Submitted by

Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer

Jefferson City, Missouri - Missouri state and local law enforcement agencies will participate in the national effort to deter substance-impaired driving by conducting statewide sobriety checkpoints and DWI saturation patrols Aug. 16 through Sept. 2.



Officers will focus on enforcement of Missouri's DWI laws and keep impaired drivers off the road. The strong enforcement presence reinforces the importance of driving sober and the legal consequences of ignoring that advice. Missourians will hear and see the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over messages during this statewide public awareness campaign.



"A drunk driving arrest could cost you thousands of dollars in fines, court costs and lawyers fees," said Leanna Depue, executive chair of the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety. "If you're convicted of a DWI you could also lose your license, lose your job and even spend time behind bars."

The message is clear - Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.



The end of summer is always a busy travel time. Statewide, law enforcement made 714 DWI arrests during the impaired driving campaign in August and September of 2012. 

Unfortunately, substance-impaired driving contributes to nearly 30 percent of all Missouri traffic fatalities. We are all a part of the solution.

Please consider the following tips:



•·        Don't risk it - if you plan to drive, don't drink.



•·        Encourage safe driving behaviors among family, friends and co-workers.



•·        Choose a designated driver before partying.  A designated driver is someone who drinks NO alcohol at all.



•·       Take mass transit, a taxicab or ask a friend to drive you home if you have no designated driver and no other means of transportation.



•·       Party hosts should include alcohol-free beverages for designated drivers.



•·       Report impaired drivers to law enforcement.



•·       Always wear your safety belt - it's your best defense against an impaired driver.



If drivers choose to ignore the drive sober messages, there's a good chance they'll be stopped by law enforcement officers and ticketed. That's a tough experience, but it's much better than being arrested for causing a fatal crash.



In 2012 there were 230 people killed and 868 seriously injured in crashes that involved at least one impaired driver. 



To learn more about impaired driving and how you can Arrive Alive, visit saveMOlives.com, or follow social media at Save MO Lives, #drivesoberMO.