(From the Barton County Sheriff's Office)
Barton County Sheriff’s Office deputies will be out in full force as part of the annual statewide Holiday DWI “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” substance–impaired driving campaign. The campaign, which will include high-visibility enforcement throughout Barton County, will run from December 15, 2016 – January 1, 2017.
The effective nationwide substance–impaired driving campaign 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 over the Holiday DWI “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign period from December 15, 2016 – January 1, 2017.
Barton 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 too much alcohol. 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 Mitchell Shaw. “Data indicates in 2015, 197 people were killed on Missouri’s roadways in crashes that involved at least one substance-impaired driver.” That works out to approximately one substance-impaired driver involved fatality every 1-3/4 days.
Mitchell Shaw added the Christmas and New Year’s Eve Weekend is particularly dangerous. During the Holiday DWI “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign December 18, 2015 – January 3, 2016, eleven (11) people were killed and twenty-five (25) seriously injured involving at least one substance-impaired driver.
“Research has shown that high-visibility enforcement like the ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign reduces substance–impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. By joining this nationwide effort, we will make Barton County’s roadways safer for everyone throughout the holiday,” said Mitchell Shaw.
“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 do chose to drive impaired, you will be arrested. No warnings. No excuses,” Mitchell Shaw said.
Mitchell Shaw 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 job. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators also often face tremendous personal embarrassment.
“Driving while impaired is simply not worth 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 Mitchell Shaw.
For more information, visit the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign Headquarters at http://www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov, or http://www.saveMOlives.com.
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