A point of clarification is necessary regarding your news article titled "State to cancel DUI council?" (Feb. 16). The article might lead one to believe that the governor's office is not committed fiscally to DUI crime solutions. This is not true.
The governor's budget could not include the DUI bills this year as they were not fully drafted by the time the budget was written. These bills will have to be funded by the House as bills are prioritized. However, this year the governor's budget included a significant increase in funding for DUI issues by raising the amount of alcohol tax revenue that will be allotted to alcohol related treatment, prevention and law enforcement. This increase is so necessary, and we are very grateful to the governor for including it in his budget.
Your coverage of DUI crime in recent editions has been terrific. Most people find out about the tremendous DUI problems in our system only when they are tragically impacted. Perhaps by reading details about the problems, more Utahns will be motivated to get involved before this crime happens to them. Everyone seems in agreement that DUI is a serious problem and must be addressed. However, your article, "State to cancel DUI council?" raises a significant question: "What is the best way to go about making an impact on DUI crime?"
Last year, when Gov. Michael O. Leavitt created the Governor's Council on Driving Under the Influence, he created a potential miracle cure for Utah's most often committed and most costly crime — DUI. By forming the council, Leavitt inaugurated a roundtable to which he invited every DUI player and gave them the job to focus on DUI crime. He included victim representatives who had experienced firsthand the flaws in the system and business representatives with interests in DUI crime. By appointing many players who had already worked well together in an ad hoc legislative group, the governor built this council upon a solid foundation. Therefore, when the council took shape, it got off to a running start. Simple ingredients: A level playing field, key players and the focus on DUI crime, are key to addressing DUI crime effectively. There is no existing government agency or private group that can accomplish what this council can do because existing agencies and groups do not offer these necessary ingredients.
In a few short months, the governor's DUI council produced significant legislation, impressive administrative changes, a huge list of identified problems and multiple possible solutions to those problems. They have begun two groundbreaking projects regarding DUI data and accountability within the system.
MADD believes the governor's office is wise to carefully consider what is the best way to address DUI crime. However, we are concerned by recent statements from governor's representatives and reported in the Deseret News that perhaps this crime can best be addressed by existing entities other than the DUI council. Vast experience in Utah, and in other states, clearly shows this council is by far the best approach. It is not only efficient in dollars (the costs are minimal), but it is effective as well. This council has begun projects that will produce groundbreaking methods and results. We believe this council's work will make Utah the standard for the nation and significantly improve public safety.
Hopefully, given time to consider the alternatives and full information about the DUI council with its amazing progress in just a few full operational months, the governor and his staff will become convinced that his original formulation of this council was a very wise action indeed, and it should be continued.
MADD encourages the governor to proclaim that this council should continue to exist for at least one more year so it can complete projects already under way and take on the other problems and solutions that have been identified.
Rosalyn Richardson is president of MADD Salt Lake County Chapter.