Law enforcement seeking impaired drivers over Independence Day holiday
If you're thinking about driving impaired this week, the red, white and blue flashing lights of your Independence Day holiday may be those of a patrol car - and the view of the fireworks is not so good from a local jail cell.
The Fourth of July is one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to substance-impaired driving crashes. Local law enforcement will be out in full force July 3-5 seeking impaired drivers through increased sobriety checkpoints, roving and saturation patrols, and other enforcement methods. There are no warnings and no excuses. If you drive impaired you will be arrested. Don't risk losing your independence by choosing to drink and drive.
"Last year eight people were killed and 50 were seriously injured in Missouri traffic crashes over the Fourth of July holiday," said Bill Whitfield, executive committee chair for the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety. "Two of those fatalities and 11 serious injuries involved a substance-impaired driver."
Often, people have a hard time recuperating financially from the cost of an arrest or the crash itself. Violators risk killing or harming others, face jail time, the loss of their driver licenses, higher insurance rates and dozens of other unanticipated expenses from attorney fees, fines and court costs, car towing and repairs, and lost time at work.
The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety recommends these simple tips to avoid a drunk-driving disaster:
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver.
• If you're impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely.
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don't hesitate to call local law enforcement.
• Always wear your seat belt. It's your best defense in any traffic crash.
For more information, visit www.saveMOlives.com, or find them on Facebook and Twitter at Save MO Lives.
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - The Poplar Bluff Police Department is investigating the disappearance of a Poplar Bluff, Mo. teen.
Family members contacted police yesterday morning, reporting Victoria Frazier missing.
Reports say Frazier left her residence voluntarily, at around 5:00 am, but has not been in contact since that time.
Frazier has remained active on social media, but her whereabouts are unknown.
Anyone with information about Victoria Frazier’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Poplar Bluff Police Department at 573-785-5776 or contactus@pbpolice.org.
Dexter, Missouri - Police Chief Sammy Stone with the Dexter Police Department announces that sometime during the month of June, 2015 the Dexter Police Department will conduct a sobriety check point and/or DWI saturation patrols within the city limits of Dexter MO.
The operation will be conducted by the Dexter Police Department in cooperation with other local area law enforcement agencies.The checkpoint is a static operation on a specific highway that is designed to check every driver to ensure they are sober.
The Dexter Police Department urges all citizens to report any vehicle they observe operating in a careless manner to their local authorities. The public can contact the Dexter Police Department at 573-624-5512.
Dexter, Missouri - Local police will be out in full force as part of the annual nationwide St. Patrick’s Day Holiday “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown on drunk driving. The crackdown, which will include high-visibility enforcement throughout Dexter, will run from March 14-17, 2015.
The effective nationwide drunk driving crackdown will include high-visibility enforcement, high-profile events, and will be supported by national paid advertising, creating a comprehensive campaign to curb drunk driving over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday.
Dexter Police Department said its Officer's will be aggressively looking for drunk drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone caught driving drunk.
Although it is illegal in all 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to drive drunk (having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher), far too 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.
Students each received a unique packet stating their occupation, salary, debt history, marital status and whether or not they had children. Then they were assigned to visit with real industry professionals to purchase necessities such as a mock house, transportation, furniture, clothing and food. The object was to attempt to keep within budget in a workbook.
Sponsored by the Missouri Credit Union Association in partnership with the Missouri Council for Economic Education, the Ozark Federal Credit Union Reality Fair has become the largest in the state, according to Davine Conover, business development specialist. The Ozark FCU is a certified community development financial institution under the U.S. Department of Treasury, teaching financial literacy in a six-county region, including Butler.
Shown in the photo: Jamie Hobbs, a PBHS senior, visits the ‘fun stuff’ table manned by Sgt. Clark Parrott of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, to select from entertainment activities including sports equipment, hobby supplies, movies, concert tickets and vacation packages.
Submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Coordinator, Poplar Bluff R-1 School District.
