Kansas Law Enforcement cracks down on drugged driving: Increased enforcement to take place over 420 weekend

TOPEKA, Kan. — According to a 2016 AAA poll in Kansas, only 63 percent of people consider driving after using marijuana ‘a very serious threat’ to their personal safety. In 2017, there were 287 crashes attributed to illegal drug use in Kansas.  Eighty-three persons lost their lives in these crashes.

“There’s a misconception that marijuana doesn’t affect your ability to drive,” said Chris Bortz, Traffic Safety Program Manager for the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). “That is just false. Illegal drugs can impair a person’s judgment, concentration and reaction time. Driving under the influence of any impairing substance is illegal for a reason.”

There will be increased traffic enforcement and police visibility across the state to crack down on drugged driving. This enforcement will run from April 19-21, where 420 (April 20th) is largely recognized for its social attention on marijuana.

Law enforcement and prosecutors will also be enforcing a “No Refusal Weekend” in which all suspected impaired drivers who refuse a breath test may be subject to blood testing. Officers will be extra vigilant this weekend to detect all impaired drivers and consequently testing for both alcohol and drugs.

Marijuana laws are rapidly changing across the United States, including states bordering Kansas, leading to more drivers under the influence of marijuana. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2007-2014, there was a 48 percent increase in drivers testing positive for marijuana across the nation. These findings demonstrate the imminent danger on our roads and the importance of raising awareness of the risks of drug impaired driving.

“With this enforcement and our education efforts, we hope that 100 percent of Kansas drivers recognize and understand this serious issue,” said Mark A. Dupree, Wyandotte County District Attorney. “Driving under the influence of drugs is dangerous and deadly. We want people to arrive to their destinations safely, and that starts with smart decisions by both drivers and passengers.”

Drug impaired driving does lead to crashes, serious injury and even death. Kansans will see law enforcement agencies out in full force this weekend, pulling over drivers that exhibit signs of impaired driving due to drugs or alcohol.

KDOT rides along with the Kansas Highway Patrol

KDOT took a ride with Master Trooper Neil Stanley on April 20 to teach others
about the importance of driving sober and to learn what its like to be a trooper. 

There is a popular saying that encourages others to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, so you can understand what their world is like.  Last Friday, we decided to trade in shoes for a Kansas Highway Patrol vehicle when we got a chance to experience a day in the life of a Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper with Master Trooper Neil Stanley. 

Our goal was to ride along at the beginning of the drugged driving enforcement and tweet about our experiences as they happened. One of the biggest messages that Stanley hopes people will understand is impaired driving isn’t just limited to alcohol. He said if there is any substance being used that can impair your driving, it is something that could result in an arrest and have a license revoked.

While on the ride, Stanley explained how KHP officers rely on both their observation skills and radar technology to determine how fast drivers are going.  While a few of the stops were to enforce the speed limit, there were several instances where Stanley was able help stranded and lost drivers.

As we rode along, it was obvious that there is still a lot of work to be done when it comes to encouraging drivers to slow down and move over when emergency vehicles and highway crews are on the side of the road.

Graphic of a KHP vehicle crash last year.  Give them room. 

During a stop where Stanley was assisting a person towing a boat, vehicles whizzed by at high speeds. Stanley said he wants the public to understand that when you are going that fast you have less time to react if something unexpected happens. He gave an example of a highway worker who trips into the road. If someone is going faster than the speed limit, people can get hurt.  

While we didn’t encounter any drugged driving during our short ride, we had the opportunity to see and feel what it is like sitting in the front seat of a patrol vehicle. The life of law enforcement officers, emergency responders or highway workers can be challenging. They need to be ready for the unexpected at any moment.

The next time you are out on the road and you see a Highway Patrol Trooper don’t overreact, just drive normally, slow down and give them room to work. And if you ever get the chance, be sure to thank them for what they do. Just like highway workers, their job can be dangerous and at the end of the day they also want to see their loved ones.

KDOT and the KHP will ride together again next month, stay tuned on our twitter page: www.twitter.com/KDOTHQ

Kansas joins five other states in drugged driving enforcement

We are going to be a little blunt: If you drive high, you can kiss your driver’s license goodbye. Driving while under the influence of drugs is not worth it.

From Friday, April 20, through Sunday, April 22, the Kansas Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies will join five other states in a three-day, high-visibility enforcement targeting drug and alcohol impaired driving, among other traffic safety issues. Other states involved in the initiative are: Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

In Kansas last year, there were 461 fatalities on the roadways, and 20-percent of those involved a drug impaired driver. The purpose of this high-visibility enforcement is to decrease impaired driving on our roadways.

According to the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), they found a 12-percent increase in the relative risk of a fatal crash after 4:20 p.m. on April 20^th, compared to the same time intervals on other days.

KHP’s Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) and Breath Alcohol Unit (BAU) will be assisting with enforcements across the state. Citations may be issued to any individuals who refuse to obey traffic laws, whether for impaired driving, speeding, seat belt violations, or others. If an individual refuses to submit to a blood test, a search warrant can be obtained for their blood.

Overtime for this enforcement is being funded through the Kansas Department of Transportation, RAVE (Roving Aggressive Violators Enforcement) and the Fatality Reduction Grant.