a national non-profit organization with more than 600 chapters nation wide. MADD was founded here in California in 1980 after a 13 year old girl was killed by a hit and run driver who was out of jail on bail for another hit and run drunk driving accident. The focus of MADD is to look for effective solutions to the drunk driving and underage drinking problems, while supporting those who have already experienced the pain of these senseless crimes. The Marin/Sonoma Chapter of MADD has a local membership of over 800 and meets on the second Thursday of each month at the Novato Police Station. If you would like more information on the Marin/Sonoma Chapter of MADD, call 415-459-1765. Or visit the MADD web site at www.madd.org. -NPS- |
Last updated: February 28, 2015