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We all know that drunk driving is illegal but what counts as drunk?
After reading a New York Times article, I became curious as to what our drunk driving numbers look like in Magee.
The United States has set an alcohol limit of 0.08 as considered drunk. States may set their own level. In 2018, Utah lowered the legal limit to 0.05. The year following the change showed a nearly 20 % drop in fatal car crashes.
From January 2024 to present, 77 Driving Under the Influence (DUI) have been issued. (Information according to the Magee Police Department records.). While talking with several Magee Policemen, the same theme of no accountability was expressed. The accountability is not from our officers not making arrest. The problem is the court system. Laws governing drunk driving are lax…ask any policemen or judge.
A police officer cannot dismiss a DUI ticket…only a judge. According to one of the officers, a study showed that 1 in 9 drivers are legally drunk on Highway 49. (statics from Jackson to Magee).
Another officer shared that he arrested a man for his 34th DUI!!! Now, how can this be? The person is now deceased. Again, our courts are not holding people accountable.
A couple of other stats I found interesting: (from January to present) Possession of a controlled substance: 15; Possession of paraphernalia: 49; and Failure to comply with an officer: 13.
Sue note: The thought of 1 in 9 legally drunk flying up and down highway 49 absolutely scares me to death…just think today, how many of your loved ones are traveling 49.
MageeNews.com is the online news source for Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the state of Mississippi.
