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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 1988)
Thursday, September 9, 1988TThe Battalion/Page 3 State and Local X 'sand', ytinif r gei| [hy 'll pu l Authorities test videotaping of DWI case By Richard Tijerina Staff' Writer 1 To determine whether the use of a video tape showing drivers suspected of being in toxicated as they take sobriety tests could be nsed successfully as evidence in court, Bra- |os County law enforcement authorities im plemented a short-term videotaping pro- am during the summer. The program, coordinated by the unty Attorney’s office, was funded by a ite grant of $10,000 which provided over lie pay for the police officers using the ifeimeras. ■ The DWI videotaping program called for two cameras to be used in Brazos Bounty by field officers. ■ The cameras, which were not provided for in the grant, were purchased by the , ^Bounty Attorney’s office. () j overtime funding pro- ce I'^Bded for by the grant lasted from June 9 to ill zo- ea> P i( ■t: 1 - St.I a. . tin xxj.[ Intel lodi] August 31, although the Bryan police de partment had been using a camera since last December. Because of the success of the videotaping program, Kristi Matthews, coordinator of the Brazos County Anti-DWI program, said she sought state funding for the purchase of more cameras. She found support through the traffic safety funds of the State Highway Depart ment. “The grant provided for us to implement a planned mobile DWI videotaping pro gram involving the making of a visual re cord with mobile oversight,” she said. “We could videotape those persons detected and apprehended who had been driving while intoxicated.” The immediate results of the program were encouraging, Matthews said. “We have gotten some very good results from the program,” she said. “The tapes we’ve gotten have been really productive because it’s making an actual record of the subject on film.” Of the 236 DWI misdemeanor arrests made in Brazos County during June, July and August by the Department of Public Safety and the Bryan, College Station and University police departments, 50 were re corded on videotape. Misdemeanor arrests are classified as the suspect’s first or second offense. Subse quent offenses are considered felonies. The number of felony arrests for DWI in June, July and August is not yet available from the District Attorney’s office. So far, only one videotaped suspect has taken his case to court. That case, according to the County Attorney’s office, begins Monday and is being handled by assistant County Attorney Sandra Dent. Dent said that the defendant already had filed a motion with the court to suppress the audio portions of the videotape on the basis that he had not been read his Miranda rights before he unknowingly spoke while on videotape. The court denied the motion, however, saying that the field officer had acted prop erly at the scene. Because of its potential for success, Dent and Matthews agreed that the program would be useful in court. “The program should provide informa tion to the prosecution,” Matthews said. “Right now, we’re looking at it as more of a prosecuting tool than an enforcing tool. It can be so effective in court because it shows what the officer has seen, along with his first contact with the suspect.” Matthews said that videotaping always has been used at the county jail, but that ac tual videotaping at the scene on the field would be more accurate because the sus pect’s performance in jail is significantly different from his performance on the road. Brazos County is the first Texas county to receive a videotaping grant. Although all of the funds allotted for officers’ overtime pay has been spent, Matthews said that po lice will continue to use the cameras. roup sponsors political events for A&M students SC Political Forum hopes to educate its audience By Kelly S. Brown Staff Writer Elephants, donkeys and those ^^^Bithout a political preference all ^nnsolidate — forming somewhat of ^■n ideological melting pot — in the MSC Political Forum. Political Forum is a non-partisan ^^Bolitical programming committee ^Bith a goal of educating its audience ^By presenting a wide spectrum of ^■iews from lobbyists, media and sin- ^Ble-issue advocates and major politi- j^Bal figures, Ana deCardenas, Politi- ^Bal Forum chairman, said. “We don’t care what political Sui<Biews a student has,” deCardenas ail«Hi»id. “The program, which is open Su all students and does not require interview or dues, stresses lead- ^Brship, organization and especially f®^Btudent development." Student committees in Political W^Borum choose issues they want to isc^Beal with, research the topics, find te names of those involved, and find speakers who will interest the Texas A&M audience, she said. Sometimes the group approaches prospective speakers in person. “We go to Washington D.C. and Austin once a year, not only to tour the government buildings, but to make contact with embassies, candi dates and other prosepective speak ers,” deCardenas said. Previous topics that Political Fo rum has covered include “Vietnam Today,” the Soviet space program, “The Religion,” U.S.