Friday Musings 9-13-13 Whiskey Plates

Carrot or Stick  ..... Whiskey Plates?   

When I was on being questioned to be on a jury duty in August the judge asked the group of potential jurors if anyone had been picked up for drinking and driving? and calmed the anxious jurors before we answered saying... "don't be ashamed, it happens a lot." While I did not crank my head around like an owl to take a scientific poll... I think of the 28 of us, about 30-40% raised their hand for that offense. Having that experience was NOT a negative to be selected for this case for I think they wanted jurors who would be empathetic/sympathetic to people under the influence. But I really thought about this experience and started counting "whiskey" plates as I drove to and from work the following days. Judge Galler shares, "Have you ever seen these? They are a plainer-looking license plate that starts with the letter "W." Whiskey plates are issued for a variety of reasons all related in some way to illegal drinking and driving.  The license plates for every vehicle in the person's name (who committed the offense)— or vehicles he/she uses — will be revoked for a minimum of one year.  As vehicles without plates cannot be legally driven in Minnesota, whiskey plates are issued during the year of impoundment  There are a number of reasons for whiskey plates. First, it is hoped that the fear of having plates impounded will deter some people from driving drunk. Second, the plates themselves give a “heads up” to law enforcement officials to watch those vehicles more closely because they know that someone in the family has a history with DWI. Third, they soften the hardship on innocent family members who still need to drive as a normal part of everyday life. Hopefully, if you now see whiskey plates on the road it will be a helpful reminder that it is important for all of us to avoid drinking and driving." Judge Greg Galler -Washington County. As I am observing those around me on the crowded highways, I must remember there are many folks out there driving with whiskey plates that are only doing so only because they live in a household where someone - not them - was picked up for drinking and driving. Is this "stick" working? Does it impact behavior of individuals or those around them? What other public policy would result in behavior change?  More encouragement of designated drivers? What public or environmental policies act at "sticks" for our work? Mandated parenting while going through divorce? Higher rates of health insurance if you don't "do" healthy activities?  All the same, I have started riding the bus to work, when possible, and I have started doing email or watching/listening to TED talks when going to and from work... and NOT focusing on counting whiskey plates.

What does the fox say?

On a lighter note... as the mother of a teenage girl I feel a need to share her perspective of what "trending on social media." Watch this viral video on YouTube  from a Norwegian band answering the burning question of... "what does the fox say?" .

 

Update on funding requests to conduct our work

Unfortunately we did not receive the MNsure grant we submitted - although I did get my hopes up when I saw in the paper, based on public feedback, they will be funding a few more submissions with a focus on populations that our submission targeted. Phone has not rung yet.  Brianna Routh submitted a grant this week to NCFR to support our work on overindulgence in partnership with  Jean Illsley Clarke.  Next week we go "live" with Financial Educator Certification on-line education, with the development and piloting funded by a United Way grant received by Dr. Catherine Solheim. Thanks Mary Jo  in working with Dr. Solheim as this project has developed over the past couple of years and thanks to Sara Croymans and Shirley Anderson-Porisch for being part of this project.

UMConnect Contest Winners

Thank you to the three entries to our UM Connect Contest. Please take a few moments to watch these innovative submissions....

• Learn More about MNSure - from Mary Jo Katras
• Learn more about Growing Up Resilient - from Brianna Routh
• Games Divorcing Parents Play from Ellie McCann (a synchronous learning)

Note - This blog is written primarily for the FR FRM team for information and sometimes entertainment.  I will quote from other websites and put those quotes in italics and provide the link. It is intended to be a dynamic mode of communication with hope that those who read it participate through the comment opportunity.