Memorial Day weekend atrol enforcement nets 10 DWI arrests in Boone County

Columbia, MO

Missouri State troopers made 10 driving while intoxicated (DWI) arrests during a special enforcement over the weekend in Boone County.

Officers on Saturday stopped 77 vehicles in Boone County, Troop F of the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported in a news release. Troopers also made one misdemeanor drug arrest and an arrest on a misdemeanor warrant, the news release said.

Other alleged violations included three citations for speeding, one for careless and imprudent driving (C&I), four for failure to wear seat belt, one stop sign violation, three other hazardous moving violations, five nonmoving violations, three driver’s license infractions, three failure to provide insurance, one signal light violation and six minor in possession of alcohol citations. Troopers also issued 119 warnings, the news release said.

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DWI saturation patrol to focus on Jasper County

Carthage, MO

From Memorial Day weekend through June, Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers will spend extra time in Jasper County looking for drunk and dangerous drivers. Patrol Sgt. Mike Watson said the patrol will have extra officers on the roads and highways this weekend as it does on every holiday that usually features extra travelers on the road.

"Friday and Sunday are our heavy traffic days this weekend, so we'll definitely have more officers out on those days," Watson said. "Every officers who is not on extended leave, that's our term for vacation, will be on the street over the holiday weekend." Watson said 12 people were killed on Missouri highways in 2006, and 11 people were killed in 2007. "Fatality reduction is our main goal," Watson said. "We dropped below 1,000 fatalities on Missouri roads last year, a year ahead of schedule. This year we're running 10 percent below last year's fatality total."

June patrols

Coming in June, troopers, in cooperation with local law enforcement officers, will focus on Jasper County in two separate enforcement events. Sometime in June, officers will hold a "DWI saturation" in Jasper County. Another time, officers will hold a "sobriety checkpoint."

Watson said the difference is saturations are mobile enforcement events, while checkpoints are stationary.
"In a saturation event, we bring in extra officers and patrol the different roads more heavily on a given night," Watson said. "In a checkpoint, we bring in extra officers and set up at a point determined by a method that takes into account the number alcohol-related contacts at a certain place in the county."

Capt. Randy Beydler, commander of the Springfield-based Highway Patrol Troop D, announced the saturation patrol and checkpoint in releases issued earlier this week. "The Missouri State Highway Patrol is committed to removing intoxicated drivers from our highways," Beydler said. "Saturations and sobriety checkpoints are part of the Patrol's strategy to make Missouri's roadways safer."

Saturation events have no special rules because officers make traffic stops as they would in a normal patrol.
Checkpoints are different in that they can affect the flow of traffic through a certain point. According to the patrol's written release, drivers approaching checkpoints should carefully follow the directions posted on signs and watch for signals from traffic control officers. Upon contact with officers, drivers will be asked to produce their driver's license and proof of insurance. Normally, the wait at a checkpoint is less than five minutes. Unless officers suspect drinking or other violations, most drivers will not be asked to exit their vehicles.

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Roadside memorial plan seeks to increase awareness of drunken driving

St. Louis, MO

Here's an example of the incredibly confused logic of the DWI industry:

The statistics: 991 people died in traffic crashes in Missouri last year. 242 of the crashes are said to have "involved alcohol" (not caused by drunk driving).

The ridiculously illogical conclusion drawn therefrom by feeble-minded, data-analysis-impaired state Representative Bill Deeken (R-Jefferson City): "If we can get the drunk drivers off the highways, we can cut the deaths in half."

The statistic doesn't refer to any data relating to drunkenness, doesn't refer to any data relating to crash causation, doesn't indicate how many crashes occurred, etc....you get the picture.

Deeken's reasoning is on the level of that which would lead to the conclusion that fireman start house fires. They always are there, after all, when a house is burning.

She graduated from high school, married and gave birth to three children For all of these events, Gail Rehme's brothers and sisters were by her side - all except one brother, David Poenicke.

He was struck and killed by a drunken driver when Rehme was 10 year old."To not have him at my graduation was really emotional for me. To not have him at my wedding," she said. "It's hit me harder since I've been older."

In her brother's memory, Rehme, 34, of Florissant, started a campaign to memorialize people killed by drunken drivers. The prospective legislation, called "David's Law," was up for passage this session in the General Assembly, but stalled.

