DWI checkpoints planned in March for Jackson County

Blue Springs, MO

Jackson County, Missouri drivers who like to sip or swig on alcohol and get behind a steering wheel should consider themselves warned by the Missouri State Highway Patrol: Don't do it.

Captain Vincent J. Ellis, commanding officer of Troop A, announced Thursday two DWI/DUI sobriety checkpoints will be held at undisclosed locations in Jackson County sometime in March. The DWI/DUI checkpoints will be a joint effort conducted with the Kansas City Police Department.

The DWI/DUI checkpoints are part of the continuing efforts to remove intoxicated drivers from the highways. The DWI/DUI checkpoints consist of officers stopping drivers at a set location and testing those who have been drinking. More >>

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Springfield, MO budget cut recommendations, DWI/DUI enforecement impact

Springfield, MO

In his budget cut recommendations police Chief Lynn Rowe suggests eliminating two officers designated for park central square and one officer dedicated to Commercial Street. His cuts would also eliminate a DWI enforcement officer and two traffic accident investigators. That last cut means the department would only investigate injury or fatality accidents... So if you're involved in a fender bender - you won't have a police report for your insurance claim.

The municipal court department head is suggesting eliminating the night court program. That would increase the time it takes for cases to go to trial.He also proposes cutting some funding for the public defender program.That means some criminals facing jail time could instead be fined and set free.If you think these cuts present a lot of legal issues, don't look to the city attorneys office to step in. City attorney Dan Wichmer suggests if a position has to be eliminated from the law department then it should be his.In his recommendation Wichmer says “I hired most of the department and they all gave up lucrative private practices to work here. I will not throw one of them overboard."

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DWI/DUI enforcement video system for Moberly, MO

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety recently purchased a video system for the Moberly Police Department for use in their patrol cars.

With the new in-car camera the Moberly police department will be able to document roadside DUI/DWI incidents, sobriety testing and capture events as they happen. More >>

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Man seriously hurt in Howell County crash is cited for DWI

Howell County, MO

A West Plains man suffered serious injuries in a Thursday crash in Howell County and received two citations, the Missouri Highway Patrol reported.

Bryan K. Harmon, 37, was injured in a 6 p.m. crash on U.S. 160 five miles west of West Plains when his westbound 1989 Chevrolet truck went off the roadway and hit a tree. Harmon was taken to Ozark Medical Center and then was flown to St. John's Hospital in Springfield for treatment.

The investigating trooper issued Harmon summons for driving while intoxicated (DWI) and careless and imprudent driving (C&I), the patrol reported.

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Two drunk drivers collide, both charged with DWI

Belle, MO

Officers took two Belle residents into custody for DWI Saturday morning after the individuals were involved in a motor vehicle accident with each other.

Officer Betty Sickendick stopped a car with extensive front-end damage in the Casey's General Store parking lot and Marshal Chris Heitman and Officer Chris Pyle responded to assist with the incident.

The driver, 23-year-old William J. Hightower, 5th, and his passenger, Malissa Smith, told the officers another vehicle backed into them at a high speed and then fled the scene. The incident injured both Hightower and Smith, and Smith was transported to Phelps County Hospital. Officers took Hightower into custody for DWI. More >>

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Springfield DWI sweep after game nets 10 arrests

Springfield, MO

More people were arrested for driving while intoxicated on Super Bowl Sunday than on New Year's Eve, according to the Greene County Sheriff's Department. The department arrested 10 people on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after the Sunday night game, the sheriff's department said in a news release.

The arrests occurred during a "saturation patrol" as deputies worked heavily traveled roads from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.

A similar effort New Year's Eve netted four DWI arrests.

"For a saturation patrol, (10) is a pretty good number," Greene County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Jim Arnott said.

Arnott said Super Bowl Sunday is "one of those known times" like New Year's Eve when a lot of people are expected to be drinking and driving.

"There's a national trend of the highest DWI-related arrests, and one of them is Super Bowl Sunday," he said, adding that New Year's Eve and Cinco de Mayo are also on the list.

Greene County deputies made about 78 car stops, issued 28 summonses for different offenses and served six active arrest warrants after the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Arnott said 14 deputies worked overtime during the saturation patrol. Overtime pay for the deputies was funded by a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

The extra enforcement is part of an ongoing effort to curb alcohol-related crashes, injuries and deaths in Greene County, according to the news release.

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DWI cases down in 2007 reports Marshall, MO police

Marshall, MO

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) arrests have been steadily decreasing since 2004, after 139 individuals were arrested. In 2007, only 58 were arrested for DWI. More >>

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K-State assistant suspended after DUI arrest

Kansas City, MO

Kansas State associate men’s basketball coach Dalonte Hill, arrested early Thursday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence, will not be on the bench Saturday when the No. 22 Wildcats play at Missouri.

The suspension was announced Thursday by athletic director Tim Weiser.

“I want to apologize for this incident,” Hill said in a prepared statement. “I am embarrassed for the attention this has brought to our program. I regret this situation taking away any attention from our team’s accomplishments and from our preparation for Saturday’s game with Missouri.”

Hill was pulled over for a routine check around 2 a.m. on McCall Road, according to Pottawatomie County Sheriff Greg Riat.

That was just hours after No. 22 Kansas State upset No. 2 Kansas 84-75 at Bramlage Coliseum.

“During a stop, a deputy developed probable cause to believe he (Hill) was under the influence,” Riat said.

Hill was later released after posting $500 bond. More >>

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