Young Victims Killed in DUI Crashes

Eric Smallridge is serving an 11 year prison sentence for the DUI crash he caused that killed Meagan Napier and Lisa Dickson. Eric wrote an open letter to teens about the consequences of his bad decision to drink and drive. Renee Napier, Meagan Napier's mother, is available to make DUI prevention presentations in the Tampa bay area. Contact her at rnapier58@aol.com

Pinellas County resident 19 year old John Templeton was convicted of the DUI manslaughter of 18 year old Julie Buchner in 2002. In November 2002, John went to a bar in Ybor City and had 10 or more drinks, then drove his car the wrong way down I 275. He crashed head on into Julie Buchner. The first thing John remembered after leaving Club Hedo was waking up handcuffed to a hospital bed with a police officer standing over him. John served prison time, is on house arrest and has a permanent revocation of his driver's license. John does presentations in school and colleges as community service to help prevent underage drinking and DUI. Video presentation about John Templeton on tbo.com. Sobering Decisions- Tampa Tribune story of John Templeton and Julie Buchner.

Pinellas County resident Jessica Rasdall went out with her friend Laura Gorman to a club in Ybor City in February 2006. Both were 18 years old. They drank alcoholic beverages in the Club Skye, then Jessica drove back to Pinellas county. She crashed the car, injuring herself and killing her friend Laura. Jessica was charged with DUI manslaughter and will be sentenced in December 2007. Jessica gives presentations to high school and college students to help keep young people from making bad decisions that could result in injury or death. Jessica created the S.M.I.L.E. foundation and website in memory of her friend Laura; to encourage young people to make good decisions.

MADD National Convention held in St. Louis on September 6-8, 2007

Mothers Against Drunk Driving officials are advocating for states to require ignition interlocks in the vehicles of persons convicted of driving under the influence, including first time offenders, to help save lives. St. Louis Post Dispatch article.

Alcohol-Related Crashes Decreased in Hillsborough County in 2006

The hard work of Tampa Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Temple Terrace Police Department, Plant City Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, USF Police Department, DUI Counterattack, Hillsborough County MADD volunteers, Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, The State Attorney's Office, Tampa Crossroads treatment agency, the Community Traffic Safety Team, Tampa Alcohol Coalition, SADD, DUI Awareness Initiative, Hillsborough County Anti Drug Alliance and others dedicated to reducing impaired driving consequences has paid off!  The 2006 Hillsborough County crash and injury statistics decreased from the 2005 statistics but the fatalities increased by 1 (59 to 60).

2006 Hillsborough County Traffic Crash Statistics (ref: Florida DHSMV)

• 1,937 Alcohol-Related Crashes (slight decrease from 2005)

• 1,273 Alcohol-Related Injuries (4.4% decrease)

• 60 Alcohol-Related Fatalities (2% increase)

Hillsborough County is the state leader in DUI arrests because of intense law enforcement efforts to keep impaired drivers off the roads. In 2007, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Central Breath Testing reported 6,633 arrests. Don't Drink and Drive in Hillsborough County...unless you want to visit the County Jail.

Hillsborough County Alcohol Fact Sheet (Updated)

Local DUI Resources and Links

Hillsborough County MADD- call 985-0378

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office 3 D DUI Squad

Tampa Police Department DUI Squad

DUI Counterattack

DUI Awareness Initiative

Pepin Distributing Alert Cab, Designated Driver, TIPS training

AAA Tow to Go- call during the Holiday Season: 1-800-AAA-HELP

DUI Presentations

2007 TAC Presentation for the State Community Traffic Safety Team meeting (PPT)

2006 Hillsborough County DUI Facts PowerPoint

2006 DUI Initiative: Alcohol Policy Project PowerPoint

2006 DUI Initiative: Alcohol Policy Project Research Paper

2006 Tampa Crossroads TRIAD DUI Program PowerPoint

IACP Impaired Driving Guidebook

2006 Impaired Driving Guidebook by the IACP Highway Safety Committee Impaired Driving Subcommittee provides recommendations to substantially reduce impaired driving traffic fatalities and injuries.

Join the National Fight Against Impaired Driving

Despite the tireless efforts of thousands of advocates, impaired drivers continue to kill someone every 30 minutes, nearly 50 people a day, and almost 18,000 citizens a year. NHTSA and its partners are working together to put a stop to these deadly statistics.

Learn how you can help stop impaired driving

A DUI can be very expensive... The $9,000 Drink

Do you drink too much? Find out by taking this quiz. Click on "Is my drinking risky?"

Tampa Alcohol Coalition is a subcommittee of the Hillsborough County Anti Drug Alliance.

Do you have questions about Tampa Alcohol Coalition or comments on this web site? Contact er.snelling@verizon.net