USFS Conducts DUI Checkpoint
From the US Forest Service:
The Allegheny National Forest has been the site of two fatal snowmobile accidents already this winter season. In an effort to combat this, United States Forest Service Law Enforcement reports conducting a DUI checkpoint for snowmobiles on Saturday evening, January 31st, 2009, at the intersection of Lamonaville Road (Forest Road 130) and Loleta Road (Forest Road 131), Forest County, Jenks Township. The inter-agency checkpoint consisted of officers from the Forest Service as well as the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Forest County Sheriff’s Department.
During the four hour evening period, officers report contacting 49 snowmobiles and making 17 secondary stops for suspicion of alcohol use. Five snowmobile operators were charged with operating a snowmobile while under the influence of alcohol, two were charged for not having valid insurance, and two were charged for attempting to elude law enforcement. One individual was also booked into Clarion County Jail for violating conditions of probation.
The Forest Service would like to remind all snowmobile operators that Pennsylvania and Federal law states that it is illegal to operate a snowmobile while under the influence of ANY amount of alcohol or “zero tolerance”. Federal penalties for operating a snowmobile while under the influence of alcohol (or controlled substances) start out at $375 and can go up to as much as $5,000 and/or six months imprisonment. Additional penalties can include impound fees for your snowmobile, community service, alcohol counseling, and/or driver’s license suspension. Ride safely and only on designated trails.
The Allegheny National Forest has been the site of two fatal snowmobile accidents already this winter season. In an effort to combat this, United States Forest Service Law Enforcement reports conducting a DUI checkpoint for snowmobiles on Saturday evening, January 31st, 2009, at the intersection of Lamonaville Road (Forest Road 130) and Loleta Road (Forest Road 131), Forest County, Jenks Township. The inter-agency checkpoint consisted of officers from the Forest Service as well as the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Forest County Sheriff’s Department.
During the four hour evening period, officers report contacting 49 snowmobiles and making 17 secondary stops for suspicion of alcohol use. Five snowmobile operators were charged with operating a snowmobile while under the influence of alcohol, two were charged for not having valid insurance, and two were charged for attempting to elude law enforcement. One individual was also booked into Clarion County Jail for violating conditions of probation.
The Forest Service would like to remind all snowmobile operators that Pennsylvania and Federal law states that it is illegal to operate a snowmobile while under the influence of ANY amount of alcohol or “zero tolerance”. Federal penalties for operating a snowmobile while under the influence of alcohol (or controlled substances) start out at $375 and can go up to as much as $5,000 and/or six months imprisonment. Additional penalties can include impound fees for your snowmobile, community service, alcohol counseling, and/or driver’s license suspension. Ride safely and only on designated trails.
.jpg)
Comments