Impaired drivers to be
tested during “No Refusal Weekend”
Topeka,
KS - As the summer season concludes over the next few weeks, Kansas law
enforcement will be doing all they can to keep the roads safe from impaired
drivers. Beginning on Aug. 14 and through the Labor Day weekend, more than 150
law enforcement agencies from across the state will join forces in a concentrated
effort detecting and removing the impaired driver.
This
year’s campaign includes a No Refusal Weekend, Aug. 16 – 17, when all suspected
impaired drivers who refuse breath testing may be subject to blood testing for
alcohol and/or drugs. This No Refusal Weekend, law enforcement officials may
work in coordination with prosecutors to obtain blood draw warrants for drivers
who refuse breath and/or drug testing. No Refusal programs help ensure that
prosecutors obtain the scientific evidence needed to effectively prosecute
cases involving impaired driving.
“My
hope is there are no impaired driving crashes or fatalities in the state of
Kansas,” said Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent Herman Jones. “Make
the right decision, don’t get behind the wheel impaired. The impaired driver
makes the choice to endanger themselves and everyone else on the road.”
According
to the National Safety Council, 40 percent of car fatalities occur in the
summer months. The Labor Day holiday brings increased traffic and unfortunately,
a higher-than-normal number of deaths related to impaired drivers on the road.
On average, impaired drivers cause about one-third of all traffic fatalities in
Kansas. Across Kansas, impaired drivers injure or kill more than 2,200 people
each year in car crashes.
“We
want everyone’s summer to end on a high note and not in a senseless death that is
100 percent preventable,” said Chris Bortz, Kansas Department of Transportation
Traffic Safety Program Manager. “Law enforcement will be vigilant in their
efforts to keep everyone safe, but everyone has a personal responsibility in
this effort; not just law enforcement.”
The
22-day enforcement campaign will be supported with statewide education and
on-the-street vigilance by law enforcement. This year’s campaign
reinforces that no excuse is a good excuse for driving impaired. Designate
before you celebrate, use a ride sharing service or get a ride from a sober
friend are just a few ways to get home safely.
Impaired
drivers can face jail time, suspension of their driving privileges, fines and
other costs of up to $10,000. In addition, the offender will be required to
install and pay monthly services fees on an ignition interlock. Beyond the
financial and legal penalties, impaired drivers face the risk of losing their
own lives or taking someone else’s.
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