Besides the loss of one’s driving privileges, possible fines and other penalities, a person convicted of driving under the influence is required to receive a DUI evaluation.

In DeKalb, DUI offenders can obtain an evaluation at the Ben Gordon Community Mental Health Center Inc, 12 Health Services Drive, which is a licensed DUI evaluation facility.

Ann Pletsch, director of substance abuse services at Ben Gordon, said the center conducts about 70 DUI evaluations a year. She said the evaluation consists of a one-meeting session in which the DUI offender is interviewed. Pletsch said a friend of the offender also might be interviewed in the evaluation process.

In addition to the interviews, the evaluator examines the offender’s records, and the driver is required to take a test, Pletsch said.

The DUI evaluation is used to determine whether an offender needs alcohol abuse treatment or counseling.

The center also offers remedial education about alcohol use, Pletsch said. She said the education is a 10-hour series, which runs for four evenings in a two-week period every two months.

The series covers such topics as alcoholism and includes speakers such as law enforcement officials, Pletsch said.

In addition to evaluation and education, Ben Gordon offers treatment for people who are dependent on alcohol or other chemicals, Pletsch said. She said the center also offers treatment, which includes counseling, for friends or relatives of people with substance abuse problems.

In order to prevent DUIs and to increase awareness of the consequences of drinking and driving in the community, a Students Against Drunk Drivers club was started at DeKalb High School about three years ago.

“We are trying to keep the issue (about drunk driving) in front of the student body on a regular basis,” said Joe Pasteris, SADD adviser. He said the club regularly tries to keep the students aware of drinking and driving by placing reminders on a bulletin board in the high school cafeteria.

In addition, SADD reminds students about drinking and driving at dances such as prom and homecoming, Pasteris said.

Although some SADD chapters have drinking and driving contracts between members and their parents, DeKalb High School’s chapter does not. “The contracts don’t seem to strike the right note with the kids,” Pasteris said. “They want to handle this on their own.”

However, Pasteris said he thinks the SADD members should sign contracts with their parents. “I think the parents need to be involved. The contracts are a good vehicle to use to open up the issue about alcohol use,” he said.

Pasteris said he also would like to see an assertiveness training program developed for younger students, such as seventh and eighth graders. The program would teach students to be more assertive when dealing with alcohol and drug problems, he said.

Last year, SADD sponsored a countywide-DUI day in which a demonstration of a DUI arrest was conducted, Pasteris said. He said the day enabled SADD members from different schools throughout the county to meet each other.

Pasteris said the only problem with SADD is that it only emphasizes abstinence from drinking when driving. However, he said that in the health classes at DeKalb High School, instructors try to teach the students about the entire issue of alcohol abuse.

The DeKalb Police Department also offers DUI clinics which are available to any interested group of citizens, such as schools, civic organizations, university clubs, fraternities and sororities, DeKalb Police Detective Bill Feithen said.