GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – There are many events folks look forward to with the arrival of warmer spring temperatures, like prom season, graduations, and road trips but there is also a darker side that we get reminded of when tragedy strikes.
It’s the time of year when more people get behind the wheel after drinking or doing drugs.
The Green Bay Police Department averages between 800-900 OWI arrests a year, which includes 1st through 10th offenses.
Patrol Officer Mike Knetzger is a 25 year police veteran and knows the consequences of inebriated driving all too well.
In June of 2008, his 18-year-old daughter Ashley was tragically killed by drunk driver in Green Bay.
But there are more and more instances where drugs like marijuana play a role in crashes.
That was the case when WTAQ rode along with Officer Knetzger during a recent OWI patrol in Green Bay.
The first call happened within minutes after the click of our seatbelts.
OWI Patrol went from 11:00 Saturday night until 3:00 Sunday morning.
The initial call was to an accident at the corner of Walnut and Broadway.
“So this young lady, unfortunately, has made a very poor decision tonight,” said Knetzger.
The woman admitted to smoking marijuana prior to getting in her car and driving off. She hit another vehicle, injuring the driver.
And although the 20-year-old driver admitted to doing drugs before getting behind the wheel, she was still transported to St. Vincent hospital for further drug testing. “Because this particular incident involved a drugged driver as the primary factor or cause of the crash, we had a drug recognition expert administer a series of tests that they are certified in doing. So they have gone through extensive training where they are able to administer additional tests that will measure certain physiological aspects of the individual,” Knetzger said.
Some of those aspects include heart rate, temperature, and pupil size.
All of these measurements help determine whether or not someone is impaired.
One of the things drug recognition experts look for is an eye flutter.
“That eye flutter is looked at in what is referred to as the Romberg Balance Test. That test also measures an individual’s perception of time,” explained Knetzger.
Drivers under the influence of a depressant have a slower sense of time.
“So, if we ask them to estimate 30 seconds, their estimation of 30 seconds may be 45 seconds to a minute.”
Individuals taking stimulants, like cocaine, will perceive time as going by faster.
A new report released last week by the Governors Highway Safety Association and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, shows the number of drugged driving deaths is passing those of driving while drunk.
It shows positive drug tests were more common than the presence of alcohol among drivers killed in accidents in 2015.
Of those tested, 43 percent who died in auto accidents were on drugs, while 37 percent were drunk.
So far this year there’s only been 1 alcohol related fatality in the city of Green Bay, compared to 2 in 2016 and 4 in 2015.
Knetzger says drunk or drugged driving is the #1 preventable crime in America.
