Sheriff Scott Keeler announced deputies will be out in force as part of the annual nationwide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown to reduce substance–impaired driving fatalities beginning this Friday.

The crackdown, which will include high-visibility enforcement throughout St. Clair County, will run from August 19-September 5, 2016. The sheriff said deputies will be aggressively looking for substance–impaired drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone caught driving impaired.

Although it is illegal to drive drunk many people across the nation get behind the wheel after consuming too much alcohol. The latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration underscore the serious nature of the nation’s continuing drunk driving epidemic.

“Every year, about one third of all motor vehicle traffic deaths involve one or more substance- impaired drivers or motorcycle operators,” said the sheriff. “Preliminary data indicates in 2015, 196 people were killed and 663 seriously injured on Missouri’s roadways in crashes that involved at least one substance-impaired driver.”

The sheriff noted the August/Labor Day Weekend holiday is particularly dangerous. During the August/Labor Day weekend holiday August 21 – September 7, 2015, five (5) people were killed and fifty-three (53) seriously injured involving at least one substance-impaired driver. 

Sheriff Keeler noted that being arrested for driving under the influence of any substance brings a wide range of negative consequences into one’s life.  Substance–impaired drivers face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, and steep financial consequences such as higher insurance rates, attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators also often face tremendous personal embarrassment.

“Driving while impaired is simply not worth the risk,” said the sheriff. “Don’t take the chance.”

For more information, visit the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign Headquarters at www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov, or www.saveMOlives.com.