The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office will be participating in the Statewide Holiday DWI Enforcement Campaign to stop people from driving while impaired this Holiday season.  Enforcement efforts will be increased Dec. 5-12 and will focus on reducing deaths and serious injuries caused by impaired drivers.

"Losing a loved one during the Holiday season is a tragedy no one should have to endure," stated Sheriff Brad DeLay.  "Impaired driving is a preventable crime, and we intend to crack down so drivers feel secure when traveling on Missouri's roadways."

Consider some of the consequences if you are caught driving while intoxicated:

• For the first conviction (or first conviction in over five years), your license will be suspended for 30 days followed by a 60-day suspension if a hardship license is not obtained.
• A second conviction results in a $1,000 fine, a yearlong revocation of your license and up to a year in jail.  You will also be required to install an ignition interlock system on your vehicle, preventing your car from starting when you have alcohol on your breath.
• Third and subsequent convictions can be penalized with up to a $5,000 fine, a 10-year license denial, and/or up to seven years in jail.
• If you cause a fatal crash while intoxicated, you could be charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, a felony resulting in up to seven years of jail time, a $5,000 fine or both.

In 2010, 240 people were killed and 962 seriously injured in crashes involving an impaired driver.

To learn more about impaired driving, visit www.savemolives.com/.