Jefferson County Ranks Second for Drinking and Driving Deaths

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s department asks drivers not to let alcohol ruin their holiday season. Or ruin the holiday for anyone else. Jefferson County ranks second in the state for alcohol related fatalities, according to a press release sent out by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Because of this, the Sherriff’s department will be increasing enforcement and sobriety checkpoints from now until December 16. They will be part of the 2012 Holiday DWI Enforcement campaign to stop people from driving impaired this Holiday season. St. Louis County Police are also involved with the campaign.

“Losing a loved one during the holiday season is a tragedy no one should have to endure,” stated Sheriff Oliver Glenn Boyer. “Impaired driving is a preventable crime, and we intend to crack down so drivers feel secure when travelling on Jefferson County and Missouri’s roadways.”

The Sherriff’s Department asks that you consider some of the consequences if you are caught driving while intoxicated:

• For the first conviction (or first conviction in over five years), your license will be suspended for 30 days followed by a 60-day suspension if a hardship license is not obtained.
• A second conviction results in a $1,000 fine, a yearlong revocation of your license and up to a year in jail. You will also be required to install an ignition interlock system on your vehicle, preventing our car from starting when you have alcohol on your breath.
• Third and subsequent convictions can be penalized with up to a $5,000 fine, a 10-year license denial, and/or up to seven years in jail.
• If you cause a fatal crash while intoxicated, you could be charged with involuntary manslaughter, a felony resulting in up to seven years of jail time, a $5,000 fine or both.

To learn more about impaired driving, visit www.savemolives.com.