Published 12/19/08

Holiday Tips from Oregon Coast Law Enforcement

During colder weather, even furry dogs may need a heating boost.

By Lincoln County Sheriff Dennis Dotson

(Newport, Oregon) – The season means lots of other challenges, not just on the coast but the rest of the country. Lincoln County Sheriff Dennis Dotson has holiday tips about driving and pets – things relevant to anyone in any part of the U.S., but certainly useful in western Oregon and the coast. But in the central coast, there are some aspects to look out for individual to that area, such as the penalties for drunk driving in Lincoln County.

During the holidays many people will travel to be with loved ones and friends. There will be many celebrations around the county that unfortunately will result in intoxicated people driving a motor vehicle.

Each year in December and January there are over 1,000 traffic fatalities with more than half of them attributed to drinking and driving. In 2005 in Oregon alone there were approximately 177 alcohol related traffic fatalities and in 2003, 27 Oregon youth ages 15-20 were killed due to drinking and driving. This does not include the thousands of other people who suffered injuries, were confined to wheel chairs, have permanent head injuries, have mounting medical costs, or lost their jobs because of intoxicated driving.

Traffic in Newport.

You can help keep our communities and highways safe by not driving after consuming alcoholic beverages. Here are some reminders of possible consequences for choosing to drive while intoxicated:

Law enforcement will be out in full force and make every effort to see that our citizens get home safely.

Law enforcement will also be focusing efforts on detecting intoxicated drivers under the age of 21.

Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) is a Class A Misdemeanor.

Penalties are spending up to one year in jail and fines of up to $6,250.00.

A person under 21 years of age who has been arrested with any measurable amount of alcohol in their blood, will loose their driver’s license.

The cost of car insurance will dramatically increase, if you can even obtain insurance.

And a reminder for adults who might believe it doesn’t do any harm to allow minors to drink,

Furnishing alcohol to minors is a Class A Misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum fine of $6,250 and up to one year in jail.

Help make this a safe and sober holiday season. If you choose to drink, please designate a non-drinking driver. You can save yourself legal expenses, increased insurance rates, law suits, embarrassment, and maybe even someone’s life, including your own.

When it comes to holidays, many think of immediately pets. You may have discovered a pet of some kind on that wish list that your child keeps reminding you about. Now is the best time to decide if this wish is one that is going to be fulfilled or one that is just going to have to wait a while.

Partying it up in Newport: pick a designated driver afterwards.

The decision to purchase a pet is one that requires a lot of thought. Since the actual purchase of the pet and necessary supplies can add up to quite a bit of money, you must decide if you're ready financially to support a pet. Make sure to take into consideration vet bills, housing, nutritional needs, grooming needs, and toys. If you’re getting a dog or cat, be sure to figure in the price of neutering or spaying.

You also need to determine whether or not the family has time to spend with a pet. This not only means do the children have time, but do YOU have time. Once the newness of this type of gift wears off, someone is still going to have a time commitment towards this pet. Unlike the toy that got broken or the jeans that are soon out grown, this new pet (regardless of what type it is: dog, fish, bird, etc) is going to require attention for a much longer period of time.

The amount of space you have is also a factor. Is there room in your household for this pet? Some animals require minimal space, while others require lots of space. In addition to housing, large animals will need a large area to run. You need to determine if you have sufficient room for the pet that your hearts yearn.

Lincoln City

If you’re renting, does your landlord permit animals and will they require an extra deposit to cover the pet? Please check this out ahead of time - sneaking the pet in is not fair to anyone and will only cause heartache in the end.

Will this pet cause allergic reactions to anyone in the family? You can test this by visiting people with the same type of pet you are considering. The Animal Shelter may even have the pet you are seeking.

Remember - NEVER spontaneously decide to purchase a pet - it’s not fair to anyone involved.

For more tips and other information, visit your Sheriff’s Office website at www.lincolncountysheriff.net

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