State wants to fight DUI problem but lacks money

Officials in Gov. Mike Leavitt's office say there is a mountain of commitment when it comes to solving Utah's complicated DUI problem but only a microbe of money available for the effort this legislative season.

"There is no question about the commitment to DUI issues," said Lt. Governor Olene Walker, who heads the Governor's Council on Driving Under the Influence. "But we are also very aware that this is not the year to go in and ask for huge amounts."

But at least one senator is holding tight to his DUI guns, despite suggestions that he back off his cause for now.

The DUI Council generated several bills that will attempt to solve several parts of the DUI equation. In all, eight bills will come before lawmakers in January for consideration.

In addition to those, there will be SB30, sponsored by Sen. Mike Waddoups, R-Taylorsville. His bill amends the statute providing for annual distribution of beer tax money to cities and counties to be used exclusively for programs and projects related to the prevention, treatment, detection, prosecution and control of offenses in which alcohol is a contributing factor.

The proposal was on the council's agenda, but Leavitt's office and the Utah State Tax Commission decided this bill was one area that could go. "The funding is not in the governor's budget," Walker said.

Waddoups won't wait.

"I think this is a big issue that's very important and I think we've got a lot of support for it," Waddoups said Friday. "We may not get it all at once, but we will get it done."

While lawmakers were in session last year, a drunk driver hit Waddoups' wife, who's still recovering from her injuries.

The accident brought Waddoups painfully close to issues explored in the news and brought to lawmakers' attention recently: how repeat DUI offenders can still drive; complications with insurance companies for victims of DUI crimes; and lack of communication between computer systems containing DUI data throughout the state.

"There are a lot of stories, not just mine," Waddoups said. "It's life and death in a lot of cases."

Through November of 2001, there were 32 deaths attributed to fatal accidents where alcohol was involved, according to the Utah Department of Transportation.

Utah's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, run by the Utah Department of Public Safety, shows that in 2000, 79 crashes resulted in 90 deaths where drugs or alcohol were involved.