Increase In Hamilton County DUI Checkpoints Through Labor Day

HAMILTON COUNTY, IN — From now through Labor Day, police in Hamilton County will be out in full force arresting impaired drivers. The Hamilton County Traffic Safety Partnership, a coalition of law enforcement agencies around Hamilton County, is joining nearly 230 law-enforcement agencies across Indiana and thousands of agencies across the U.S. to conduct sobriety checkpoints around the county for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization. Though you should always be safe and smart, officials say expect to see an increase in sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols and saturation patrols during this time.

"Why are we giving drivers a heads up? Because Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is all about preventing impaired-driving crashes, injuries and deaths," said Hamilton County Sheriff Mark Bowen, in a release. "Our officers have zero tolerance for impaired drivers on our roads, and we'll see you before you see us.

The Hamilton County Traffic Safety Partnership includes Carmel Police, Cicero Police, Fishers Police, Noblesville Police, Westfield Police, and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office along with assistance from the Indiana State Police.

According to officials, a driving while intoxicated (DWI) arrest means going to jail and losing your driver's license, costing you an average of about $10,000, including car towing and repairs, attorney fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work and other hefty expenses.

In every state, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. In Indiana, drivers under 21 with a BAC of .02 or higher are subject to fines and a license suspension for up to 1 year. However, according to officials, DWI includes more than alcohol, and there is no quick field test for the many prescription, over-the-counter and illegal drugs that can impair drivers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) recently purchased more than 2,600 portable breath tests to assist 150 Indiana law-enforcement agencies with establishing probable cause in arresting drunk drivers.

>> Indiana Officers Get More Than 1,700 Portable Breathalyzers

Impaired driving is three times more common at night than during the day. If you see an impaired driver, turn off the road away from the vehicle and call 911. Hamilton County Sheriff has a list of signs of impaired driving online.

>> HCTSP - What to expect at a sobriety checkpoint

Keep in mind, there is no excuse for getting behind the wheel impaired as it endangers you and everyone else around you, HCTSP says. Law enforcement recommends these several safe alternatives to impaired driving:

• Designate, or be, a sober driver.
• Use public transportation.
• Call a cab or a ridesharing service.
• Download the SaferRide mobile app on the Android Play Store or the Apple iTunes Store. This app has three options: call a taxi, call a friend, and identify your location for pickup.
• Celebrate at home or a place where you can stay until sober.
• Throwing a party? Offer non-alcoholic beverages and plenty of food.
• Never provide alcohol to minors.
• Friend or family member about to drive? Take the keys and make alternate arrangements.

More: NHTSA, Hamilton County Sheriff

Image via Shutterstock