Law Enforcement Cracking Down on Drunk Drivers

By: 10/11 News Email

Updated: Fri 10:41 PM, Aug 31, 2012

The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office is cracking down on drunk drivers with the You Drink, You Drive, You Lose campaign.

Extra enforcement will be out all weekend looking for impaired drivers.

A DUI checkpoint along Highway 34 Friday will help deputies identify signs of alcohol use and other traffic violations.

"First football game, traditionally its the last weekend of summer. For a lot of people its the last camping weekend of the summer so anticipate and lot of lake traffic and a lot of football traffic coming into town," Sheriff Terry Wagner said.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the most frequent recorded BAC level among drinking drivers in fatal crashes was .17.

At .15, experts say you have far less muscle control than normal. That considerably impairs vehicle control and attention to driving, not to mention reaction times.

"These initiatives over memorial day, fourth of July, labor day and Thanksgiving have had a huge impact awareness, helping people remember we're out there. They need to have a designated driver or not drink when they drive. Hopefully they will remember that or we will have a chat with them," Wagner said.

The extra enforcement and DUI checkpoints help nab more than impaired drivers.

"I think the awareness component has really helped people to be more cautious and to be responsible in their travels in their consumption. Traditionally then we will have quite a few warrant arrests, quite a few suspended drivers. It will be a combination but they are usually pretty productive," Wagner said.

Overtime for the deputies working during the crackdown is funded by a grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety.

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