Highway Patrol plans DWI, moving violation saturations in Newton County

(From Highway Patrol Troop D)

Captain Juan Villanueva, commanding officer of Troop D, Springfield, announces that sometime during the month of May, Troop D will hold a sobriety checkpoint in Christian County. Troopers will also conduct driving while intoxicated saturations in Christian and Newton counties as well as hazardous moving violation saturations in Newton and Taney counties.

During the Memorial Day weekend, Troop D officers will once again be participating in special enforcement operations and will be tasked with vigorously enforcing all traffic laws and helping motorists in need of assistance. Throughout the holiday weekend, troopers within Troop D and throughout the state will be conducting peak travel crash reduction operations on designated highways on May 26, 2017, and May 29, 2017. During this enforcement program, extra troopers will be assigned to heavily traveled roadways to step up traffic enforcement with a goal of reducing traffic crashes over the holiday weekend. This year's Memorial Day weekend counting period is from 6 p.m., on Friday, May 26, 2017, to 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 29, 2017.

Troopers will also be out in full force on area lakes and rivers promoting safety on Missouri’s waterways. Watercraft operators must consider the effect their actions have on others: Share the waterway and use common sense, good judgment, and courtesy to ensure the safety of all. Life jackets save lives. Wear It!!

“Enforcement projects, saturations, and sobriety checkpoints are part of the Patrol’s strategy to make Missouri’s roadways and waterways safer,” said Captain Villanueva. “Please do your part. Whether you’re on the highway or on the water, be courteous and pay attention. If alcohol is part of your plan, don’t operate a vehicle or vessel. It truly is that simple. We want all of you to have a safe and enjoyable summer beginning with the Memorial Day weekend.”

The only 100 percent survivable traffic crash is the one that never happens. Make sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Every day as we travel on Missouri’s roadways, we trust that every driver on the road is going to obey the speed limit, pay attention, and drive sober. “Don’t Violate The Trust.”