Thread: Hispanics in crashes lead DWI stats

Hispanics in crashes lead DWI stats

By Ken Little
Staff Writer
ken.little@starnewsonline.com

Hispanic drivers involved in motor vehicle crashes are more likely to be intoxicated than members of other ethnic and racial groups, according to statistics compiled by state researchers.

The study by the Highway Safety Research Center at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill was based on information from law enforcement agencies. It states that 7.04 percent of Hispanic drivers involved in crashes in 2005 were intoxicated, compared with 4.87 percent of Native Americans, 2.82 percent of whites and 2.28 percent of blacks.

Hispanics "are more likely on average to be suspected of drinking in crashes that police officers investigate," research center database specialist Eric Rodgman said.

Cultural differences and limited knowledge of U.S. laws might be driving the trend, law enforcement officials and community leaders said. Efforts are being made to develop education programs in the wake of recent high-profile fatal crashes.

The numbers encompass the entire Hispanic community, and officials say it is important to convey the message of responsible driving to all Spanish-speaking residents in North Carolina, regardless of their legal status and education level.

Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for all Hispanics living in North Carolina. Many come from countries where enforcement of drinking and driving laws is lax. Cultural differences must be bridged for any initiative to be effective, said Rex Gore, district attorney of Brunswick, Bladen and Columbus counties.

"The problem can be addressed through an educational campaign and community efforts to make everybody in the immigrant community aware that unacceptable behavior includes drinking and driving. It's not a macho thing. It's against the law," Gore said.

Southeastern North Carolina has no organized program to inform recent arrivals about the dangers of drunken driving. That could change by later this year, said Lucy Vasquez, executive director of Amigos Internacional, a Hispanic outreach organization.

"They're just not aware of the laws that exist here. It's a big problem," she said. "There is no newcomer program, but it is something we are working on."

A committee expected to include drug and alcohol counselors and representatives of local churches, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Alcoholics Anonymous should hold a planning meeting in August or September, Vasquez said.

Vasquez said the majority of Hispanic DWI offenders are young, male, single and often without an authority figure to provide guidance.

"There's a disconnect with the family unit and the social structure in this country. I think it's a combination of things, including the depression that exists from not being with their families," she said.

A number of highly publicized DWI crashes recently have drawn negative attention to the Hispanic community, Vasquez said.

"The mass majority of the people out there do not drink and drive and the Latino community looks down upon it," she said. "It's not a true picture of the Latino community. It's a hard-working community, and they just want to stay out of trouble."

Organizations like Amigos Internacional attempt to communicate basic information to newcomers.

"They need to know what the options are out there," Vasquez said.

A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study found that Hispanics, particularly recent immigrants, are often distrustful of police and government agencies.

"There is a reluctance to go to the system. It's being in a different country and not knowing if you fit in and feeling threatened by the whole atmosphere," said Art Costantini, director of the Southeastern Center for Mental Health in Wilmington.

Cases involving Hispanic drivers convey a negative image to the public.

Martin Vazquez, 42, was charged June 3 by Wilmington police with manslaughter, death by vehicle and DWI after a two-vehicle collision near the intersection of Oleander Drive and Greenville Loop Road. Benedict Randolph, 52, of Greenville, was killed. Vazquez' case is pending.

Jose Jesus Garcia Lopez, 34, was convicted May 26 of involuntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon by a Columbus County jury in connection with a December 2004 DWI crash that killed Natalie Housand, 20, of Tabor City. Lopez will serve a maximum of 81 months in prison.

In February, 26-year-old Ramiros Gallegos entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder in Brunswick County Superior Court for his role in the July 16 DWI crash that took the life of Charlotte-area school teacher Phillip Scott Gardner, 33. Gallegos received a prison term of between 14 to 17 years, eight months. Gardner's wife, Tina, remains in a coma.

Authorities don't know the whereabouts of Rene Valdez-Hernandez, who is charged with DWI, felony death by motor vehicle, having no operator's license, possession of an open container, driving after consuming alcohol under age 21 and reckless driving. Valdez-Hernandez was northbound June 11, 2005, on N.C. 905 in Columbus County when he tried to pass another vehicle and struck the side of a car turning into a driveway, killing 85-year-old Frances Stewart. Valdez-Hernandez posted a $50,000 bond after the crash and fled the area, possibly to Mexico, court officials said.

Detainers have been placed on Lopez and Gallegos by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Both will be deported when their prison terms are up.

