August/Labor Day Crackdown "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" (DSOGPO) 

Lawrence County Sheriff's Office Joins National August/Labor Day Crackdown "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" (DSOGPO) Weekend Crackdown

To Reduce Substance–Impaired Driving Fatalities

‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ Campaign Will Target Substance–Impaired Drivers

Local police will be out in full force as part of the annual nationwide August/Labor Day Crackdown weekend "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" crackdown on substance–impaired driving. The crackdown, which will include high-visibility enforcement throughout Lawrence County, will run from August 21-September 7, 2015.

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 over the August/Labor Day weekend holiday.

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 by alcohol and/or drugs.

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 and / or drugs. The latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration underscore the serious nature of the nation’s continuing impaired-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. "197 fatal and 659 serious injury crashes in 2014 that involved at least one substance-impaired driver. That equates to one substance-impaired driving fatality every 1 ¾ days and one substance-impaired driving serious injury ½ day.

Sheriff DeLay added the August/Labor Day Weekend holiday is particularly dangerous. During the Labor Day weekend holiday in 2014, there were 11 people killed and 42 seriously injured in Missouri traffic crashes involving a substance-impaired driver from August 15, 2014 through September 1, 2014.".

"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 Lawrence County’s roadways safer for everyone throughout the holiday," said Sheriff DeLay. 

"We want to remind everyone that getting behind the wheel impaired by alcohol and / or drugs is a terrible idea. Unfortunately, not only does alcohol and /or drugs 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 choose to drive impaired, you will be arrested. No warnings. No excuses," DeLay said.

Sheriff DeLay noted that being arrested for driving impaired 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 a job. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators also often face tremendous personal embarrassment.

"Substance–impaired driving 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 Sheriff DeLay

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