Research has shown that high-visibility enforcement such as the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign reduces substance-impaired driving by as much as 20 percent.
An increase in state and national messaging about the dangers of impaired driving, coupled with ramped up local enforcement activities, aim to drastically reduce drunk driving on our nation's roads.
The Jackson County Task Force along with several agencies across the metro including the Platte County Sheriff’s Office, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, St. Joseph Police Department, Kansas City Police Department, Independence Police Department, Raytown Police Department, Belton Police Department, Blue Springs Police Department, Raymore Police Department, Pleasant Hill Police Department, Mission Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol will be out in full force, stepping up DWI enforcement efforts. Police Officers will be aggressively looking for drunk drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone caught driving impaired.
“Impaired driving is extremely dangerous and puts the entire community at risk. Belton officers will be increasing their staffing this weekend and will be out in full force looking for impaired drivers”, says Lt. Travis George, Patrol Division Commander with the Belton MO Police Department. “If you are stopped for drinking and driving you will be arrested.” Blue Springs Deputy Chief Bob Muenz explains, “The city of Blue Springs considers the safety of the community as one of its primary objectives. The Police Department uses DWI enforcement campaigns such as this as not only a chance to remove intoxicated drivers from the roadway, but to educate the community on the dangers of intoxicated driving.”
The Kansas City Regional DWI Enforcement activities conducted this weekend will be dedicated to remember and honor victims of impaired driving crashes. In 2015, a total of 10,265 people died in drunk driving crashes - one every 51 minutes. That’s the equivalent of 20 jumbo jets crashing each year, with no survivors. Additionally, 290,000 people were injured in drunk driving crashes in 2015-equating to one person injured every 2 minutes. "This Labor Day, and every day, the decision to not drink and drive shouldn’t be a tough one,” said Susan DeCourcy, Regional Administrator NHTSA. “If you drink and drive, you could kill yourself or someone else. Don’t risk it.”
According to Leann Lewis, MADD Kansas City Heartland Chapter President, “High visibility law enforcement is an important component of MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. We greatly appreciate our law enforcement partners and commend their efforts to keep our roadways safe. Drunk driving is 100 percent preventable. With all of the transportation options today, there’s no excuse to drive impaired. In fact, drunk driving could end today, if everyone chose to never drink and drive.”
MoDOT Assistant District Engineer Chris Redline states, “MoDOT has long supported efforts to end impaired driving. We have lost one of our own employees due to reckless action of a drunk driver. Our goal is always to see every motorist go home safely. By ending impaired driving, we will be that much closer to that goal.” Chief Brad Halsey of the Independence Police Department adds, “Every life lost to drunk driving is an avoidable tragedy. Make the choice not to drink and drive this busy holiday weekend. The life you save may be that of someone you love or even your own.” This weekend and every day remember, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over!!
The Jackson County Task Force along with several agencies across the metro including the Platte County Sheriff’s Office, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, St. Joseph Police Department, Kansas City Police Department, Independence Police Department, Raytown Police Department, Belton Police Department, Blue Springs Police Department, Raymore Police Department, Pleasant Hill Police Department, Mission Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol will be out in full force, stepping up DWI enforcement efforts. Police Officers will be aggressively looking for drunk drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone caught driving impaired.
“Impaired driving is extremely dangerous and puts the entire community at risk. Belton officers will be increasing their staffing this weekend and will be out in full force looking for impaired drivers”, says Lt. Travis George, Patrol Division Commander with the Belton MO Police Department. “If you are stopped for drinking and driving you will be arrested.” Blue Springs Deputy Chief Bob Muenz explains, “The city of Blue Springs considers the safety of the community as one of its primary objectives. The Police Department uses DWI enforcement campaigns such as this as not only a chance to remove intoxicated drivers from the roadway, but to educate the community on the dangers of intoxicated driving.”
The Kansas City Regional DWI Enforcement activities conducted this weekend will be dedicated to remember and honor victims of impaired driving crashes. In 2015, a total of 10,265 people died in drunk driving crashes - one every 51 minutes. That’s the equivalent of 20 jumbo jets crashing each year, with no survivors. Additionally, 290,000 people were injured in drunk driving crashes in 2015-equating to one person injured every 2 minutes. "This Labor Day, and every day, the decision to not drink and drive shouldn’t be a tough one,” said Susan DeCourcy, Regional Administrator NHTSA. “If you drink and drive, you could kill yourself or someone else. Don’t risk it.”
According to Leann Lewis, MADD Kansas City Heartland Chapter President, “High visibility law enforcement is an important component of MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. We greatly appreciate our law enforcement partners and commend their efforts to keep our roadways safe. Drunk driving is 100 percent preventable. With all of the transportation options today, there’s no excuse to drive impaired. In fact, drunk driving could end today, if everyone chose to never drink and drive.”
MoDOT Assistant District Engineer Chris Redline states, “MoDOT has long supported efforts to end impaired driving. We have lost one of our own employees due to reckless action of a drunk driver. Our goal is always to see every motorist go home safely. By ending impaired driving, we will be that much closer to that goal.” Chief Brad Halsey of the Independence Police Department adds, “Every life lost to drunk driving is an avoidable tragedy. Make the choice not to drink and drive this busy holiday weekend. The life you save may be that of someone you love or even your own.” This weekend and every day remember, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over!!
