DUII Forfeiture Program and Victims Impact Panel

Contents:

DUII Forfeiture Program
Lincoln County DUII Victims Impact Panel

DUII Forfeiture Program

DUII forfeiture sign In 1994, the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners enacted Ordinance # 335 (codified as LCC 2.3000 and 2.3005), which was followed by companion city ordinances from all cities in Lincoln County, thus making the program county wide.

The Ordinance generally provides that a vehicle is subject to seizure and possible forfeiture if it is being driven by a person who is under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) and the person has at least one prior DUII the previous 10 years.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office is charged with enforcement of the Ordinance, and the Office of Lincoln County Legal Counsel processes those seizures.

The program generally works like this:

If a person is arrested for DUII by the Sheriff's Office, and the person does not have a prior DUII within the previous 10 years, their vehicle is impounded in accordance with state law. The owner of the car can reclaim it upon payment of a $150 administrative fee, plus the costs of towing and storage.
If a person is arrested for DUII by the Sheriff's Office, and the person has one prior DUII within the previous 10 years, their vehicle is seized in accordance with ordinance and state law. The person is eligible for administrative release of their vehicle upon signing a release agreement and payment of a $250 administrative fee, plus the costs of towing and storage.
If a person is arrested for DUII by the Sheriff's Office, and they have two or more prior DUII's within the previous 10 years, their vehicle is seized and forfeited in accordance with ordinance and state law.

From August 5, 1994 (the date the Ordinance went into effect) to November 11, 2008, there have been 151 seizures (categories (2) and (3) above), of which 85 were administratively released, 65 were forfeited, and 1 is currently pending.

Once a vehicle has been forfeited, it is either auctioned, sold to a licensed wrecker, or sold through the State's surplus property program.

Articles

Lincoln County DUII Victims Impact Panel

A DUII victims impact panel is a forum that allows persons who have driven while under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) to come face to face with those who have been injured or lost loved ones due to DUII.

Who: The panel consists of victims who speak about an impaired driving crash in which they were injured, or a loved one killed, and how it has impacted their lives. Studies have shown that victims impact panels reduce repeat offenses.

Why: The purpose of the panel is to individualize and humanize the consequences of driving under the influence, to change attitudes and behavior, and to deter repetitive driving while under the influence.

The mission of the Victims Impact Panel is simple:

To STOP DRINKING AND DRIVING
and the death and injuries it causes.

What: The speakers at a victims impact panel have tremendous courage to come and tell such painful, personal stories to a room full of strangers. Research also shows that victim impact panels can aid in victim recovery. Victim impact panels give victims of drunk driving tragedies a forum to tell their story and allow them to find something positive. By telling their stories, victims can begin to heal.

If you know of someone who has been a victim of DUII, or who has been convicted of DUII, and is willing to speak, please contact:

Pam Johnson
Head Coordinator
DUII Victim Impact Panel

541-270-0809
Schedule Information: 541-867-6047

www.victimsimpactpanel.org

When: Panels are held every other month on the third Tuesday at the Lincoln County Courthouse located at 225 West Olive Street in Newport, Oregon. For information about specific dates and times, please contact Pam Johnson at the phone number indicated above.

Some statistics:
15,936 people killed and over a million injured in 1998.
On average, a person drives drunk between 200 and 2000 times before being arrested for the first time.
DRUNK DRIVING IS A 100% PREVENTABLE CRIME! Many Americans die each year on our highways because someone had too much too drink.
On weekend nights between 10pm and 2am, it is estimated that every THIRD car has an impaired driver (every fifth car on week nights).

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