Local activists are demanding harsher penalties for the officers who are arrested for a DUI and their colleagues who give them a "get out of jail free" card.
In a recent report by the Journal News, the public learned that out of 10 officers who were anonymously interviewed, they all admitted to turning a blind eye when an off-duty officer was a potential DUI suspect.
One of the interviewed officers said, "If you can give them a ride home and put their car someplace safe, that's what you do... It's kind of an unwritten rule. You don't jam up another cop unless you have to."
In what situations do some cops believe that they have to call it in?
Apparently, the line is drawn when the off-duty officer is involved in an accident.
Needless to say, these statements have made an impact on people from attorneys to the organization MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). Many are outraged that these officers would not want to risk their careers, but they would feel comfortable risking lives and continuing this dangerous behavior.
MADD believes that "the average person stopped on suspicion of DWI for the first time has driven drunk 87 times without being stopped" (The Journal News). This figure is even more frightening when you take into account all of the "free passes" that off-duty officers have supposedly received.
The activists hope that both parties will receive stricter penalties: the drunk drivers and the lenient officers. One idea is to create harsher repercussions for those who refuse to take a Breathalyzer test. Perhaps that would encourage more DUI suspects to take the Breathalyzer test and face the conviction. In all four of the most recent off-duty officer DUI cases, they all refused to have their BAC level tested. Currently, refusing to submit to BAC testing will have your license revoked for a minimum of 90 days (FindLaw).
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