Alcohol dependence treatment and counseling is available to the Hispanic community, although it is often necessary to let clients know what services are available, Coastal Horizons Center clinical director Kenny House said.

"Anything we offer now would be offered to any Spanish-speaking folks as well. We would like to bridge that gap even more so in the future," House said. "There is a need for better links between substance abuse services and the Latino community."

Southeastern's Costantini said Hispanics are "an underserved population" in terms of mental health and substance abuse services.

"We are understaffed in that particular area and so are the other providers," he said.

Elissandra Rinehart is from Brazil and has been at Southeastern for five years. Later this month, Rinehart will shift from a bilingual therapist role to the referral and assessment of new clients.

Hispanics "are very private culturally. They go to their families first," Rinehart said. "When the problems get out of their hands with mental illness and substance abuse, then they find us."

Alcohol rehabilitation facilities in Southeastern North Carolina don't make special allowances for Spanish-speaking clients. The same goes for other mental health services, Rinehart said.

The N.C. Highway Patrol recently designated Trooper Jorge Brewer to act as statewide Hispanic affairs liaison. He speaks to community groups, migrant workers and at Latino festivals about issues like DWI, and to law enforcement agencies about cultural awareness.

"So far, it's going very well. We definitely have noticed a reduction in the fatalities, but I'm not going to sit here and claim victory. What we're seeing is we are definitely on the right track," Brewer said.

There is a two-month waiting list for Brewer's services, an indication of the need for more resources, he said.

"There's a lot of nonprofit organizations out there, and they are inviting me to speak," he said.

The Highway Patrol recently produced a 15-minute Spanish-language DVD that explains the laws of the state. The DVD will be distributed to Latino community groups and regional Highway Patrol troopers, Brewer said.

Family and religion are the most important institutions in the Hispanic community and should be incorporated into any education campaigns, the NHSA study recommended.

Lucy Vasquez expects positive change soon.

"I think some good things are going to happen here shortly," she said. "It's a good group of people and they deserve a fair perception by the community."

Ken Little: 343-2389

ken.little@starnewsonline.com

http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs ... 20415/1004

Southeastern North Carolina has no organized program to inform recent arrivals about the dangers of drunken driving.

See all you racist crackers, it's all your fault that these people drive drunk.

Alcohol rehabilitation facilities in Southeastern North Carolina don't make special allowances for Spanish-speaking clients. The same goes for other mental health services, Rinehart said.

Enough with the "special allowances". Learn English!! I'm so sick of "understanding" their cultural differences and special needs etc. Their criminals. There's no respect for the law so I don't hold much hope that they'd start abiding them. Just one more thing we're expected to foot the bill for.

What a crock! Everybody knows that ignorance of the law is
NO EXCUSE!

"They're just not aware of the laws that exist here. It's a big problem," she said. "There is no newcomer program, but it is something we are working on."

Maybe they can teach them that crossing over here illegally is against the law too. Heck, while they're at it, why not teach them that commiting gang rape is against the law too, as well as driving without a license, using fake/forged/stolen documents, as is cockfighting, horse tripping, spraying grafitti, and on and on and on...

Dogs, puppies, goats, pigs, cows, infants, children, unconsious women etc are NOT viable sex partners. To name a few barbaric practices....

It would take a lifetime to civilize some of these people.....if ever.

Like driving drunk is LEGAL IN MEXICO, or ANY OTHER COUNTRY?

That miopic excuse ceased to function in the late 70's! Also, the Supreme Court just ruled against an illegal alien---

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/22/washi ... cotus.html

"Fernandez-Vargas continued to violate the law by remaining in this country day after day and ... the United States was entitled to bring that continuing violation to an end," Justice David Souter wrote in the decision.

It was unclear how broad of an impact the ruling would have.

Souter said that unlawful immigrants like Fernandez-Vargas should have known about the 1996 law and taken "advantage of a grace period."


The case is Fernandez-Vargas v. Gonzales, 04-1376.


NOW EVERYONE IS CLEAR THAT IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NOT GOING TO HOLD WATER IF APPEALED TO THE SUPREME COURT!

The Highway Safety Research Center at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill really should not say things like this. They are going to be called racist, bigoted, xenophobes for this.

Let's hear all the tree huggers defend this

Until that brickhead in the oval office starts to do his appointed job by showing concern for the safety and well being of Americans illegal aliens will continue to act like uncivilized human beings (I use that term loosely-human beings).