STATEWIDE -- Preventing drunk driving by cracking down on bartenders, waitresses, and even drive-thru clerks. That's the aim of a new state task force called âTrace-Backâ Investigations. But many people think it places too much blame on the wrong people.
Just over one year ago, an accident killed Christina Jackson, 20, and Corey Cooper, 18. Itâs a painful day relived by Christinaâs mom, Beth Jackson, every day.
âSome days you're angry, some days you're upset, some days you don't know how to express how you feel,â she said.
The driver of the car that killed the young friends was drunk and averaging speeds up to 100 mph.
âHe chose to drive that car. Nobody made those choices for him and there were so many alternatives out there,â Jackson said.
Because there are so many drunk-driving accidents in Ohio, the state is having liquor agents work with State Troopers to investigating all deadly and serious OVI crashes. The goal of the Trace-Back Unit is to track down the person who served the drunk driver and charge them with a crime.
âHow are we going to know who served them or who didn't serve them. It's just taking more of our rights away. First it was no smoking, now this. It'll put all the bars out of business,â said Hankâs Hole in the Wall owner Greg Buchholz.
Buchholz says his bartenders are trained to not serve a customer that's highly intoxicated. But he adds, all his patrons should be responsible for their own actions.
âWe don't force it down nobody's throat. You have to purchase it. If they have the money, we sell it to them if they're not too bad off,â he said.
âIf they think that will fall back on them, they're going to be more aware of how much a person's drinking,â Jackson said.
As a former bartender, Jackson has mixed feelings on the new crackdown. But she's hoping it will encourage alcohol servers to take the initiative and make sure customers have a designated driver before pouring another drink.
The program goes into effect January 1. Under state law, serving alcohol to an already intoxicated person is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Just over one year ago, an accident killed Christina Jackson, 20, and Corey Cooper, 18. Itâs a painful day relived by Christinaâs mom, Beth Jackson, every day.
âSome days you're angry, some days you're upset, some days you don't know how to express how you feel,â she said.
The driver of the car that killed the young friends was drunk and averaging speeds up to 100 mph.
âHe chose to drive that car. Nobody made those choices for him and there were so many alternatives out there,â Jackson said.
Because there are so many drunk-driving accidents in Ohio, the state is having liquor agents work with State Troopers to investigating all deadly and serious OVI crashes. The goal of the Trace-Back Unit is to track down the person who served the drunk driver and charge them with a crime.
âHow are we going to know who served them or who didn't serve them. It's just taking more of our rights away. First it was no smoking, now this. It'll put all the bars out of business,â said Hankâs Hole in the Wall owner Greg Buchholz.
Buchholz says his bartenders are trained to not serve a customer that's highly intoxicated. But he adds, all his patrons should be responsible for their own actions.
âWe don't force it down nobody's throat. You have to purchase it. If they have the money, we sell it to them if they're not too bad off,â he said.
âIf they think that will fall back on them, they're going to be more aware of how much a person's drinking,â Jackson said.
As a former bartender, Jackson has mixed feelings on the new crackdown. But she's hoping it will encourage alcohol servers to take the initiative and make sure customers have a designated driver before pouring another drink.
The program goes into effect January 1. Under state law, serving alcohol to an already intoxicated person is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