Rehme plans to try again. The genesis of the bill lies in Rehme's love for her brother.

A sister's love

Poenicke was 19 years old when he was killed. It was 1984. He and his girlfriend were riding home on his motorcycle from a Cardinals baseball game.

They stopped to get some fast food. A soda spilled as they were riding to the family home in Ferguson, so they pulled onto the shoulder of Interstate 70 near an interchange ramp. David got off the motorcycle. That's when a car struck and killed him.

The family didn't go to counseling. They relied on faith to get them through.

Life moved on quickly. David's funeral was on a Friday and their mother cleaned out his room before taking the family to Tennessee for a cousin's wedding that Sunday.

The affect his death had on family and friends began to echo.

Rehme's aunt, Carol Grzovic of Oakville, likened David's death to throwing a rock in a pond. The tragic event touched his family, schoolmates and co-workers at his part-time job.

"David was popular at school. He was a very likeable young man, just getting started with his life," Grzovic said. "I never personally have been at a funeral with more young people."

Her brother's death affected Rehme's choices for the next several years. She became the president of Students Against Driving Drunk - now called Students Against Destructive Decisions - at her junior high. She stayed involved with SADD in high school and also became involved with Drug Abuse Resistance Education, commonly known as D.A.R.E.

In 2004, Rehme wanted to do something special to commemorate the 20th anniversary of her brother's death. She went to bed thinking about it and woke up with the idea for roadside memorial signs.

She took the idea to the Gateway Affiliate of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD. They liked the idea, but told her it would take years to get a measure written and passed in the General Assembly. Rehme became discouraged and the idea was shelved.

Then her husband was listening to the Paul Harris Show a couple of years ago when he heard a discussion of roadside memorials. Rehme e-mailed the show and they contacted her. She spoke to Florissant Mayor Robert Lowery, who guided her to state Rep. Bill Deeken, R-Jefferson City, and state Sen. Tim Green, D-North County, who sponsored versions of the bill in the legislature.

Makeshift memorials

David's Law would establish standard highway signs in memory of people killed by drunken drivers. Many people already have been erecting memorials of their own design.

Small clusters of objects - crosses, flowers, teddy bears and other mementos - are commonplace along roadsides near scenes of fatal crashes. Some memorials have names etched on the crosses. Others are more anonymous. People usually would need to know the people killed in the crash to know who the memorials represent.

One of the area's more widely known memorials sits along Interstate 370 near the St. Louis Mills shopping mall.

The marker was erected by family and friends of Bridgeton Police Officer Scott Armstrong, who died on Jan. 12, 2005, when a drunken driver hit his patrol cruiser head-on.

Armstrong's sister, April Barthelmass of Kirkwood, now works as the victim advocate for MADD's Gateway affiliate. The memorial to Armstrong is a cross with a photograph of the officer. Barthelmass said her mother regularly goes out to place seasonal decorations at the site.

"She finds it as a comfort for her," Barthelmass said.

The state tries to discourage people from creating their own roadside memorials.

Jeff Briggs, a spokesman for the Missouri Department of Transportation, said erecting the signs can be hazardous. People put themselves in danger when they park along the highways and get out of their cars to arrange or maintain a memorial.

When people call MoDOT asking if they can put out these private memorials, MoDOT offers them the option of adopting a portion of highway. Some choose this option.

Yet when people elect to risk walking along a highway and put up their own memorial, MoDOT leaves them there.

"We realize they are important to the people who put them up. We respect that," Briggs said. "If they are already up we do our best to leave them alone unless they present a safety or visibility hazard. If we can mow around them, we do."

Deeken, the state representative, has caught himself looking off the road at the signs to try to learn if he knew the person killed there. He hopes the legislation will one day pass and provide a less distracting option for grieving families and a deterrent to people who might drive drunk.

David's Law

Green sponsored a highway memorial sign bill last year in the Missouri Senate, but it did not become law. Deeken sponsored the bill this year in the Missouri House. It was combined with other modifications to Missouri's transportation laws under Senate Bill 761. The bill failed to get a reading in the final week of the legislative session, which ended Friday.

The bill would have allowed relatives of drunken driving victims to pay a $1,040 installation and maintenance fee to have the signs erected. Rehme plans to raise money to cover the fee for families that cannot afford it.

