Warm spring weather has arrived, and motorcyclists are eager to hit the road. As they rev their engines and prepare for numerous road trips to come, the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety wants to remind motorists and motorcyclists alike to watch for motorcycles to help prevent motorcycle crashes, deaths and injuries on Missouri roadways.

• Allow the motorcycle the full width of a lane at all times.
• Always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic.
• Check all mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes or merging with traffic, especially at intersections.
• Never drive distracted or impaired.

• Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and other protective gear.
• Obey all traffic laws and be properly licensed and trained.
• Wear brightly colored clothes and reflective tape to increase visibility.
• Ride in the middle of the lane where you will be more visible to drivers.
• Never ride distracted or impaired.
• Anticipate the moves of other drivers and be extra cautious of road conditions and debris.

Motorcycle experts recommend motorcyclists also complete some type of training before getting out on the road. There are 25 training locations in Missouri. You can find the one nearest you at www.mmsp.org.

For more information, visit www.saveMOlives.com or find us on social media at Save MO Lives. Arrive Alive.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ Campaign Will Target Substance–Impaired Drivers.

Dexter, Missouri - Local and state law enforcement will be out in full force as part of the annual nationwide May/Youth Alcohol Enforcement Crackdown “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” substance–impaired driving crackdown. The crackdown, which will include high-visibility enforcement throughout Dexter, will run from May 3-14, 2018. 

The effective nationwide substance–impaired driving crackdown will include high-visibility enforcement, high-profile events, and will be supported by national paid advertising, creating a comprehensive campaign to curb substance–impaired driving during the enforcement period. 

Dexter Police said its officers will be aggressively looking for substance–impaired drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone caught driving impaired.   Although it is illegal in all 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to drive impaired (having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher), far too many people across the nation get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or other illegal drugs. 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 Captain Trevor Pulley. “In 2017, 185 people were killed and 592 seriously injured on Missouri’s roadways in crashes that involved at least one substance-impaired driver.” That works out to approximately one substance-impaired driver involved fatality every (2) two days. 

Captain Pulley added the St. Patrick’s Day holiday is particularly dangerous. During 2017, 51 people were killed or seriously injured involving at least one substance-impaired driver that was under 21 years of age. 

Research has shown that high-visibility enforcement like the 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaign reduces substance–impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. By joining this nationwide effort, we will make [Local Area]’s roadways safer for everyone throughout the holiday,” said Captain Pulley. 

“We want to remind everyone that getting behind the wheel impaired is a terrible idea. Unfortunately, not only does being under the influence impair your ability to operate a vehicle safely, it also impairs your judgment and good sense about whether you can, or should drive. If you have any doubt about your sobriety, do not get behind the wheel. If you do chose to drive impaired, you will be arrested. No warnings. No excuses,” Captain Pulley said. 

Captain Pulley 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 their 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. So don’t take the chance. Remember, we will be out in force and we will be watching, so ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,’” said Captain Pulley. 

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

Missouri - Judges, lawyers and court clerks thank the 75,181 Missourians who reported for jury duty in state courts in 2017 as part of Missouri’s Juror Appreciation Week held April 29 through May 5, 2018. During the week, court staff and legal professionals will emphasize to jurors how important their contributions are to our courts, communities and legal system.

 

2017-18 Missouri Bar President Morry Cole said it is important to keep in mind that the right to a jury trial is a constitutional promise.

 

“Maintaining the right to a trial by jury is fundamental to upholding our constitution and democracy. As lawyers and judges, we appreciate those who give their time to promote justice for all,” Cole said.

 

More than 50 courthouses throughout the state will observe the week in different ways. Many will display a poster provided by The Missouri Bar thanking jurors for doing their part. Judges also may take additional time to thank jurors and to acknowledge the significance of their service. Other activities include special ceremonies and official proclamations marking the event. Even more Missourians can join the celebration and share photos of their activities on social media using #ThankAJuror.

 

“Our resources are here to help court officials celebrate this important event,” Cole said. “Observing Juror Appreciation Week—with visual aids, a visit from a judge or otherwise—reminds Missourians that their jury service helps carry out the promises stated in our country’s Sixth and Seventh Amendments.”

 

Missouri is one of only a few states that hold a statewide Juror Appreciation Week. The observance began in 2000 by an order of the Supreme Court of Missouri, which states, “Each year thousands of Missourians perform one of the most significant civic duties granted to citizens -- they serve as fair and impartial jurors in communities throughout the state. To honor those citizens who have performed their civic duty, all Missouri courts are directed to observe Juror Appreciation Week…”

 

Visit the event webpage to learn more about Juror Appreciation Week or take a quiz to test your knowledge on jury service.

 

The Missouri Bar is a statewide organization that is dedicated to improving the legal profession, the law and the administration of justice for all Missourians. Created in 1944 by order of the Supreme Court of Missouri, it serves all 30,000 of Missouri’s practicing lawyers. The Missouri Bar provides a wide range of services and resources to its members, as well as the media, educators and the citizens of Missouri. 

Dexter, Missouri - On Saturday, April 28th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, the Dexter Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

"Bring your pills for disposal to the lobby of the Dexter Police Department at 305 Cooper Street, in Dexter. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked," commented Trevor Pulley.

Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That's dangerous and often tragic. That's why it was great to see thousands of folks from across the country clean out their medicine cabinets and turn in - safely and anonymously - a record amount of prescription drugs.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Dexter MO: Local law enforcement recently joined agencies from six states across the area in a high visibility Drug Impaired Driving enforcement effort – “Driving High? Kiss Your License Goodbye!”. From April 20-April 22, area law enforcement officers participated in the area’s Six-State Drug Impaired Driving Enforcement Campaign. The effort was spearheaded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and State Highway Safety Offices in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Officers from city, state and county law enforcement agencies in these states conducted high visibility enforcement efforts to crack down on drug-impaired drivers. 

From April 20 – April 22, these officers covered approximately 32,318 miles of roadway in Missouri. With the strong presence of law enforcement, organizers put motorists on notice that if they drive impaired, they will be arrested. 

“This was an effort to keep drug impaired drivers off the road. Too many of our fellow citizens are impacted by drivers who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” said Captain Trevor Pulley.   “Large scale mobilizations such as this one have had a positive impact on encouraging safe driving,” he/she said.

It is never safe to drive when impaired. This not only means refraining from drunk driving, but also from drug-impaired driving. If you think driving while high won’t affect you, you are wrong; it has been proven that THC – the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects – slows reaction times, impairs cognitive performance and makes it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane. The bottom line is this: It doesn’t matter what term is used, if a person is high, stoned, wasted or drunk, he or she is impaired. Driving while impaired by any substance is illegal and can be deadly to the driver and other road users.