-Soviet rela tions, mock elections and the E.L. Miller Lecture Series. Public Forum also sponsors Elec tion Awareness Day in the fall and Political Awareness Day in the spring. During the year, Political Forum invites political candidates from the presidential, senatorial, congressio nal and state races to speak at A&M, but it is not always possible for all of those invited to accept. In 1986, Political Forum invited gubernatorial candidates Bill Clem ents and Mark White to a debate. Clements accepted, but White de clined. Because Clements would be the only candidate attending, the group decided that it would be unfair to present only his views. Rather than cancel the program, they changed its orientation to “The Panorama of Re publican Perspectives.” Vice Presi dent George Bush, U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm and U.S. Rep. Joe Barton also attended with Clements. James Reynolds, director of the Memorial Student Center, said, “Of course it was not possible to spread the word that the program had changed, so some people became frustrated thinking Political Forum was favoring the Republican Party. “The Faculty Senate announced that they were going to investigate the situation and we told them tlieyl didn’t have the authority to do so. There were some sincere questions brought up and they were answered. Political Forum was not favoring any candidate, they changed the pro gram and, unfortunately, a misun derstanding emerged.” In this election year, multitudes of endorsers want to speak on behalf of their candidates. DeCardenas said Political Forum does not actively seek endorsements, but in order to provide a balanced view of the presidential race, the group has agreed to present en dorsements according to Political Forum’s established goals and guidelines. One of the guidelines states, “Be cause of the high number of pro grams presented by Politcal Forum, only two endorsements will be al lowed per party. Selection of the en dorsers will be handled through these offices in the following order: State Party Office, U.S-. Senator’s Of fice or U.S. Congressman’s Office.” Political Forum will not present any single candidate or endorser al ter Oct. 31. Luke Altendorf, an MSC staff ad viser for Political Forum, said the or ganization encourages the partici pation of all students and political candidates. “However, I would like to stress that Aggie GOP and Aggie Demo crats are in no way connected with Political Forum,” Altendorf said. “We are here to educate the public on the issues, so as voters, they can make a responsible decision.” Because Political Forum does not endorse specific parties or candi dates, the group does not participate in political rallies, deCardenas said. “We will not sponsor any type of political rally, particularly on Uni versity property, and we don’t allow banners, flyers, posters, any propa ganda or yelling in the auditorium,” she said. Political Forum is trying to orga nize a debate between presidential candidates George Busn and Mi chael Dukakis before the November election. The group will sponsor a presen tation by Col. Charles Scott, a for mer Iranian hostage and military in telligence expert, in Rudder Theater on Sept. 21. Scott will speak about “Terrorism and the Persian Gulf.” Correction An article in Thursdays’ Battal ion incorrectly listed the deadline for December graduates to file for degrees. Seniors and graduate students who will graduate in December must fill out a degree request form before 5 p.m. Sept. 16. Seniors should go to Heaton Hall for their forms. Graduate students are instructed to go to the office of graduate students at the Olinf Teague Research Cen ter. t PmK APPA -L AU Fin ihe I whil he 4 he !. itkfl AND AGAIN FEATURING ie r f LUAU ANNUAL BLOWOUT SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 10 8:30 AT PHI TAU HOUSE 26th St. □ Phi Tau House Bryan 609 W. 26th St. HEADIN’, ‘RUIN’, AND RABBITS! Texas A&M PHI TAU FALL RUSH 88 FOR MORE INFO CALL PHI TAU HOUSE AT 822-7837 University NOW SHOWING AT THEATRES EVERYWHERE