Lawrence County's Youth Alcohol Enforcement Campaign Joins National Crackdown

To Reduce Drunk Driving Fatalities

'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' Campaign Will Target Substance-Impaired Drivers.

 

Local and state law enforcement will be out in full force as part of the annual nationwide May/Youth Alcohol Enforcement Crackdown "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" substance-impaired driving crackdown.  The crackdown, which will include high-visibility enforcement throughout Lawrence County will run from May 3-14, 2018.

The effective nationwide substance-impaired driving crackdown will include high-visibility enforcement, high-profile events, and will be supported by national paid advertising, creating a comprehensive campaign to curb substance-impaired driving during the enforcement period.

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office said its deputies will be aggressively looking for substance-impaired drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone caught driving impaired.

Although it is illegal in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to drive impaired (having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher), far too many people across the nation get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or other illegal drugs.  The latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration underscore the serious nature of the nation's continuing drunk driving epidemic.

"Every year, about one third of all motor vehicle traffic deaths involve one or more substance-impaired drivers or motorcycle operators," said Sheriff Brad DeLay .  "In 2017, 185 people were killed and 592 seriously injured on Missouri's roadways in crashes that involved at least one substance-impaired driver."  That works out to approximately one substance0-impiared driver involved fatality every (2) two days.

"We want to remind everyone that getting behind the wheel impaired is a terrible idea.  Unfortunately, not only does being under the influence impair your ability to operate a vehicle safely , it also impairs your judgment and good sense about whether you can, or should drive.  If you have any doubt about your sobriety, do not get behind the wheel.  If you chose to drive impaired, you will be arrested.  NO warnings.  No excuses," Sheriff DeLay said.

Sheriff DeLay noted that being arrested for driving under the influence of any substance brings a wide range of negative consequences into one's life.  Substance-impaired drivers face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, and steep financial consequences such as higher insurance rates, attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of their job.  When family, friends and co=workers find our, violators also often face tremendous personal embarrassment.

"Driving while impaired is simply not work the risk.  So don't take the chance.  Remember, we will be out in force and we will be watching, so 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,'", said Sheriff DeLay.

For more information, visit the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" Campaign Headquarters at www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov, or www.saveMolives.com.