MoDOT crews would install the signs and they would remain for 10 years with the option for another 10 years.

The signs would read "Drunk Driving Victim," include the victim's initials and the month and year of the fatal crash and ask "Who's Next?"

Nine other states have similar programs. Some offer memorial signs for victims of drunken drivers. Some extend it to drunken drivers killed in crashes. Others offer memorial signs for anyone killed in a highway crash regardless of whether alcohol was involved.

Deeken said Missouri could later expand the availability of memorial signs, but he first wants to focus on victims of drunken drivers.

Last year, 991 people died in traffic crashes in Missouri - 242 of them involving alcohol. Deeken said people seeing the signs might notice the shear volume of alcohol-related traffic deaths and possibly make them think twice about drinking and driving.

"If we can get the drunk drivers off the highways, we can cut the deaths in half," he said.

Will people want them?

Barthelmass does not join her mother at the memorial to her brother. She doesn't think it's safe, so she visits her brother's grave instead. She also does not think everyone will prefer the state version.

"I think people will probably still keep putting up the personalized ones," she said. "They are going to memorialize it in a way that comforts them. It depends on the person and how they look at the situation and what they feel brings them comfort.

"Memorializing your loved one is definitely part of the healing process."

After her brother's death, Barthelmass began noticing crosses on the highway all the time. She wanted to know the story behind each memorial.

Rehme said she ultimately plans to put up a Web site that would list the initials and crash date for each state sign and tell the story of each person killed.

Rehme realizes some people will still want personalized memorials. She also said that putting up one memorial sign will make little difference, but she hopes many people will want them.

"Seeing two and three and more is going to raise awareness again and again," she said.

Grzovic said any memorial will be beneficial to the family, which is still dealing with grief more than 23 years after her nephew's death.

"I think it's some way for the family to do something," she said. "To have something to actually do - some material thing."

What have other states done?

The Missouri Legislature might someday enact a law that would allow people to have a highway sign erected in memory of a loved one killed in an alcohol-related traffic crash.

Here's what other states have done:

Alaska: Offers signs memorializing people killed by drunken drivers, intoxicated drivers who die in crashes and people killed in non-alcohol related crashes. Signs read "Please Don't Drink and Drive" or "Please Drive Safely" and list the name of the victim or sponsor for the sign.

California: Offers signs memorializing people killed by drunken drivers. Signs read "Please Don't Drink and Drive" and list the name of the victim.

Colorado: Offers signs memorializing people killed by drunken drivers. Also offers signs for intoxicated drivers killed in crashes, but only with the consent of victim's families. The signs read "Don't Drink and Drive" and list the name of the victim.

Florida: Offers signs memorializing any person killed in a traffic crash. The signs read "Drive safely."

New Hampshire: Offers signs memorializing the victims of alcohol-related fatal crashes. The signs read "Please Don't Drink and Drive" and list the name of the victim.

New Mexico: Offers signs memorializing the victims of alcohol-related fatal crashes. The signs read "Please Don't Drink and Drive" and list the name of the victim.

Texas: Offers signs memorializing the victims of alcohol-related fatal crashes. The signs read "Please Don't Drink and Drive" and list the name of the victim and date of the crash.

Washington: Offers signs memorializing the victims of alcohol-related fatal crashes. The signs read "Please Don't Drink and Drive" and list the name of the victim.

Wyoming: Offers signs memorializing anyone killed in a traffic crash. The signs feature the image of a dove flying across a broken heart.

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Victims want tougher sentences for DWI/DUI and providing alcohol to minors

Joplin, MO

Tougher laws needed, some victims claim

Heather Jensen, 29, spent four years in prison for killing her best friend while driving under the influence of methamphetamines. She called her sentence a slap on the wrist.

“I should have gotten more time,” Jensen, of Webb City, said.

Today, Jensen is a proponent of tougher sentences for anyone involved in driving while under the influence of any substance or for providing drugs or alcohol to minors, especially if someone dies because of it.

Jensen isn’t alone.

Police officers, victims’ families and others are calling for tougher penalties for those involved in the deaths of teenagers when alcohol, drugs, recklessness or negligence is involved.

