Over 24 days, the Culver Police Department (CPD) issued 63 warnings and citations and made one arrest during St. Patrick’s Day, college Spring Break and the first rounds of the NCAA tournament.
In 2017, the weekend beginning St. Partrick’s Day has the highest number of crashing involving impaired driver. Federal traffic safety funds administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) supported random patrols, saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints for more than 230 law-enforcement agencies across the state.
“Enforcement of traffic laws is focused on preventing crashes, injuries and deaths in our community,” said Culver Police Department Deputy Chief Chad Becker. “As we look ahead to the rest of Spring Break, make sure your plans include a sober driver and extra stopping distance.”
In every state, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. In Indiana, drivers under 21 with a BAC of .02 are subject to fines and a license suspension for up to one year.
The top causes of all Indiana traffic crashes are drivers following too closely and failing to yield the right-of-way. Aggressive, distracted and impaired driving reduces reaction times to unexpected slow traffic, bicycles and pedestrians.
New impaired-driving equipment
Last year, ICJI and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) purchased 1,759 new portable breath tests for Indiana law-enforcement agencies. An additional 836 devices are being purchased this year.
ICJI and NHTSA are issuing Android tablets and apps to assist 185 highly-trained police officers in the recognition and enforcement of drug-impaired driving.
If you’re taking a new drug of higher dose, talk with your doctor or don’t drive until you know how it affects you. Even over-the-counter medications such as cold medicine or sleep aids may cause impairment, especially when combined with alcohol or a second drug.
