2Much2Lose Grant Funds Norman PD $80,000 to Stop Underage Drinking & DUI


The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office will up it's funding to the Norman Police Department to reduce the number of intoxicated drivers on Norman streets in 2009.

The increased enforcement is all part of the program and grant called 2Much 2Lose. The 2M2L program is a statewide initiative focused on reducing and preventing underage drinking through law enforcement efforts, community and social norms change, and youth leadership.

"This year the Norman PD will receive $80,000 to solely focus on the problem," Officer Dirck, Norman police officer says at a meeting with employees at Seven47 Restaurant and Bar.

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The program will instill many different tactics to fight underage drinking and intoxicated drivers.

DUI Checkpoints, which have become a standard on most busy weekend nights, will be funded by 2M2L. Other measures will include saturation patrols, educational tactics, and random ID checks at local Campus Corner bars, Officer Dirck said.

Many OU students are fully aware of DUI checkpoints and random ID checks, however saturation patrols are something the Department plans to make known with its recent budget increase. These patrols focus on certain neighborhood areas on any given nights. Police will be patrolling the random spots more heavily and will look for large numbers of parked cars on streets, indicating a possible house party.

The overall goal is to have a highly visible program that will discourage people who have been drinking from getting behind the wheel, and to target and address those who make the decision to drink underage.

"We certainly are not out to trick and get anyone with what we are doing," Officer Dirck said. "Underage drinking and driving under the influence are increasing problems and could result in dangerous consequences."

The program is designed to eliminate those who put themselves and potentially others at risk.

While many students feel the Norman PD are cracking down to hard they are simply protecting Norman residents with the best ways they know how.

Below is a Google Maps Image mapping the two main locations DUI checkpoints will be close to campus. Norman PD feels these two locations are heavy traffic spots for those leaving the bars and heading home. These won't be the only checkpoints, as other sites will be selected on any given night. The Checkpoint locations are conveyed by the maroon dots.Image from Google Maps, rendered by Hunter Mankin.