Missouri law

Dan Whitworth, a general practice attorney in Joplin, said penalties for driving under the influence, being a minor in possession or selling or providing alcohol to a minor vary from a fine to 5 to 15 years behind bars.

A minor who is driving is considered intoxicated at a much lower level than adults, he said. Minors can be arrested for DWI at 0.02, while adults have to register 0.08. People can be charged with driving under the influence of drugs with any amount of the drug in their system, Whitworth said.

A first-offense DUI is a Class B misdemeanor in Missouri punishable by a fine of up to $500 and six months in jail. Repeat offenders can get progressively more serious fines and jail time — up to $5,000 and 5 to 15 years in prison, according to Missouri statutes.

“You do see people get that much but they really have to be a perpetual offender,” Whitworth said.

In Missouri, minors also can be charged with possession of alcohol if they are found with the bottle, or with alcohol in their blood stream. That minor in possession by consumption law is unique to Missouri, Whitworth said. The penalty for being a minor in possession is similar to, but lower, than the beginning penalty for DWI or DUI.

Providing alcohol to a minor, either by selling it as a retailer or furnishing it to them as a friend or parent also carries a fine of $500 and not more than 6 months in jail. On the second offense, Whitworth said that penalty can jump to a fine of up to $1,000 and one year in county jail.

Businesses that sell to minors can also face other penalties as well. The employee who sold the alcohol can be fined or charged as well as the business.



Tougher laws needed, some victims claim

“They’re looking for repeat violations,” he said. “(Alcohol Control) is very serious with how they do it. They make those businesses stay on their toes.”

The record

Records from the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control indicate most businesses that sell alcohol to minors are generally fined, or at most lose their liquor license for just a few days.

According to documents obtained through a Missouri Open Records request, there were 43 alcohol retailers in Jasper and Newton counties cited for selling alcohol to a minor from Jan. 1, 2006, to the present. Most of those businesses were fined, with fines ranging from $150 to $700. The average fine was $200 to $400. Several businesses caught during that time were only warned. Four of the businesses were suspended from selling alcohol for up to 5 days as a penalty; none had their licenses permanently revoked.

Documents provided by the state agency also suggest a varied response to repeat offenses.

A Kum & Go, 3505 S. Range Line Road, was cited on Jan. 7 and again on Jan. 28, 2006, for selling to minors, but only received warnings each time. A Grace Energy location, 3347 Range Line Road, was cited March 16 and again on May 18, 2007, and received fines of $500 and $700 respectively.

“I don’t think they are near tough enough,” said Kerry Freeman, head of Jasper County’s Mothers Against Drunk Driving. “I would think they do need to lose their license ... pull their license, that would hit their pocketbooks more than a $500 fine.”

Sue Hirshey, owner of Sue’s C-Store, 26206 Fir Road, in Carl Junction, said consistency and observation are needed from the stores to screen underage kids and to ensure adults are not purchasing for minors. Sue’s C-Store has no violations for sales to underage minors.

“It’s just a matter of carding everyone,” Hirshey said in a phone interview.

One situation that Hirshey or her employees have seen is where an adult will enter the store and try to purchase alcohol -- with several teens waiting in their car.

Sometimes, it’s just parents buying alcohol for themselves while

“You just have to watch the situation and try to read people,” Hirshey said. “We have refused to sell if it looks like they are taking orders for kids

The Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control did not return multiple phone calls made to its Jefferson City office over the last two weeks.

Freeman wants tougher sentences not only for retailers but also for any adult who buys it for a minor as well as those who are driving drunk.

Freeman’s 18-year-old daughter, Christina, was killed after getting in the car with a 17-year-old driver, who according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, had allegedly been using drugs and alcohol. More >>

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Drunken boating standard lowered in Missouri

Jefferson, MO

Missouri's threshold for drunken boating on lakes and major rivers soon could be lowered to the same level as that for drivers.

Legislation sent to the governor Friday drops the legal
blood-alcohol limit to 0.08 percent. It would apply to lakes and
the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

Lawmakers in 2001 lowered the roadway drunken driving threshold to 0.08 percent.

The bill also requires boats to travel at no-wake speeds within 100 feet of the Water Patrol and other emergency vessels with red or blue lights.

Another provision lets previous convictions in municipal court count in determining whether someone is a repeat drunken driver or boater. The state Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that they did not count.

