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Show r v 4 Iff v ., ,.., '-' i - , . i ;.' ' '!' , t V ; ' ' ' ' 1 "tk " '' The scene above is the result of one recent case of driving under the influence in-fluence of alcohol. According to Ninth Circuit Court Judge Christian Ron-now, Ron-now, drinking and driving is a major problem in the County. Alcohol a problem says circuit judge By MICHELLE BATE Record Reporter CEDAR CITY - "Alcohol is clearly our biggest drug problem in the County, and this applies to both adults and young people," said Judge Christian Ronnow, commenting on persons driving under the influence of alcohol. He a lso added that about 55 percent of all automobile accidents had one or both drivers under the influence of alcohol. Of that 55 percent, 78 percent of them were not terribly drunk. In many cases they could be classified as "social drinkers," Ronnow explained. "Out of all the D.U.I.s recorded in one month, only about two of them can really be considered alcoholics," said Judge Ronnow. In 292 accidents involving in-volving fatalities in Utah last year, the drivers in 122 had been drinking, according ac-cording to figures of the Utah Highway Patrol. Most of the time the offenders are young, with no previous offense, according ac-cording to Ronnow. "Usually the $450 fine, the loss of license, and the arrest are enough to serve as a deterrent from future offenses," said Ronnow. There is no jail time served on a first offense, but it is mandatory on the second offense. According to Judge Ronnow, if Cedar City had a better jailing facility, more persons would serve their jail time. There have been instances where 24 persons have been serving sentences, and the jail only has the capacity to hold 20 prisoners. "There is also a limited means of segregation in the jail," said Judge Ronnow, refering to the fact that if a person is guilty of a D.U.I, charge, he could be placed in the same area as a hardened criminal. "About one accident in ten in Cedar City has some kind of alcohol relation," said Cedar City Police Sargeant Craig Holyoak. "Basically every other car you pass on the road after dark has had someone in the car that has consumed alcohol," explained Sargeant Dennis Anderson. His information came as a result of a three-year study by the Utah Highway Patrol, which put up physical road blocks, explained Anderson, and checked cars passing through for possession or consumption of alcohol. "There has been an appalling rise of people drinking and driving at night," commented Ronnow. During the weekend from 10 p.m. to 12 midnight, Ronnow said about one in every four cars has had alcohol consumed in it. From midnight to 2 a.m., he said that art average of two cars out of every four . has had alcohol consulted in it: ; ' '" |