Nearly 30 percent of all Missouri traffic fatalities involved impaired drivers, according to state statistics. In 2011, 220 people were killed and 902 seriously injured in crashes involving an impaired driver. 

Eureka Police Department officers will join other Missouri law enforcement agencies, including St. Louis County Police Department—Wildwood (6th) Precinct, to crack down on drunk driving Aug. 17 – Sept. 3.

“Driving drunk is simply not worth all the consequences,” stated Eureka Police Chief Michael Wiegand in a news release. “Our message is simple and unwavering: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

Eureka police will participate in statewide sobriety checkpoints and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) saturation patrols enforcing Missouri’s DWI laws keeping impaired drivers off the road, per the announcement from Wiegand.

Consequences of drunk driving include:

• jail time
• loss of their driver licenses
• being sentenced to use ignition interlocks.  

Insurance also rates go up, stated Wiegand. Other financial hits include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job or job prospects. 

"When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment and humiliation," he said.

The officers participating in the enforcement have had additional training in the recognition of motorists who have had too much to drink or are under the influence of illegal drugs, according to a news release from St. Louis County officers. Officers also will issue citations for seat belt and other violations.

"Removing intoxicated drivers from our roadways is a high priority for the St. Louis County Police," said Chief Tim Fitch, in the release. "The use of checkpoints has been proven to be an effective method to accomplish this goal."