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Saturation nets 10 percent drunken drivers in Camden County

Jefferson City, MO

The Missouri Highway Patrol chose Camden County for a driving-while-intoxicated saturation patrol last weekend because of the high number of fatalities that occur in alcohol-related accidents, according to a press release issued Friday.

Last weekend's efforts further substantiated the problem ' of the 183 vehicles stopped from May 3-5, 17 arrests were made for driving while intoxicated and two were made for misdemeanor drugs.

Four people were arrested on outstanding warrants, 13 speeding citations were issued along with 10 for seat belts along and three for careless and imprudent driving.

There were 220 warnings written by patrolmen.

The special operation was funded from the Highway Patrol budget and a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation's Office of Highway Safety.

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Deputies arrest trio for DWI in Rolla

Rolla, MO

Deputies from the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, participating in a statewide effort to crack down on drunken driving, made three arrests for DWI during a three-day period.


Working with other law-enforcement agencies, Sheriff’s Department officials stopped 84 vehicles, which resulted in 61 warnings, 13 citations for various moving violations, two arrests for driving on a suspended license and three arrests for driving while intoxicated.


The officers also arrested one for person for failing to maintain financial responsibility.
The crackdown was between May 2 and 5, and it included extra sheriff’s deputies and a coordinated effort from several statewide policing agencies.


“Hopefully, these efforts, combined with those from other agencies, will make the streets of Phelps County and Missouri a little safer,” said Sheriff Don Blankenship.
“This is the second such program we have participated in this year and if it saves just one life, it will be time well spent,” he said.


Non-traffic arrests included one for possession of methamphetamine, two for possession of marijuana and four warrant arrests.


In 2007, the Sheriff’s Department made 25 arrests for driving while intoxicated. To date this year, that number has increased to 48, as a result of these programs.


Meanwhile, the Missouri State Highway Patrol at Troop I in Rolla, will be conducting sobriety checkpoint in Phelps Count.


The checkpoint will be staged in an area and on a highway where numerous alcohol-related traffic crashes have occurred.


The Patrol urges all motorist passing through the checkpoint to use extra caution by slowing down, keeping eyes on the road and vehicles ahead for any sudden stopping, and to follow the directions of the officers.


Motorists passing through a checkpoint should have their driver’s license and insurance papers ready for inspection by one of the troopers.


“We can all help make our roads safer by simply making the wise decision to not drink and drive,” Capt. Randy Becker said.

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Cinco de Mayo patrol nets 11 DWI arrests in Kansas CIty

Kansas City, MO

Kansas City police made 11 intoxicated driving arrests in a special Cinco de Mayo Day patrol.

The patrol was held from 8 p.m. Monday to 4 a.m. Tuesday. During that sweep, police issued seven tickets for driving with a suspended or revoked license as well as 17 hazardous moving violations and 30 other traffic violations.

Also, one person was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, and four others were arrested on warrants.

An additional DUI crackdown, which was held between Friday and Sunday, netted six DUI arrests, 21 hazardous moving violations and three other traffic violations.

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Ignition interlock legislation to stop drunk driving

Jefferson City, MO

Imagine having to breathe into something before you can start you car.

Such a device is designed to prevent drunk drivers from starting their cars and some Missouri lawmakers think it will put the brakes on DWI offences.

This legislation is aimed toward keeping repeat drunk drivers from driving drunk. The ignition interlock is basically a breathalyzer device. It would be installed on cars belonging to repeat DWI and blood alcohol content offenders, to make it impossible for them to drive drunk.

"You're going to see a hundred cars," said Republican Representative Neal St. Onge. "Statistically, three of them are going to be drivers with multiple DWIs."

For many, this is a sobering statistic, a statistic that spurred the bill's sponsors to promote the interlock device bill.

The measure would require any driver found guilty of two or more DWI or BAC charges to have the device installed on their cars.

So if a person has been out drinking, if he were to get into his car he would have to blow into the device and if he blew a .025 or higher, his ignition would lock up when he tries to start his car, and he wouldn't be able to go anywhere."

"The thought that we could let these people continue to drive," said Republican Representative Ryan Silvery. "And let them get off without a felony conviction, even if they've had three, four, five drunk driving convictions, simply because they were municipal or county offenses, it just blew my mind.

