The Lee’s Summit Police Department received a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation Highway Safety Division for participation in the YOU DRINK & DRIVE, YOU LOSE campaign to stop people from driving impaired over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Enforcement efforts will be increased July 2-5 and will focus on reducing deaths and serious injuries caused by impaired drivers. Driving while intoxicated is one of the most common violent crimes, randomly killing or injuring Missouri residents. These tragedies are preventable when drivers make a simple, smart choice not to drink and drive. Is it worth it? Consider some of the consequences if you are caught driving while intoxicated:
- If you cause a fatal crash while intoxicated, you can be charged with involuntary Manslaughter, a felony resulting in up to seven years of jail time, a $5,000 fine, or both.
- Your license can be suspended for 90 days on your first conviction in addition to a possible $500 fine and six months in jail.
- A second conviction results in a $1,000 fine, a yearlong revocation of your license and up to a year in jail.
- 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.
- Insurance coverage will be difficult if not impossible to find and if you do the rates will be significantly higher.
For more information, please visit www.saveMOlives.com.