KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, LouisianaDistrict Attorney Increases DWI Arsenal

District Attorney Increases DWI Arsenal

April 2, 2006
Reported by Rhonda Kitchens

Drunk driving is on the rise in Calcasieu Parish. District Attorney, John DeRossier says, just a few months into 2006, they've already seen 50-percent more drunk driving cases than in all of 2005. That's prompted him to bring local law enforcement together in hopes of forming a joint DWI task force. But, he says, that's just one of the new weapons they're using to keep drunk drivers off the roads.

"The Calcasieu Sheriff's Department has already investigated in excess of 10 fatalities in Calcasieu Parish. Louisiana State Police Troop-D has already investigated 14 or 15, so far. That's way over the average from last year and we have to do something about that and this office is going to do something about that."

That's where DeRossier says the alcohol monitoring system comes in. "We have this new deal we want you to wear and its going to cost you x amount of dollars and you have to wear it for a period of up to two years."

DeRossier says a device called a Scram Unit is attached around the offenders leg and monitors blood alcohol levels 24 hours a day. "The person who is wearing the Scram Unit will actually report back to his residence and will stand within a close proximity to this unit for a very short time, a minute or two, once every two or three days and it will download automatically into the device."

A local man on trial for 2nd offense DWI has become the first in this part of the state to choose electronic monitoring over jail, but DeRossier says, its not an option open to everyone.

"There are some people who will go to jail no matter what happens, but there are some people that I think we can help and this device will help."

Monitoring is used in conjunction with treatment. Derossier says the offenders who will benefit most are those with a drinking problem trying to hold down a job and support a family.

"It reminds you 24-hours a day that "big daddy" is watching and we will know, law enforcement will know if you have consumed alcoholic beverages."

If alcohol is detected or the offender tries to alter the device in anyway, they are removed from the program and once again face time behind bars.

If someone is allowed to opt for the alchol monitoring system instead of jail, it does come at a cost. The user must pay 12-dollars a day for as long as they're ordered to wear the monitor. For the one person already sentenced to two years, that adds up 10-thousand dollars.