City of Columbia Missouri Police Department

600 E. Walnut Street
Columbia, MO 65201

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 28, 2013

CONTACT: Officer Nathan Turner
D.W.I. Enforcement Unit
(573)874-7652
[email protected]

Sergeant Curtis Perkins
Traffic Unit Supervisor
(573)874-6336
[email protected]

Officer Latisha Stroer, Public Information Officer
(573)874-7448
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Columbia Police Department Cracking Down On Impaired Drivers July 3rd-7th

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

COLUMBIA POLICE DEPARTMENT CRACKING DOWN ON IMPAIRED DRIVERS JULY 3RD - 7TH

 As part of the Columbia Police Department's continued efforts to remove impaired drivers from our roadways, enforcement efforts will be increased July 3 - July 7, 2013 during the statewide "Driver Sober Or Get Pulled Over Campaign". The Columbia Police Department will participate in a statewide campaign to enforce Missouri's DWI laws and keeping impaired drivers off the road.  The Columbia Police Department received a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation's Highway Safety Division to cover the overtime costs for officers working the special enforcement detail.

A portion of the increased focus on impaired driving during these dates will include at least one sobriety checkpoint within the City of Columbia., as well as increased saturation patrols for impaired drivers and for hazardous moving violations. Motorists encountering sobriety checkpoint should expect minimal delays.

Impaired driving contributes to more than 30 percent of Missouri traffic fatalities. In 2012, 244 people were killed and 885 seriously injured in crashes involving an impaired driver. Missouri has a Zero Tolenance law. If you are under 21, your license will be suspended if you are caught driving with even a trace of alcohol in your body. If you cause a fatal crash while intoxicated, you could be charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, a felony punishable by up to 7 years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both. Your license can be suspended for 90 days on your first arrest for driving while intoxicated. Your second offense results in a year-long revocation of your  license , a fine of up to $1,000, and up to one year in jail. Any person guilty of a second or subsequent alcohol related traffic offense will be required to have an ignition interlock device installed on their vehicle before their driving privileges are reinstated.

"There's never a reason for driving while intoxicated," stated Columbia Police Department DWI Enforcement  Officer Nathan Turner. "Impaired driving is a preventable crime, and the Columbia Police Department will continue to have a zero-tolerance approach to those who choose to drink and drive on Columbia's roadways."



City of Columbia Vision
Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.

City of Columbia Mission
To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.

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