Sentinel photo by Erin Thompson
Drug recognition expert with the Pennsylvania DUI Association Craig Amos describes the importance of driving sober during a press conference held at Mifflin County Courthouse on Wednesday.

LEWISTOWN — Motorists attending St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are asked to plan ahead.

In a press conference that included the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Mifflin County District Attorney, the Mifflin County DUI Task Force, the Pennsylvania DUI Association and the Highway Safety Network held at Mifflin County Courthouse Wednesday, officials urged residents to ensure they have a designated driver or utilize a ride-sharing app.

Drug recognition expert with the Pennsylvania DUI Association Craig Amos said St. Patrick’s Day has become one of the busiest days for DUI-related arrests, which can result in expensive and sometimes tragic consequences.

Mifflin County Regional Police Department Chief Andre French, who is also on the Mifflin County DUI Task Force said Mifflin County will see heavier enforcement ahead of the holiday.

The Mifflin County DUI Task Force is made up of Armagh Township, Granville Township, Lewistown and Mifflin County Regional police departments.

“As a county, we continue to be plagued with motor vehicle accident involving DUIs,” French said. “Mifflin County is a small community. These tragedies hurt and lives are changed forever as a result. Our goal as police officers is not to boast high arrest statistics. Our goal is to keep our highways and our citizens safe.”

French said all local police agencies will participate in various DUI roaming patrols in the coming week.

Mifflin County District Attorney Chris Torquato explained that DUI offenses make up a large portion of criminal cases that are processed in Mifflin County — with 23% being related to DUI in 2019. So far in 2022, 35-40% of criminal cases filed at the prothonotary’s office were related to DUI, he said.

“It’s fair to say that DUIs encompass a large number of criminal cases that we deal with here in Mifflin County,” Torquato said. “That’s kind of disturbing in that DUI offenses are merely something that could be preventable — it’s as simple as knowing not to drink and drive.”

The district attorney said there has also been an uptick in DUIs involving controlled substances such as prescription medications, marijuana, methamphetamine and sometimes heroin, cocaine and fentanyl.

“We’re seeing controlled substance (DUIs) — maybe equal to the number of alcohol DUIs,” Torquato said. “That’s kind of disturbing in that all of us are out and about on the roads and you think the number of people who are impaired on these substances who are operating on the same roads as all of us gives me concern.”

The consequences of a DUI offenses can range based on the number of convictions and the severity of the offense.

Torquato said license suspension can range from one year to 18 months, while fines can range from $300 to $15,000.

Court costs in Mifflin County, he said, can range from $2,600 to $4,100 for subsequent offenders, “and that doesn’t include the cost of attorneys or restitution,” he said. “There are serious financial implication for having a DUI conviction.

“In Mifflin County, we have had a number of houses that have been struck, some suffering from damages in the six figures as a result of DUI accidents.”

There has also been a rise in cases that involve homicide by vehicle while DUI, Torquato said.

“In the past three or four years, I can think of a half-dozen cases in which an individual has lost their life as a result of a drunk driver,” he said. “If you commit that kind of offense, you’re looking at a prison sentence with a minimum of three years.”