Thursday, October 02, 2008
News
Sheriff candidates discuss underage drinking, smoking
Argus-Press Photo by Anthony Cepak Shiawassee County Sheriff candidates Deana Finnegan-R, left, and George Braidwood-D, participate in a forum Wednesday morning at the Baker College of Owosso Welcome Center on underage drinking and smoking prevention.
By DOMINIC ADAMS Argus-Press Staff Writer
OWOSSO - More than 100 youths received tickets for some sort of underage alcohol consumption during the last two years throughout Shiawassee County.
While the statistics seem high, the Shiawassee County Tobacco Reduction Coalition works to prevent underage consumption of alcohol and tobacco.
The group asked both Shiawassee County Sheriff candidates to share their plans Wednesday to curb the trend during the coalition's monthly meeting.
Democrat George Braidwood and Republican Deana Finnegan agreed enforcement is key.
Braidwood currently works for the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and said the people should be willing to call police if they see someone buying alcohol or tobacco for minors or if they see a merchant selling to someone underage.
“We need people to be concerned enough to get involved when it's happening,” Braidwood said. “You don't need a search warrant. When they see a badge come in the door, the pucker factor goes through the roof. (Law enforcement) has to shake the bushes.”
The coalition also learned it received $20,000 from the state over the next two years to study reducing alcohol related traffic crashes and underage drinking.
Finnegan, who has been an assistant with the Shiawassee County Prosecutor's office for 19 years, said the statistics speak volumes.
She said there were 119 minor in possession of alcohol charges in Shiawassee District Court in 2007.
Finnegan said there are 134 MIP cases thus far in 2008.
She also said 70 percent of kids drink alcohol by the time they turn 18.
A judge may think twice about what type of punishment to give someone convicted of illegally selling to an underage person if members of the coalition or others attend court proceedings, Finnegan said.
“Nothing puts more fear in a judge than having someone from an agency there,” she said. “There's pressure on the judge to knead out a stiff punishment.”
John Hagel, Shiawassee Regional Education Service District superintendent, quizzed the candidates on what they would each do to help school districts within the county.
Finnegan said if a student gets a ticket for underage drinking, it is up to the prosecutor and the judge if the individual's school hears about it.
Punishments for alcohol and tobacco violations by athletes vary across the 10 public school districts in the county.
For example, a first offense at Ovid-Elsie Schools would net a half-season suspension. An athlete would get a one calendar year suspension for the second violation and would not be allowed to participate in athletics for the rest of their career for a third offense.
At Corunna, the first violation is 33 percent of the season, the second offense nets a full season off and the third offense bars an athlete for a full calendar year, but they may practice with the team. A fourth offense at Corunna is a suspension for the rest of a student athlete's high school career.
Each board of education sets policies for students regarding alcohol and tobacco possession and use, Hagel said.
“Do you want to stand behind a zero-tolerance policy and are you going to stand behind it in the face of 100 people in a gymnasium?” he asked.
Perry Police Chief Kyle Bawks attended the meeting Wednesday and said his department would be lost without help from the coalition in organizing stings and other compliance checks.
The primary issue with underage alcohol consumption isn't necessarily stores selling to minors, Bawks said.
“The big problem I see is parents,” he said. “That's just garbage.”
Bawks agreed with Braidwood and Finnegan's ideas of enforcement.
“The sheriff is going to be the person to say how often are these checked and what do you do when there's a violation,” Bawks said.
While the statistics seem high, the Shiawassee County Tobacco Reduction Coalition works to prevent underage consumption of alcohol and tobacco.
The group asked both Shiawassee County Sheriff candidates to share their plans Wednesday to curb the trend during the coalition's monthly meeting.
Democrat George Braidwood and Republican Deana Finnegan agreed enforcement is key.
Braidwood currently works for the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and said the people should be willing to call police if they see someone buying alcohol or tobacco for minors or if they see a merchant selling to someone underage.
“We need people to be concerned enough to get involved when it's happening,” Braidwood said. “You don't need a search warrant. When they see a badge come in the door, the pucker factor goes through the roof. (Law enforcement) has to shake the bushes.”
The coalition also learned it received $20,000 from the state over the next two years to study reducing alcohol related traffic crashes and underage drinking.
Finnegan, who has been an assistant with the Shiawassee County Prosecutor's office for 19 years, said the statistics speak volumes.
She said there were 119 minor in possession of alcohol charges in Shiawassee District Court in 2007.
Finnegan said there are 134 MIP cases thus far in 2008.
She also said 70 percent of kids drink alcohol by the time they turn 18.
A judge may think twice about what type of punishment to give someone convicted of illegally selling to an underage person if members of the coalition or others attend court proceedings, Finnegan said.
“Nothing puts more fear in a judge than having someone from an agency there,” she said. “There's pressure on the judge to knead out a stiff punishment.”
John Hagel, Shiawassee Regional Education Service District superintendent, quizzed the candidates on what they would each do to help school districts within the county.
Finnegan said if a student gets a ticket for underage drinking, it is up to the prosecutor and the judge if the individual's school hears about it.
Punishments for alcohol and tobacco violations by athletes vary across the 10 public school districts in the county.
For example, a first offense at Ovid-Elsie Schools would net a half-season suspension. An athlete would get a one calendar year suspension for the second violation and would not be allowed to participate in athletics for the rest of their career for a third offense.
At Corunna, the first violation is 33 percent of the season, the second offense nets a full season off and the third offense bars an athlete for a full calendar year, but they may practice with the team. A fourth offense at Corunna is a suspension for the rest of a student athlete's high school career.
Each board of education sets policies for students regarding alcohol and tobacco possession and use, Hagel said.
“Do you want to stand behind a zero-tolerance policy and are you going to stand behind it in the face of 100 people in a gymnasium?” he asked.
Perry Police Chief Kyle Bawks attended the meeting Wednesday and said his department would be lost without help from the coalition in organizing stings and other compliance checks.
The primary issue with underage alcohol consumption isn't necessarily stores selling to minors, Bawks said.
“The big problem I see is parents,” he said. “That's just garbage.”
Bawks agreed with Braidwood and Finnegan's ideas of enforcement.
“The sheriff is going to be the person to say how often are these checked and what do you do when there's a violation,” Bawks said.