If passed, the measure would require the driver to pay the fees to have the interlock device installed, which is not cheap. It costs between $400 to $500 to rent and have installed. And that is on top of all the other fees that come with a BAC or DWI charge.

Missouri DWI defense lawyers

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Man issued DWI summons after inured in one-car accident

Springfield, MO

A 49-year-old man from Success was issued a summons for driving while intoxicated, failure to stop at a stop sign and careless and imprudent driving after he was injured in a one-car crash Friday night at the intersection of Missouri 32 and Route 17, according to a report from the Missouri Highway Patrol.

Tommy L. Sutton was flown to St. John's Hospital in Springfield late Friday with injuries described as serious by the patrol.

Sutton was hurt when he failed to stop his 2000 Dodge Dakota at a stop sign, went off the road, struck a tree and his truck caught fire, according to the report. It was not clear whether Sutton was wearing a seat belt, the report said.

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Overland, St. John join DWI crackdown during long Cinco de Mayo weekend

St. Louis, MO

With a long Cinco de Mayo weekend as a backdrop, the Overland Police Department will be joining other area law enforcment agencies in cracking down on drunk driving.

The Mexican holiday — an observance of a particular battle against the French during the Mexican Revolution — has become one of this country’s leading occasions to party. This year, the festivities began today and will continue through Monday.

The crackdown on drunk drivers starts today, also, and continues through Monday.Other North County cities taking part in the stepped-up enforcement effort are Berkeley and St. John.

Capt. Russ Morris of St. John said Cinco de Mayo has been added to the list of other non-major holidays that have spawned a concern about impaired drivers.

“Thirty years ago, when I started as a policeman, there was only a few big holidays — the usual, New Year’s Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Now there’s also Mardi Gras, Cinco de Mayo and St. Patrick’s Day.”

Overland Police Cpl. Scott Barthelmass said the popularity of the Mexican historical event has spread across cultures, becoming a leading cause of celebration among non-Hispanics — and resulting in an increase of impaired drivers.

“The more we can do to deter and arrest these drivers, the better we can protect the public and make our roads safer,” he said.

A spokesman for the St. Louis County Police Department said that agency does not plan on increased enforcement efforts during Cinco de Mayo.

Police officials said that in 2006, 273 people died in more than 7,000 alcohol-related traffic crashes, amounting to a death or injury every 1.6 hours.

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Police slate DWI patrols in Carthage, MO

Carthage, MO

Extra Carthage police officers will be on the streets this weekend specifically to watch for drunk or otherwise impaired drivers as residents celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

Carthage Police Chief Greg Dagnan said the department has scheduled two officers to watch the streets and respond only to drivers who are impaired.

Dagnan said the overtime would be paid with a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

"Anyone who gets a MoDOT grant will be reimbursed their costs if they take part in these saturation patrols," Dagnan said. "We chose this weekend because of the Cinco de Mayo holiday."

May 5 is celebrated in the U.S. and around the world as a day to honor Mexican heritage. It is not the Mexican independence day as commonly believed.

Dagnan said the extra officers would be on Carthage streets throughout the weekend.

"It's never worth the risk to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Drivers could lose their license, pay large fines, or worst of all, cause a tragic loss of life," said Carthage Police Chief Greg Dagnan.

In 2006, 273 people died in more than 7,900 alcohol-related traffic crashes in Missouri.

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Special DWI enforcement scheduled

California, MO

Colonel James F. Keathley, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol announces the second special DWI enforcement program for 2008 is scheduled for May 2-5.

The Patrol will join with law enforcement agencies throughout the state during this program. This special DWI enforcement program is in addition to numerous other Selective Traffic Enforcement Programs conducted throughout the year. The Missouri Department of Transportation's Division of Highway Safety funds these additional DWI special enforcement programs.

The DWI special enforcement program will include both checkpoints and saturations. The goal of the program is to remove intoxicated drivers from Missouri's roadways and make travel safer for the citizens of this state.

“The Patrol has scheduled special DWI enforcement for four weekends in 2008. Every year impaired drivers are a danger to Missouri motorists,” said Colonel Keathley.

“Last year, drunk drivers killed 236 people. I believe saturations and checkpoints serve as a deterrent and saves lives. The Patrol is committed to working with the public and other law enforcement agencies to find and arrest impaired drivers.”

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