Mahwah August 19, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 7 Township receives grant to combat drunk driving by Frank J. McMahon The Township of Mahwah has received a $6,000 grant from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety to fund the participation of the local police department in the statewide crackdown on drunk driving during the period of Aug. 21 through Sept. 7. The 2009 statewide crackdown program, “Drunk Driving: Over the Limit Under Arrest,” was initiated by the NJDHTS in hopes that the increased law enforcement of the drunk driving laws will minimize the number of traffic accidents over the period of time that extends past the Labor Day weekend. According to the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, the end of summer and the December holiday seasons are two of the deadliest times of the year due to impaired drivers. NJDHTS has asked law enforcement agencies throughout the state to participate in the crackdown so an increase in enforcement will reduce impaired driving and save lives. Thousands of traffic safety enforcement agencies in all 50 states are expected to join forces to protect citizens from this deadly crime. The key to deterring impaired driving is highly visible enforcement, according to the NJDHTS. The highway traffic safety division emphasized that prevention and not arrest is the goal of the campaign, however, and believes that drivers must perceive that the risk of being caught is too high before their behavior will change. The NJHTS hopes that the use the Drunk Driving: Over the Limit Under Arrest message will convince audiences that the chance of being caught is too high to risk. It emphasizes that the message works and has already influenced thousands of American citizens not to drink and drive. According to the NJDHTS, in New Jersey, a person is guilty of drunk driving if he or she operates a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or greater. Although the law refers to a 0.08 percent BAC, a person can be convicted of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor even when that individual’s BAC is below 0.08 percent. The BAC threshold determining drunk driving was changed from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent in early 2004. NJDHTS emphasizes that consuming even small amounts of alcohol dulls the senses, decreases reaction time, and hampers judgment, vision and alertness. If a person consumes any amount of alcohol and his or her driving is affected, that person can be convicted of drunk driving. A parent or guardian who is convicted of DWI and who has a minor under age 17 as a passenger in the motor vehicle is also guilty of a disorderly person offense. In addition to the penalties otherwise prescribed by law, that parent or guardian must forfeit the right to operate a motor vehicle for a period of not more than six months and will be ordered to perform community service for a period of not more than five days. The penalties for conviction of drunk driving are severe. On the first offense, if the BAC is between 0.08 and 0.10, there is a $250 to $400 fine and possible imprisonment up to 30 days plus a three month loss of driver’s license, mandatory counseling, and an automobile insurance surcharge of $1,000 for three years. If the BAC is 0.10 or higher, the fine is increased to $300 to $500, and the license suspension is increased to seven to 12 months in addition to the other penalties. The penalties are increased if the drunk driving occurred within a school zone or a school crosswalk, and all levels of penalties are subject to hundreds of dollars in other surcharges. On the second offense, penalties include a fine between $500 and $1,000, imprisonment of at least 48 hours and up to 90 days, and a two year loss of license. Penalties for a third offense include a fine of $1,000, imprisonment of 180 days, detainment in an in-patient alcoholism treatment program, and an automobile insurance surcharge of $1,500 a year for three years. The Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold a Business Card Exchange on Tuesday, Aug. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m., at Citibank, 28-32 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood. Participants should bring extra business cards. The cost is $15 for Chamber Chamber hosts card exchange members and $30 for non-members. Prepaid registration is required; an additional $5 processing fee will be charged if paid the day of event. Register at www.mahwah. com or call the Chamber office at (201) 5295566. Feel Better Now! ����Muscle Activation Techniques ����������������������������������� • Speed muscle recovery • Increase joints’ range of motion • Eliminate compensatory patterns • Reduce risk of injury by insuring muscles function optimally • Improve athletic performance and execution of everyday activities ���������������������� �������������������� ��������������� Ridgewood 201-488-4314 or 201-341-0183 ������������������������ Keane Fit & Wellness