Be Aware Of Police Checkpoints Now Through Labor Day: Hamilton Co. Sheriffs Dept.

FISHERS, IN — The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office reports the county's Traffic Safety Partnership is taking part in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign now through Labor Day. What does this mean for you? It means police officials will be out in full force throughout Hamilton County at increased sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols and saturation patrols. The sheriffs department reports there will be zero tolerance for impaired driving as the Hamilton County Traffic Safety Partnership, a united mix of law enforcement agencies made up of Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Carmel Police Department, Cicero Police Department, Fishers Police Department, Noblesville Police Department and Westfield Police Department, is joining nearly 220 law-enforcement agencies across Indiana during the campaign.

Checkpoints around the county through Labor Day are an effort to combat the nearly 750 cases of impaired driving offenses annually in Hamilton County alone, as nearly 100 of those are repeat offenders.

For more information, please contact Attorney Miksha at 317-776-8595.

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Department reports officials from Indiana State Police are also assisting the HCTSP in targeting and arresting impaired drivers who put the lives of others in danger out on local roadways, especially during busy Labor Day Weekend travel.

Leaving the state between now and Labor Day? You'll still need to be careful and aware as thousands of patrols nationwide are taking part in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, including including Wow! Houses for sale in your area, subscribe to Fishers Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts and LIKE Indianapolis Patch on Facebook).

“If you drive impaired, our officers are trained to spot you and take you to jail. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over means zero tolerance,” Hamilton County Sheriff Mark Bowen, said. “These enforcement efforts save the lives of impaired drivers, their passengers and others out on the road.

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• Beware Of Stopped School Bus Law: Indiana State Police
• Hamilton County Deputy Receives National Award for Exceptional Service
• Fishers Celebrates #StigmaFreeFishers Week Aug. 7-13

Did you know? Not only do officials report it's illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher in every state and the District of Columbia, but in Indiana, drivers under age 21 with a BAC of .02 or higher are subject to fines and a license suspension for up to one year.

What to know before you go, according to law enforcement:

• The average DUI cost? About $10,000, including car towing and repairs, attorney fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work and other expenses.
• Labor Day Weekend is sadly one of the deadliest times of the year for impaired-driving deaths.
• With all of today’s options for getting home safely, there’s no excuse for impaired driving as law enforcement recommends these safe alternatives to impaired driving - designate a sober driver, be a sober driver, use public transportation, call a cab, request an Uber or Lyft, download the SaferRide mobile app on the Android Play Store or the Apple iTunes Store, celebrate at home or a place where you can stay until you're sober, offer non-alcoholic beverages and plenty of food, never provide alcohol to minors, take people's keys and make alternate arrangements.

More information and tips: one.nhtsa.gov/drivesober

(Image via Shutterstock)