As part of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's ongoing efforts to cut down on drunk drivers, Troop F--Jefferson City Missouri has been conducting DWI saturation patrols throughout the spring and summer in Miller and Camden Counties. Captain Greg D. Kindle released the results of these saturations, which took place in May, June, July, and August 2011. During the saturation patrols, MSHP troopers stopped a combined 1,309 vehicles. Jefferson City drunk-driving accident lawyers were shocked by one of the results in particular--one in every 16 vehicles stopped received a DWI citation.
The purpose of saturation patrols is to spot, pull over and arrest drivers who are operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. DWI saturations are one of the various tools used by the State Highway Patrol in their ongoing efforts to ensure Missouri motorists' safety. The other main tool is the use of sobriety checkpoints, which stop a certain percentage of vehicles that pass through them.
The Difference Between Saturation Patrols and Sobriety Checkpoints
Both saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints have the same basic purpose--to get drunk drivers off Missouri's roadways.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), describes a "sobriety checkpoint" as a stationary location set up in a particular part of the highway. MSHP officers stop cars at this location, usually in a predetermined sequence. For instance, patrol officers may stop every second car, or every third car, looking for any signs that the driver is impaired or committing any other crimes. The specific procedures police must follow at a checkpoint are prescribed by Missouri law.
In contrast, a "saturation patrol" involves cops in their patrol cars, driving around a specific pre-chosen area, looking for signs of drunk driving in other cars.
Here are the results of Troop F - Jefferson City's saturation patrol initiative :
• DWI arrests--82
• Speeding Tickets--52
• Seat Belt violations--73
• Driver's License violations--35
• Warrant Arrests--19
• Drug Arrests--38
• Warnings--1,594
The Highway Patrol always asks anyone observing an impaired driver on the roads to call their Emergency Hotline at 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cell phone.
Along with losing one's license and facing fines and jail time, if an intoxicated driver is the cause a fatal crash, that driver could be charged with involuntary manslaughter. This is a serious felony with up to seven years in prison if convicted, a $5,000 fine, or both. However, being convicted of this felony doesn't necessarily mean that the deceased victim's family will receive any compensation.
If a loved one is killed by a drunk driver, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. If you are injured in a car crash caused by a drunk driver you may be entitled to punitive damages, as well as compensatory damages. See a Jefferson City Missouri accident lawyer to find out whether or not you have a legitimate case. The Jefferson City MO law firm of Aaron Sachs & Associates, P.C. has been helping injured victims for over a decade--call us today, toll free, to see if we can help you as well.
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