Increased police patrols underway to snare drunk drivers
Hillsboro, MO
St. Patrick’s Day isn’t until Wednesday, but the state’s annual crackdown on drunk drivers is underway and this year’s effort includes a unit of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office devoted only to getting those motorists off the roads.Some of the Jefferson County vehicles that are part of DWI enforcement.
The statewide effort, which started Friday and runs through Sunday, is one of five geared around holidays associated with heavy drinking, officials announced at a press conference Friday in Arnold. The Jefferson County unit, which is comprised of three deputies and four Chevy Tahoes, was formed to combat the county’s serious problem with drivers who are under the influence of drugs and alcohol. It is funded by a $399,223 grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation Highway Safety Division.
For the past two years, Jefferson County has topped the state in alcohol-related crashes, including crashes that end in death or with a serious injury, said Lt. Col. Steve Meinberg of the sheriff’s office. Last year, 32 people died in traffic crashes in the county – 14 were alcohol-related.
Jefferson County became the eighth such unit in the state. The unit has made 125 arrests since it formed in October, Meinberg said. The unit runs seven days a week and officers only work on getting drunk or high drivers off the streets. They do not respond to other calls for police service, he said.
Authorities warned of a higher-than-usual police presence on the roads this weekend and urged people who had too much to drink to not get behind the wheel.
“We’re going to be all over the place,” said Sgt. Al Nothum of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
St. Louis County police planned to do sobriety checkpoints on Friday and today, and St. Louis police said they would do checkpoints today. Illinois State Police will have extra troopers on the roads this weekend as well as next weekend, said Trooper Mike Link. Police also said they plan to search for drunk drivers on St. Patrick’s Day.
Last year’s increased patrols on the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day in Missouri resulted in 467 drunken-driving tickets being issued, as well as 1,752 speeding tickets, 518 for not wearing a seat belt and 30 for children who were not properly restrained.